Effect of MEA on the accumulation of DNA breaks in Bac. stearothermophilus irradiated with gamma and ultraviolet rays and treated with nitrosomethylurea

beta-Mercaptoethylamine (MEA) decreased the accumulation of enzymatic single- and double-strand breaks in DNA of thermophilic bacteria exposed to gamma- and UV-radiation and treated with N-nitroso-N-methylurea. The protective effect of MEA, as registered according to accumulation of single-strand and double-strand breaks in DNA of Bac. stearothermophilus immediately after irradiation and after 30 min postirradiation incubation, was similar.