X-ray Inactivation of Lambda Phages

Abstract

X-ray-inactivated lambda phages carry about 80 per cent of all lethal damage in the DNA and about 10–20 per cent in the adsorption apparatus. On the adsorbed phages, 5–10 per cent of the damage prevent the DNA injection. No significantly selective protection is found after irradiation in the presence of protective substances like cysteine, cysteamine or glycerol, which act simply as dose reducers.