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Lack of protection by carotenes against gamma-radiation damage in Phycomyces

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Abstract

Carotenes could protect cells from radiation damage by chemically quenching the free radicals and the activated chemical species originated by the exposure. We tested this hypothesis with strains of the zygomycete Phycomyces blakesleeanus that contained different carotenes (phytoene, lycopene, β-carotene) or different concentrations of β-carotene. Pairs of strains were cultured together, exposed to a maximum of 73 Gy γ-radiation from a 60Co source, and allowed to recover and grow further together on limited resources. Irradiation did not affect the relative abundance of each strain in the resulting spore crop. Thus, carotenes did not protect the fungal cells against γ-radiation and did not influence their recovery from damage caused by the exposure.

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Author notes

  1. V. Martín-Rojas

    Present address: Osborne y Cía., Departamento Técnico, Puerto de Santa María, Spain

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain

    V. Martín-Rojas & E. Cerdá-Olmedo

  2. Servicio de Física Médica y Protección Radiológica, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Sevilla, Spain

    A. Gómez-Puerto

Authors
  1. V. Martín-Rojas
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  2. A. Gómez-Puerto
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  3. E. Cerdá-Olmedo
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Martín-Rojas, V., Gómez-Puerto, A. & Cerdá-Olmedo, E. Lack of protection by carotenes against gamma-radiation damage in Phycomyces . Radiat Environ Biophys 35, 193–197 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004110050030

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004110050030

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