| Abstract: | Gamma-ray-irradiated Escherichia coli CR thy(-) cells and spheroplasts, prelabeled with (14)C-thymine, were assayed for acid-insoluble activity as a function of incubation time after irradiation. Under similar irradiation and incubation conditions, degradation profiles of cells and spheroplasts were virtually identical. Similar results were found for cells and protoplasts irradiated in the presence of rifampin (20 mug/ml). These results suggest that postirradiation deoxyribonucleic acid degradation enzymes are probably not loosely localized in the periplasm, unlike endonuclease I. |
