Respiratory activity as a determinant of radiation survival response.

Respiration is depressed in irradiated bacteria reaching a minimum level in most strains at 1-3 h after exposure when incubated in growth medium. Since a delay in response is observed, direct action on respiratory enzymes is unlikely. The dosage response of respiration varies widely in the strains studied with Do's from 15 kR for Escherichia coli BS-1 to 1200 kR for Micrococcus radiodurans. All strains exhibit two-component dosage-response curves. Escherichia coli BS-1 uniquely possesses a positive-sloped second component suggesting a major disruption of respiratory control. A relationship exists between the responses of respiration and survival to a 50-kR exposure in the strains studied. When E. coli B/r is grown in 0.4% glucose reaching a pH of 5.3, a condition known to increase radiation survival considerably, a large increase in radioresistance of respiration is found. 2-Mercaptoethylamine (MEA), a radioprotective agent, also produces proportionate radioprotection of respiration and survival. In M. radiodurans protection is afforded to respiration at doses which produce no measurable effect on survival. These facts suggest that respiration is a major factor in influencing cell survival and may be the principal mechanism through which chemical agents modify radiation response.