The Mechanism of Action of AET: I. The Radiation Chemistry of 2-Mercaptoethylguanidine and Bis-(2-guanidoethyl) Disulfide in Aqueous Buffered Solutions

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Abstract
Aqueous buffered solutions of 2-mercaptoethylguanidine (MEG) and bis(2-guanidoethyl) disulfide (GED), labelled with S35 and C14, were irradiated by means of a 3-curie Co60 gamma-ray source. The radiation products were separated and identified by paper chromatography and electrophoresis. Irradiation of solutions of GED produced 2-guanidoethanesulfinic acid, taurocyamine, inorganic sulfate and guanidine. G values (molecules produced or destoryed per 100 ev) were calculated for the oxidation of 0.001 M MEG at pH 6(14.3 to 18.2), for the oxidation of 0.0005 M GED at pH 7.5 (0.29) and at pH 8.5 (1.0), for the formation of 2-guanidoethanesulfinic acid plus taurocyamine at pH 7.5 (0.42), and for the formation of inorganic sulfate and guanidine at pH 7.5 (0.17). The oxidation of MEG and GED by ionizing radiation indicated that these protective agents were capable of reacting with oxidizing free radicals formed in irradiated aqueous solutions.