THE RHYTHM OF OXIDATIVE PROCESSES 283 



It should not be said that the given principle of interrelation between 

 structure and exchange processes is the only mechanism of self-regula- 

 tion. A living system is so reliably self-regulating with respect to usual 

 technical constructions because it undoubtedly has many various 

 reserves and spare channels in regulatory mechanisms. 



However, such a distinct relation between structure and exchange 

 processes gives us the possibility of considering it with rather firm con- 

 viction to be a self -regulating mechanism of no small importance. 



It is from this viewpoint that we compared rhythmical structural 

 motility and rhythmical processes of oxygen utilization. 



By now the running of definitely localized chemical processes in 

 time has not been fixed by procedures of direct recording. The facts 

 we observe when we employ polarographic sounding may be the first 

 step in this domam. From the other side we know how phenomena of 

 motility in living systems are distributed. A continual change in the 

 forms of cells and an interchange of their separate elements takes place. 

 Currents of plasma are continuously running. Mitochondria contract 

 and relax, cell nuclei pulsate and in some cases this structural motility 

 in the submicroscopical range as was shown, is of the character of a 

 more or less rhythmical process. Moreover, hardening of structure is 

 the first and most convincing feature of death from its appearance. 



All this leads us to suppose that structural motility is one of the most 

 important elements of the regulation of kinetic cellular processes, 

 (Frank, 1958a, b; 1960). 



If it is so the problems stated above must be considered apart from 

 the undoubtedly important problems of the effect of radiation on large- 

 molecular components, upon enzyme systems (both isolated and in situ) 

 and directly-forming structural organization. The question is here of 

 an influence not on separate links and components but upon the inter- 

 relation between structure and exchange processes which play a big 

 role in the ordering of chemical processes in a cell, the co-ordination of 

 all running processes. 



In this manner new ways of understanding the reinforcing mechan- 

 isms which determine radiobiological reactions in living cells may be 

 found. 



Thus the question is of an analysis of the influence on regulatory 

 mechanisms and of the damage that takes place in the main mechanism 

 of self-regulation, the system of reverse relations — interrelation be- 

 tween structures and exchange processes. 



If the rhythm of phenomena is thought of as an external manifesta- 

 tion of a working regulatory mechanism, we can see a possibility of 

 taking one step more in the direct experimental analysis of an inhibition 



