PROTECTION OF DNA MOLECULES OF CULTURED MAMMALIAN CELLS FROM RADIATION-INDUCED SINGLE STRAND SCISSIONS BY VARIOUS ALCOHOLS AND SH-COMP0UNDS

摘要

The addition of alcohols (methanol, ethanol, t-butane, ethylene glycol, and glycerol), SH compounds (cystamine, cysteine and mercaptoethanol) and cystamine protected DMA molecules of mammalian cells from radiation-induced single strand scissions. The protection afforded with these scavengers increased as their concentrations were increased, but always only up to a certain maximum. The maximum protection was the same for all the alcohols and cystamine, but another maximum was found for all the SH compounds. The extent of radiation-induced single strand breaks can therefore be grouped into protectable and non-protectable fractions.