title: T2 phage sensitization by linear and angular furocoumarins.
abstract: T2 bacteriophage sensitization has been studied using two furocoumarins capable of linking covalently to DNA to the same extent but producing different damages, psoralen and 4,5'-dimethylangelicin. Psoralen is a well-known linear furocoumarin capable of inducing in DNA both monoadducts and cross-links; 4,5'-dimethylangelicin is a new angular compound known as a pure monofunctional reagent. In the sensitization of T2 mature virions both drugs proved very active, yielding survival curves practically superimposable; on the contrary, in the experiments with the T2 vegetative form, i. e. its DNA inside the host, 4,5'-dimethylangelicin resulted much less effective, resembling the picture observed in the inactivation of the host bacteria. This result did not appear related to an enhancement of DNA repair by a Weigle effect. The different killing activity of 4,5'-dimethylangelicin can be explained supposing that this drug is capable of inducing cross-links in T2 DNA inside the virus core, in which it exists in a very folded form, but not in the same DNA after injection into the host bacteria.
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D013604:T-Phages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D011564:Furocoumarins