Isolation and Characterization of Protein Bodies in Lupinus angustifolius.

Using Nycodenz, a novel density gradient medium, we isolated intact protein bodies from developing seeds of Lupinus angustifolius L. (cultivar Unicrop) and achieved excellent separation from the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and other organelles. The distribution of the storage protein conglutin-beta was taken as evidence that up to 96% of the protein bodies remained intact on the gradients and banded at 1.25 grams per milliliter. The protein bodies also contained the three other abundant proteins present in L. angustifolius seeds: conglutins-alpha, -gamma, and -delta. Pulse labeling experiments were carried out to determine the site of proteolytic processing of conglutin-alpha, a legumin-like 11Svedberg unit storage protein. Cotyledons aged either 33 or 40 days after flowering were pulsed with [(3)H]leucine. Protein bodies obtained from the cotyledons aged 33 days after flowering contained only the labeled precursors of conglutin-alpha with molecular weights 85,000, 72,000, and 64,000, even after a 4 hour chase of the radioactivity. Protein bodies obtained from the cotyledons aged 40 days after flowering contained the same radioactive precursors if the tissue had been pulsed for 2 hours, and the processing products of these precursors when the tissue had been chased for 4 hours. These studies confirm that the subcellular location of proteolytic cleavage of this legumin-like protein is the protein body, that this activity is detected only in protein bodies from lupin seeds aged between 33 and 40 days of seed development after flowering and that protein bodies from seeds younger than this contain only unprocessed conglutin-alpha.

[Danger of radiation--a realistic view]. / Die Strahlengefahr--realistisch gesehen.

It is evident that ionizing radiation at high doses is able to damage living organisms and may induce cancer and leukemia in man. At low doses, however, biopositive effects appear possible too, for which examples are given. The mechanism of such effects can be explained as a general stimulation of the natural immune system. In conclusion, radiation at low doses is thus not as dangerous as often assumed but is rather essential for life and the maintenance of health.

[A comparison of the readings of film- and pocket dosimetry (author's transl)]. / Ein Vergleich der Anzeige von Filmdosimetern mit der von gleichzeitig getragenen Stabdosimetern.

An inquiry to compare the readings of film- and pocket dosimeters worn by the same individual at the same time showed similar results, a fact which was found to be very satisfying. Of the 2132 dosimeters compared, only 46 (2.2%) were outside the standard error of -30/+50% permitted for film dosimetry. The majority of these (37) can be explained to be due to the different type of energy dependence of these 2 dosimeter types. The total dosis measured reflected an even better, conformity, differing only by 11.3% to 14.4% depending on the mode of calculation, the difference being partially due to the better sensitivity of the film dosimeters to low energy beta radiation. An additional result of the study is the conclusion to recommend more careful use and recording of pocket dosimetry.

[Results of measurements of local doses with film-dosimeters (author's transl)]. / Ergebnisse der Ortsdosismessungen mit Filmdosimetern.

In medical x-ray departments, industrial facilities and nuclear reactors, local radiation was measured with film dosimeters in more than 1700 different places. These were fixed over a period of about 30 days in different spots of the controlled rooms. The obtained measurements are classified into different groups. The advantage of film dosimeters compared with usual measurements of the dose rates is the fact that they give an average of the real dose over a period of time at low cost. The obtained results are of interest for radioprotection technique.

[Radiation exposure of the dentist]. / Zur Strahlenexposition des Zahnarztes

The radiation dosis per person undergoing dental treatment measured at the trunk is rather considerable, though not alarming. However, the number of people whose hands has been exposed to radiation as well as the individual extent of exposure were unexpectedly high. The radiation dosis measured at the hands was about 100 times bigger than the radiation dosis determined at the trunk for the whole body. Although these results may be very impressive, it should be borne in mind that the data on which the investigation was based date from 1967/68 and may no longer be fully applicable to the present situation. Whether and to what extent this assumption is justified ought to found out by control studies regarding radiation dosis per person and Röpak programs which are presently being started and whose results will be discussed in this journal.