THE EFFECT OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION UPON ENZYMATIC ACTIVITY AND VIABILITY OF THE YEAST CELL

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Abstract
Suspensions of the cells of baker’s yeast were irradiated with ultraviolet light for sufficient times to produce populations of 75, 50, 30, and 5% viable cells. After washing and drying, various enzyme solutions were prepared from these cells. Enzymatic activities, on a nitrogen basis, were compared to those of solutions prepared from a nonirradiated population. At the 50% survival level, hexokinase, carboxylase, and zymase were inhibited to a degree roughly proportional to the viability. Carboxylase, and to a certain extent, hexokinase activity varied directly as the population viability. Catalase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and lactic dehydrogenase showed no diminution in activity even at the 5% survival level. These results suggest that although ultraviolet radiation may produce nuclear damage, the primary site of action may be certain enzymes of the cytoplasm.

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