MONTHLY STATUS AND PROGRESS REPORTThHs feegpent cons Division of Biology and Medicine MONTH OF AUGUST, 1953 No ts of sO | pages Copies, Series LtRab? . . yg. Weapons Test Activities Radiation Telemetering- OPERATION CASTLE. - With the coming series. of test operation in the Pacific, partic3pation of Division operating. personnel | has been requestedby Joint Task Farce 7 in may be supplied safely and quickly. Such data ae necessary aftér a detonation in order to determine the earliest time of Safe entry for recovery parties at the locations. Research Activities Effect of Toxic Substances on Cells.. (UNCLASSIFIED) Sin effects of toxic materials on body tissue differ, it is necess understand the mechanism of action of these poisons on the bod: at the cellular level. A unique study, which has been under way at the University of Rochester Atomic Energy Project, is concerned with the in- timate dependence of the cell's metabolic activities on the spdrial prop- ‘ erties of the cell surface. This work indicates, at least in the systems studied, that some of the cellts most essential bio-chemical versions take place without the entrance of the ingredients into the interior of the cell. Evidently, this is accomplishedby action of enzymeq which are fixed at the cell surface so that they can act on outside substances without leaving the cell and without the entry of the substancds upon Which they act. Most of the work on this project has been with yeast ceil their turnover of organic phosphates, compounds which are of pai Significance in the metabolism of carbohydrates. Uranium ions complex with certain groups (probably polyphosphates) on the s the yeast cells, and do not pass through the surface. Yeast s complexed with uranium fails to carry out the initial steps in. sugar metdbolism. Molybdate and tungstate in low.concentrations similarly inhibi} surface phosphatases and prevent the splitting and utilization of sugaf phosphates ENT OF ENERGY DECSor Ce Ly bw ET ateieneaietnnataneamnnnne off SIGLEKivie We A nciy A Gy DoT PSARAT CH [CIRCLE NUMBER(S)] LQLASaIC OTUIN: RETAINED 10: 2. CLASSIFICATION CHANGED 3. CONTAINS NO DOE ciassrieo TRF. 7 REVIEWER : . CORDINATE WITH; Tit CS SUASSIFICATION CANCELLEDE: NAME: DATE: CLASSIFIED INFO BRACKETE Get te De ; 7. OTHER (SPECIFY)! 2 ARCHIVES