Radiation and Enzyme Activity

Abstract

A SYSTEMATIC study of metabolic radiation by a modified photographic method in this laboratory (to be published at a later date) has revealed the following facts : (1) Radiation is a general function of normal organic metabolism, being exhibited by blood, milk, eggs, brain, bone-marrow, lung, the pituitary (anterior and posterior lobe) and the parathyroid gland, urine, roe of plaice, yeast, Demerara sugar, honey, etc. (2) Radiation fades with the lowering and re-appears with the raising of temperature; it is inhibited at -5° to -10°, destroyed by heating at 98°–100° for two hours, inhibited by carbon monoxide in the dark but regenerated in sunlight, and destroyed by hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate and potassium cyanide. (3) Pure cholesterol, vitamins (C and D), sucrose, hormones and alkaloids as such are void of radiation.