Aspects of radiation chemistry of protein molecules: A review

Data on the radiolysis of proteins (in the form of aqueous solutions in liquid or frozen states, and dry preparations) is surveyed, and the potential role of free radicals in chain scission, crosslinking, and modification of amino acid residues in the macromolecules is considered. The reaction schemes for principal transformation pathways of protein free radicals account for the ultimate molecular products of the radiolysis. Effects of supermolecular ordering of protein molecules and structured water on the radiolysis of a protein-water system and problems of radioprotection of proteins at the stage of formation and decay of primary macroradicals are discussed