The effects of mutation and nucleic acid base analogues on the sensitivity of E. coli to partial dehydration

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Abstract
Investiga-tions were carried out on the effect of mutation and the incorporation of base analogues into the DNA of cells on their resistance to dehydration. Auxotrophic mutant cells possess the same or a greater sensitivity than the parent prototrophic organism. This suggests that mutant cells, previously found in populations surviving periods of desiccation, occur as a result of induced mutation 2nd not the concentration of mutants existing in the cell population before dehydration. The incorporation of nucleic base analogues into the DNA of cells alters their sensitivity to dehydration. With some analogues, the sensitivity of cells is increased and with others it is decreased. The presence of nucleic acid base analogues in the DNA of cells markedly inhibits the ability of myo-inositol to protect cells against dehydration damage. The dehydration of cells is probably mutagenic, and inositol is able to preserve the integrity of desiccated cells by combining with specific areas of normal DNA.