Effect of ethanol on the radiolysis of ribonuclease.

The dependence of D 37 on the ribonuclease concentration was measured for depolymerase and hydrolase activity. Ethanol gives different radiation protection to the two functions by OH-scavenging. Evidence for the reaction of ethanol radicals was obtained by simultaneously scavening hydrated electrons, OH-and most of the H-radicals without increase in the radiation protection. The efficiency of the individual primary radicals and the ethanol radicals in inactiviating ribonuclease is calculated from the measured inactivation yield.