Anoxic Radiation Protection of Bacterial Spores in Suspension

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Several compounds (9 alcohols, sodium formate and CO2) were tested for an ability to alter the anoxic radiation sensitivity of Bacillus megaterium spores irradiated in suspension. Some of the additives protected (allyl alcohol, ethanol, glycerol, methanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, sodium formate and CO2); some did not (tert-amyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, and tert-butanol). A correlation exists between anoxic radiation protection and the ability of the additive to react with a water-derived radical and form a radical at the .alpha.-hydroxy position. Only those additives that form a radical at this site showed an ability to protect. As a test of the relevance of this correlation between radiation protection and the formation of an .alpha.-hydroxy radical, .OH competition experiments were run between methanol and tert-amyl alcohol. Methanol partially loses its ability to protect when the competition for .OH favors tert-amyl alcohol .apprx. 4.3:1. The correlation is probably significant, although the exact mechanisms for protection are not known.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: