Quantitative evaluation of the parameters of bacterial photoreactivation after exposure to ultraviolet light and ionizing radiation

The purpose was to compare quantitatively the parameters of photoreactivation of an ultraviolet (UV) light hypersensitive strain of Escherichia coli Bs-1 irradiated with UV light and ionizing radiation. In addition, to evaluate the influence of the different physical and chemical factors on the parameters of the photoreactivation kinetics of the bacterial cells exposed to ionizing radiation. Survival curves and kinetics of the photoreactivation were measured in E. coli Bs-1 cells exposed to UV light (254 nm) and ionizing radiations (γ-rays of 137Cs, γ-rays of 60Co and 25 MeV pulsed X-rays). A mathematical model describing the process of photoreactivation in terms of a decreasing effective dose was applied to the experimental data obtained here and that published by others to evaluate quantitatively the probability of photoreactivation and the irreversible component of the radiation damage. Both the rate and extent of photoreactivation decreased in the following order of inactivating agents: UV light, pulsed X-ray beam, γ-ray of 60Co and γ-ray of 137Cs. However, the irreversible component of radiation damage increased with the same order of radiations whereas the probability of photoreactivation per unit time was independent of the kind of radiation. After exposure to 6 MeV photons, the parameters of photoreactivation were changed in the presence of caffeine or after irradiation in the presence of the radioprotective agent dithiothreitol. The independence of the probability of photoreactivation on the quality of radiation indicates the cells have the same ability to photoreactivate damage produced by different kinds of radiations and is an additional argument indicating that during ionizing radiation a UV-like damage can be produced. The decrease in the extent and the rate of photoreactivation with radiation quality is explained by the formation of irreversible damage rather than by the impairment of the photorecovery process itself. Chemical and physical factors influencing the relative contribution of ionization and excitation on the ionizing radiation effect could modify both the extent of the photoreactivation and the probability of the recovery per unit time. It is concluded that the mathematical approach used here may be useful to reveal some new relationships between the parameters of photoreactivation.