Effects of low-dose ionizing radiation on α,β-globulins solutions studied by DSC

An attempt has been made to detect the effect of a small dose of ionizing radiation on the course of α,β-globulin thermal denaturation in aqueous solutions. Doses of 0.1 and 1.8 Gy have been delivered using γ-rays emitted by 60 Co isotope while doses of 10 and 100 Gy have been supplied by X-rays produced by linear accelerator. The highest dose has visibly changed DSC curve of protein solution while the changes due to lower doses are hardly detectable. Although very weak, the irradiation effect found has been dose dependent. The results suggest that the influence of ionizing radiation on globulins solution is bigger when the dose rate is lower at given dose. The opposite direction of differences between irradiated and control samples for fresh and stored protein solutions suggests various characters of changes in initial and later period of sample aging. This may be an important reason for difficulties in an investigation of the effect of ionizing radiation on protein solution, especially for low doses delivered very slowly.