Radiosensitivity of mammalian cells. II. Radiation effects on macromolecular synthesis.

Radiation effects on macromolecular synthesis essential for the Chinese hamster cell to traverse the life cycle and to divide have been investigated. Life-cycle analysis techniques employing inhibitors of macromolecular synthesis were used in determining the kinetics of cell growth for specific segments of the population following spontaneous recovery from radiation-induced division delay. The results indicated that recovery does not occur in the absence of functional protein synthesis. Under conditions which inhibit normal RNA and DNA synthesis, irradiated cells can recover the capacity to traverse the life cycle and to divide. The stability of mRNA species coding for proteins essential for division in irradiated cells was also measured. The mean functional lifetime of these mRNA species was 1 hr. The data demonstrate the existence of a specific segment of the population consisting of cells which have completed transcription related to division but not concomitant translation and which can recover from the radiation injury without synthesis of additional RNA. Thus, initial recovery of the ability to divide has an obligate requirement for protein synthesis but no corresponding requirement for nucleic acid synthesis during the period when original messenger remains intact.