[Informational activity of exogenous DNA in irradiated cells].

The levels of total DNA, RNA and protein synthesis were examined in control and in vivo irradiated thymocytes after their preincubation with exogenous DNA of different polymerization degree. The studies were made using the uridine-14C and lysine-14C. The influence of preliminary treatment of exogenous DNA or cells with actinomycin D (AMD) was studied as applied to the levels of their own and "induced" synthesis in the cells. It is shown that native exogenous DNA induced the increase in the synthesis of all three components only in the irradiated cells. The pretreatment of the irradiated cells or exogenous DNA with AMD completely inhibits the "induced" synthesis of RNA and protein while their own synthesis in suppressed only by 20%. Possible transcription and translation of highly polymerized exogenous DNA in the irradiated cells without its integration into the genome of the "host" is discussed.