Kinetic Features of Labeled Product Formation under the Action of Atomic Tritium on Frozen Solutions and Lyophilically Dried Mixtures of Amino Acids

Abstract

Formation of labeled amino acids in reactions of their lyophilically dried mixtures and frozen solutions with atomic tritium generated by thermal activation was studied in relation to the reaction time and pressure of molecular tritium. The molar radioactivity of the amino acids is a complex function of the reaction time. At short reaction times, the radioactivity of the amino acid depends primarily on its concentration in the near-surface layer. At long labeling times, in the case of surfactants, the yield of labeled products can decrease owing to side reactions. The influence of water on the rate of formation of labeled products and its role in thermalization of “hot” tritium atoms in the target is discussed. An increase in the tritium pressure in the system increases the initial radioactivity of the target but affects the yield of the labeled amino acids insignificantly. Recommendations are formulated on optimizing the conditions for labeling of biological macromolecules in their structural studies by tritium planigraphy.