[Electrophoretic studies on the effect of different types of radiation (60Co, electrons, x-ray, photons, UV) on low-molecular ribonucleic acids].

Electron irradiation (45 MeV) with the chosen doses modifies the molecule composition of isolated dry yeast RNA. High-energy irradiation will crack the RNA which then forms new chains of macromolecular nucleic acids. Other radiation types (60Co, photons, X-rays) do not modify dry RNA, but when irradiated in aqueous solution, these macromolecular bands will be built, too. After UV irradiation with 254 nm delivered over 24 hours these macromolecular bands disappear completely in the electrophoretic diagram. This wavelength corresponds to the absorption maximum of purines, thus stimulating them and reducing their stability.