title: Mechanistic aspects of modification of radiobiological damage in barley seeds by glutathione and buthionine sulfoximine.
abstract: Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) enhances the radiosensitivity of in vitro mammalian cells, possibly by inhibiting de novo biosynthesis of glutathione (GSH); however, administration of BSO to intact animals results in no effect or possibly radioprotection. Keeping in view that BSO affords radioprotection its physico-chemical action in dry (metabolically inert) and pre-soaked (metabolizing) barley seeds has been investigated with a view that the effects of GSH and BSO on the radiation-induced O2-dependent and - independent components of damage could be unambiguously resolved. It was observed that (i) BSO does not inhibit the uptake of GSH in dry or metabolizing seeds, (ii) BSO also, like GSH, affords radioprotection against post-irradiation O2-dependent damage, and (iii) both additives enhance the O2-independent (i.e. N2- or N2O-mediated) component of damage. An equimolar mixture of these two additives also behaves as either alone on the oxic and anoxic components of radiation damage. Since GSH more efficiently reacts with electrons than it donates an H-atom to the damaged target molecules, and the glutamyl moiety is common to both GSH and BSO, physico-chemical mechanisms possibly involved in the differential modification of oxic and anoxic components are briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kesavan
mesh_terms: D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001467:Hordeum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D019328:Buthionine Sulfoximine; D005978:Glutathione