Radiation-induced alterations in binding of concanavalin A to cells and in their susceptibility to agglutination.

Cell susceptibility to agglutination mediated by a plant lectin, concanavalin A (Con A), and the binding capacity of Con A to cells following gamma-irradiation have been examined in mouse myeloid leukaemia cells cultured in suspension. Irradiation caused an immediate decrease in the amount of Con A bound to the cell surface, whereas susceptibility of irradiated cells to agglutination by Con A was unchanged when compared to that of the unirradiated cells. Post-irradiation incubation of cells at 37 degrees C resulted in a temporary, more than 1.3-fold increase in cell susceptibility to agglutination 60 min after irradiation, whereas binding capacity of cells for Con A gradually recovered following irradiation, reaching a comparable level to that of unirradiated cells 3 h after irradiation. Cell susceptibility to agglutination by Con A does not depend strongly on its binding capacity.

Effect of ultraviolet and gamma-radiation on Herpetomonas samuelpessoai.

A study was made about the influence of ultraviolet (UV) and gamma-radiations on Herpetomonas samuelpessoai grown either in a chemically defined or in a complex medium. Cells cultivated in defined medium were more sensitive to UV than those from complex medium, as estimated by inhibition of cellular growth. The effect of gamma-radiation, however, was independent of the media in which the cells were grown. Both radiations interfere with the plasma membrane as analysed by parameters such as excretion of cellular material and concanavalin-A-induced agglutination. Doses of UV which inhibit the cellular growth do not interfere with the plasma membrane. With gamma-radiation, however, doses which inhibit cellular growth also interfere with the plasma membrane. These results suggest that for certain applications UV radiation may be an advantage in vaccine production.