Abstract
Ionizing radiations cause chemical damage to proteins. In aerobic aqueous solutions, the damage is commonly mediated by the hydroxyl free radicals generated from water, resulting in formation of protein radicals. Protein damage is especially significant in biological systems, because proteins are the most abundant targets of the radiation-generated radicals, the hydroxyl radical-protein reaction is fast, and the damage usually results in loss of their biological function. Under physiological conditions, proteins are initially oxidized to carbon-centered radicals, which can propagate the damage to other molecules. The most effective endogenous antioxidants, ascorbate, GSH, and urate, are unable to prevent all of the damage under the common condition of oxidative stress. In a promising development, recent work demonstrates the potential of polyphenols, their metabolites, and other aromatic compounds to repair protein radicals by the fast formation of less damaging radical adducts, thus potentially preventing the formation of a cascade of new reactive species.
Highlights
Scope of the ReviewStudies of the chemistry of actions of ionizing radiations on protein-rich materials range from the irradiation of protein crystals to living organisms
Departement für Chemie und Angewandte Biowissenschaften, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule, Abstract: Ionizing radiations cause chemical damage to proteins
As usual in all such applications, a balance needs to be achieved between the benefit of the procedure and any damage, with the estimate of likely deleterious changes derived from the basic studies of radiation chemistry and biology [1,2,3]
Summary
Studies of the chemistry of actions of ionizing radiations on protein-rich materials range from the irradiation of protein crystals to living organisms. A basic observation shared by all studies is that invariably, the chemistry of the irradiated object is altered, with the alteration normally classified as a form of damage. The damage may lead to a useful outcome, as in radiation sterilization, but in other applications, it may need to be prevented. As usual in all such applications, a balance needs to be achieved between the benefit of the procedure and any damage, with the estimate of likely deleterious changes derived from the basic studies of radiation chemistry and biology [1,2,3].
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