Absorption of ultra-violet light by living cells

✍ Scribed by J.O. Ely; M.H. Ross

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1949
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 113 KB
• Volume: 248
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-0032(49)90225-2

✦ Synopsis

Nucleic acids, because of the presence of purines and pyrimidines in the molecule, absorb ultra-violet light with a maximum absorption at 2600 A. Recently, Larionow and Brumberg (1) suggested, on the basis of ultra-violet light photomicrographic studies, that desoxyribonucleic acid, as it exists in the nuclei of living cells, does not absorb ultra-violet light of wave-lengths near 2600 A. These investigators contended that absorption develops as a result of injury or death of the cell.

Ultra-violet light photomicrographs of living cells made in this laboratory show absorption of light of wave-length 2654 A. Cells of the Walker Carcinoma No. 256 of the rat were used. Cell suspensions

Ultra-violet light (2654 A) photomicrograph of Walker Carcinoma

No. 256 of the rat, magnification 900 X.