Effect of low-level α-radiation on bioluminescent assay systems of various complexity

Abstract

This study addresses the effects of low-level α-radiation on bioluminescent assay systems of different levels of organization: in vivo and in vitro. Three bioluminescent assay systems are used: intact bacteria, lyophilized bacteria, and bioluminescent system of coupled enzyme reactions. Solutions of ²⁴¹Am(NO₃)₃ are used as a source of α-radiation. It has been shown that activation processes predominate in all the three bioluminescent assay systems subjected to short-term exposure (20–55 h) and inhibition processes in the systems subjected to longer-term exposure to radiation. It has been found that these effects are caused by the radiation component of ²⁴¹Am³⁺ impact. The intensity of the ²⁴¹Am³⁺ effect on the bioluminescent assay systems has been shown to depend on the ²⁴¹Am³⁺ concentration, level of organization and integrity of the bioluminescent assay system. The bioluminescent assay systems in vivo have been found to be highly sensitive to ²⁴¹Am³⁺ (up to 10⁻¹⁷ M).