ESR studies on the effects of ionizing radiation in biological media

The various effects of molecular oxygen on the radiosensitivity of bacteria is closely connected with the development of peroxyradicals during radiation exposure and their effects. Irradiated 'molecular mixtures' consisting of sephadex and penicillamine show the phenomenon of energy transfer. This might be a fundamental aspect of the damage to biomolecules on the one hand and of the molecular radiation protection on the other. Very closely connected with this phenomenon is the 'repair' of damaged cell modules by radioprotective substances, such as amino acids containing sulphur. Damaged heads of the spermatozoons of herrings are obviously 'repaired' during storage of several days' duration at room temperature if a few percent of the immunizing substance mercaptoethylamine are added to them during irradiation. ESR-examinations of DNA and its components make the mutagenic effect of ionising radiation plausible. They give information about the points in these macromolecules in which radicals are localized. Quantitative determinations of the yield of radicals in each component of the DNA show that there are significant differences in the radiosensitivity of the different DNA-modules and that energy transfer processes can take place within the macromolecule. Longlived radicals in certain tissues of the living organism, such as bones, fingernails, or teeth, can be very useful to develop methods of dosimetry after radiation accidents and of radiotherapy with the help of the help of the ESR-techniques. (orig.)