ELECTRON-AFFINIC SENSITIZATION .I. A STRUCTURAL BASIS FOR CHEMICAL RADIOSENSITIZERS IN BACTERIA

The bacterium Serratia marcescens has been used as a test system for demonstrating the radiosensitizing properties of a class of electron-affinic organic compounds. These include: unsaturated diesters and diketo compounds, mono-, di- and triketohydrindene (indanetrione), derivatives of pyruvic acid, quinones and several miscellaneous compounds. With few exceptions, the sensitization is restricted to anoxic systems. An electron-transfer mechanism, involving interaction of the sensitizer with a charged intermediate produced by direct energy absorption in a target molecule, is proposed as the basis of a model for radiosensitization. © 1969 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.