title: Influence of ionizing radiation on crotoxin: biochemical and immunological aspects.
abstract: Irradiation of crotoxin and its subunits with 2000 Gy of gamma-rays from 60Co source leads to aggregation and generation of lower mol. wt breakdown products. Aggregates separated by gel filtration retain at least part of their higher-ordered structure, based on their reactivity with monoclonal antibodies known to react with conformational epitopes in native crotoxin. These same aggregates can serve as antigens to raise antisera that cross-react and neutralize crotoxin. Compared with native crotoxin, aggregates appear less myotoxic, are largely devoid of phospholipase activity, and are virtually non-toxic in mice. These results indicate that irradiation of toxic proteins can promote significant detoxification, but still retain many of the original antigenic and immunological properties of native crotoxin.
authors.affiliation: IPEN-CNEN/SP São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Do Nascimento
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Seebart
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rogero
authors.forename: I I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003035:Cobalt; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000633:toxicity; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D003035:Cobalt; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D010740:Phospholipases