Binding of oxygen upon irradiation of protein solutions of varying concentrations

Protein solutions have been γ-irradiated (Co60) at a dose of 500 kR and dose rates 50 and 400 R/sec. As the concentration of the irradiated solution decreases from 25 per cent down to 0.2 per cent, the degree of O2 binding by the protein molecules increases some 65-90 times, and constitutes 38.3 to 42.0 oxygen atoms per a protein molecule at a 0.2 per cent concentration. The radio-chemical yield of the binding reactions but slightly rises (1.5 to 2 times). This is explained by nearly similar effectiveness of direct and indirect action of radiation on the processes of O2 binding in the solutions with the concentration range under study. The direct action of radiation is more effective in dry samples than in solutions due to better oxygen supply to the protein molecules of the former