NEAR-UV LIGHT PROTECTION EFFECT AGAINST LETHALITY INDUCED BY STANNOUSCHLORIDE IN ESCHERICHIA-COLI

Stannous chloride (SnCl2) is a reducing agent largely employed in indu stry and in medical procedures. To evaluate its potential genotoxicity , several Escherichia coli strains were treated with SnCl2, and their survival rates determined. Results showed that the double mutant on sp ecific genes for the repair of deoxyribonucleic acid damage was the mo st sensitive strain. Simultaneous near-UV illumination inhibited the l ethal effect of SnCl2, in the wild type strain. Although the nature of the induced lesions are not known these results indicate the potentia l genotoxicity of SnCl2.