Thiopyronine-sensitized photodynamic effect on RNA synthesis in Saccharomyces cells in vivo

The effect of photodynamic treatment with thiopyronine and visible light on RNA metabolism in yeast cells was investigated at different times during logarithmic growth. The results show that RNA synthesis in the nucleus of the cells is not directly inhibited photodynamically. In the endoplasmic reticulum of photodynamically treated cells one finds mRNA in about the same relative amounts and quality as in untreated control cells, but the binding of polysomes on membranes in the cytoplasm as the first step of protein synthesis is inhibited for a long time after treatment as well as the synthesis of ribosomes.