Lecture 5: Action of Mutagenic Agents on Viruses

1. Survival Curves Revisited
   1. Single-Hit Theory

   2. Multiple-Hit Theory

2. The Effects of Specific Agents
   1. X-rays and Gamma Rays (Ionizing Radiation)
      1. How do they work? (Blasts out portions of one or both DNA strands or RNA.)

      2. Survival curves

   2. Ultraviolet Light
      1. How does it work? (T-T dimers a la Sydney Wang)

      2. Survival curves

   3. Visible Light
      1. Photoreactivation (versus 'dark repair')

      2. Photodynamic inactivation

   4. Radioactive Decay
      1. ₃H and ₃₂P: how do they work? (Again: ionization!)
         1. ß-particles
         2. Energy spectra
         3. Recoil damage

      2. Survival Curves

      3. Suicide experiments

   5. Chemical mutagens: HNO₂, Acridine orange, 5BU, etc.

3. Repair of mutational damage
   1. Photoreactivation (above)

   2. Recombination

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