Radiation Biochemical effects

Since 1896, one year after Roentgen s discovery of X rays, the bactericidal effects of radiation have been under scrutiny. Patents covering both sterilization and deinfestation have been granted (W10, A7). These have long since expired. The inventors were unable to exploit their process since they could not cope with two major problems (1) no effective or economic sources of radiation existed and (2) insufficient information regarding biological and biochemical effects of radiation was available. 

The biochemical effects of radiation on fish and shellfish can be classified under the following headings. 

Salunkhe, D.K., Physiological and biochemical effects of gamma radiation on tubers of Jerusalem artichoke, Bot. Gaz., 120, 180-183, 1959. 

Mehendale HM. 1992. Biochemical mechanisms of biphasic dose-response relationships Role of hormesis. In Calabrese EJ, ed. Biological effects of low level exposures to chemicals and radiation. Workshop, Amherst, MA, April 30 - May 1, 1991. Chelsea, Ml Lewis Publishers, Inc., 59-94. 

The field of theoretical molecular sciences ranges from fundamental physical questions relevant to the molecular concept, through the statics and dynamics of isolated molecules, aggregates and materials, molecular properties and interactions, and the role of molecules in the biological sciences. Therefore, it involves the physical basis for geometric and electronic structure, states of aggregation, physical and chemical transformations, thermodynamic and kinetic properties, as well as unusual properties such as extreme flexibility or strong relativistic or quantum-field effects, extreme conditions such as intense radiation fields or interaction with the continuum, and the specificity of biochemical reactions. 

The effect of radiation on the biochemical processes of fresh fruits and vegetables is of considerable interest from the standpoint of its influence on shelf life. A number of studies on the effect of radiation on respiration have indicated a general stimulation of both oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide evolution during the irradiation period, subsiding to near-normal rates shortly following the cessation of treatment (21, 23, 24, 38). 

Burkitt MJ, Duncan J (2000) Effects of frans-resveratrol on copper-dependent hydroxyl-radical formation and DNA damage evidence for hydroxyl-radical scavenging and a novel, glutathionesparing mechanism of action. Arch Biochem Biophys 381 253-263 Buxton GV (1987) Radiation chemistry of the liquid state. (1) Water and homogeneous aqueous solutions. In Farhataziz, Rodgers MAJ (eds) Radiation chemistry principles and applications. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, pp 321-349... 

Raleigh JA, Blackburn BJ (1978) Substrate conformation in 5 -AMP-utilizing enzymes 8,5 -cyclo-adenosine 5 -monophosphate. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 83 1061-1066 Raleigh JA, Fuciarelli AF (1985) Distribution of damage in irradiated 5 -AMP 8,5 -cyclo-AMP, 8-hy-droxy-AMP, and adenine release. Radiat Res 102 165-175 Raleigh JA, Whitehouse R, Kremers W (1974) Effect of oxygen and nitroaromatic cell radiosensitizers on radiation-induced phosphate release from 3 - and 5 -nucleotides A model for nucleic adds. Radiat Res 59 453-465... 

---