POTASSIUM GLUCONATE AND ATP EFFECTS ON CHROMOSOME ABERRATION YIELD

Abstract

Aberration yields were determined from Tradescantia micro-spores subjected to 400 r of X-radiation and pre- or post-treated in chemical compounds. In material irradiated at 30[degree] C, the control yielded 0.24 aberrations per cell while material treated in ATP gave 0.14, in potassium gluconate 0.13, and in 6-phosphogluconate 0.12. Material simultaneously treated in ATP and gluconate gave 0.10. Material irradiated at 40[degree] C gave 0.66 for the controls, 0.19 for ATP, 0.21 for gluconate, 0.23 for 6-phosphogluconate, and 0.17 for the simultaneous treatment with ATP and gluconate. Material irradiated at 0.2[degree] C gave 0.14 for the control 0.10 for ATP, 0.11 for gluconate, 0.09 for 6-phosphogluconate, and 0.10 for the simultaneous use of ATP and gluconate. The postirradiative treatment with ATP or gluconate indicated that these compounds act on the recovery mechanism of radiation damage. Both the glycolytic and the hexose monophosphate pathways appear capable of releasing energy for repair from radiation damage.