Interaction of near-ultraviolet radiation and irradiated L-tryptophan in the production of mutations in Escherichia coli

Kubitschek (1967) demonstrated the mutagenicity of near-UV radiation for chemostat cultures of E. coli WP2s, and this finding was extended to include wild-type E. coli B/r and wavelengths longer than 400 nm (visible light). In addition, near-UV mutagenesis has been reported for Hemophilus influenzae and for E. coli tif strains. The authors report here that a synergistic mutagenesis occurs between near-UV radiation and pre-irradiated tryptophan in E. coli growing in chemostat cultures. (Auth.)