High Energy Radiation-Induced Aggregation of Plasma Proteins. Time Resolved Light Scattering Measurements
Abstract Human immunoglobulin (IgG), bovine fibrinogen and bovine serum albumin were irradiated at room temperature with short pulses (50 ns to 2 μs) of 16 MeV electrons in 0.2 M NaClO4 solution containing phosphate buffer (pH 7.5). In the presence of N2O the intensity of light (LSI) scattered by the protein solutions increased after the pulse indicating aggregation. The latter process originates from the attack of protein molecules by OH radicals (aggregation is impeded by t-butanol and augmented by N2O). Upon plotting the relative increase of LSI vs. log time (after the pulse) sigmoidally shaped curves were obtained.From these findings and results of optical absorption measurements the following is inferred: Aggregation occurs as a consequence of chemical alterations of the protein molecules induced by the attack by OH radicals. The transient species formed during and a few pis after the pulse are reacting within a period of several ms. At the end of this period the formation of aggregates starts. It is concluded that the primary radiation chemical process consists (among others) in the generation of nuclcation sites. The latter subsequently initiate aggregation processes.