Action of low-intensity visible copper laser radiation on an HeLa cell culture

An investigation was made of the action of pulsed laser radiation (λ = 578.2 nm copper vapor laser) on nucleic acids in HeLa cells at the proliferating or quiescent stages. It is found that RNA synthesis is sensitive to irradiation in both models but the character of the dose–effect dependence is the opposite. In the case of proliferating cells, dose-dependent stimulation of RNA synthesis is observed in a specific range of doses [(1×10^–2)–1 J/cm²]. In the case of quiescent cells, a monotonic dose dependence is observed (beginning from 1×10^–3 J/cm² RNA synthesis is inhibited and the permeability of the cell membrane decreases). The rate of DNA synthesis in proliferating and quiescent cells varies negligibly.