Radiation target analysis of glycoproteins.

The radiation sensitivity of glycoproteins is shown to depend only on the protein portion of the molecule. An artificially created glycoprotein containing glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase observes this rule as well as natural enzymes and receptors containing from 2 to 50% carbohydrate. No exceptions have been found. Radiation damage to carbohydrates occurs close to the site of the primary ionization, with little spread of damage into attached polypeptides.