Study reveals the physicochemical and biochemical mechanisms which alter or modify the effects of high-energy radiation on living cells. An in-depth discussion is presented emphasizing the importance of optimizing bacterial treatment with glycerol

Powers, E. L.

English

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I
June 1968	 Brief 68-10169 
•	 ICY CO
AEC—NASA TECH BRIEF
-IV 
	
lb	 .
TES
AEC-NASA Tech Briefs describe innovations resulting from the research and development program 
of the U.S. AEC or from AEC-NASA interagency efforts. They are issued to encourage commercial 
application. Tech Briefs are published by NASA and may be purchased, at 15 cents each, from 
the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Radiation Effects on Bacterial Cells 
A study was made of recent, significant advances 
concerning the effects of radiation on bacterial cells, 
with specific emphasis on the fundamental aspects of 
radiation damage. 
The study is concerned with the physicochemical 
and biochemical mechanisms which alter or modify 
the effects of high-energy radiation on living cells. 
Any progress in this area is significant, since it allows 
insight into the functioning of cells and contributes to 
the solution of such human problems as radiation 
effects, carcinogenesis, lethality, life shortening, the 
prevention and therapy of radiation damage, and the 
use of radiation as a therapeutic agent. 
The results of the study are contained in a report 
which covers the modification of radiation sensitivity 
by oxygen, moisture, and temperature, linear energy 
transfer, chemical and biological modifiers, and post-
irradiation factors. An in-depth discussion is presented 
emphasizing the importance of optimizing bacterial 
treatment with glycerol. 
For radiation damage studies, single-cell organisms, 
in this case bacteria, are used. They can be controlled 
and manipulated with a precision unattainable with 
multicellular organisms. 
Lethality, the failure of the single cell to give rise 
to a visible colony of cells, is used as the endpoint 
measure, as it is easily scored and has a direct rela-
tionship to dose. Using proper exposure chambers and 
gas handling systems, the water content, gaseous 
atmospheres, and temperature of the cells can be 
controlled before, during, and after irradiation. 
A major goal of many biologists is to discover 
methods of reducing radiation damage by adding 
chemical compounds. The alcohols, in particular 
glycerol, profoundly modify cellular sensitivity. For 
both spores and vegetative cells, glycerol definitely
affects all three classes of radiation damage (oxygen-
dependent, free radical, and oxygen-independent). 
The presence of glycerol causes the lowest inactiva-
tion constants observed and glycerol is effective with 
or without the presence of oxygen. It appears to take 
the place of water in the cell and when there, protects 
the cell better than water can. 
Notes: 
I. Additional information is contained in Some 
Recent Advances in the Radiation Biology of Bac-
teria, by E. L. Powers, The Radiologic Clinics of 
North America, vol. 3, no. 2, p. 197-208, August 
1965. 
2. This information may be of interest to persons or 
organizations concerned with radiobiological 
research or applications. 
3. Inquiries concerning this innovation may be di-
rected to:
Office of Industrial Cooperation 
Argonne National Laboratory 
9700 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439 
Reference: B68-10169 
Source: E. L. Powers 
Biological and Medical Research Division 
(ARG-10064) 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for commercial 
use of this innovation may be made to: 
Mr. George H. Lee, Chief 
Chicago Patent Group 
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission 
Chicago Operations Office 
9800 South Cass Avenue 
Argonne, Illinois 60439
Category 04 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the Atomic	 liability resulting from the use of the information contained in this 
Energy Commission and/or the National Aeronautics and Space document, or warrants that the use of any information, apparatus, 
Administration. Neither the United States Government nor any per-	 method, or process disclosed in this document may not infringe pri-
son acting on behalf of the United States Government assumes any vately owned rights.
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Radiation effects on bacterial cells

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