Comparison Study on Changes of Antigenicities of Egg Ovalbumin Irradiated by Electron Beam or X-Ray

This study was conducted to compare the effects of two forms of radiation (electron and X-ray; generated by an electronbeam accelerator) on the conformation and antigenic properties of hen`s egg albumin, ovalbumin (OVA), which was usedas a model protein. OVA solutions (2.0 mg/mL) were individually irradiated by electron beam or X-ray at the absorbeddoses of 0 (control), 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 kGy. No differences between the two forms of radiation on the structural propertiesof OVA were shown by spectrometric and electrophoretic analyses. The turbidity of OVA solution increased and the mainOVA bands on polyacrylamide gels disappeared after irradiation, regardless of the radiation source. In competitive indirectenzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, OVA samples irradiated by electron beam or X-ray showed different immunologicalresponses in reactions with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies (immunoglobulin G) produced against non-irradiatedOVA. The results indicate that electron beam irradiation and X-ray irradiation produced different patterns of structuralchanges to the OVA molecule.