186 



MECHANISM OF COMPLEMENT ACTION 



and furthermore that the average value of the rate before radiation 

 is almost exactly the same as the average value after radiation. 

 This shows that radiation does not sensitize complement to heat. 

 Experiments conducted for another purpose incidentally supply 

 further proof that at temperatures up to 37°C. radiated complement 

 deteriorates at the same rate as it did prior to radiation. '"^ 



Now Bovie^ and Chalupecky^ independently pointed out that ultra- 

 violet radiation sensitizes such proteins as egg white and lens protein 



TABLE I. 



Suminary of Experiments on the Effect of Heating upon Radiated and Normal Com- 



1 a 



plement. Velocities Calculated as k = - log . 



t a — X 



to subsequent heating, so that they coagulate much more rapidly or 

 at lower temperatures. In Bovie's experiments radiated egg white 

 coagulated even at room temperature. Schanz^ showed that ultra- 

 violet light has a similar effect on serum proteins; he also confirmed 

 and extended the findings of Chalupecky on egg white and lens pro- 

 teins. 



If the hemolytic power of the serum were due to its protein content, 

 radiation sufficient to destroy a large part of that power should be 



3 Brooks, S. C, /. Med. Research, 1920, xli, 411. 

 * Bovie, W. T., Science, 1913, xxxvii, 373. 

 ^ Chalupecky, H., Wien. med. Woch., 1913, kiii, 1986. 

 ^Schanz, F., Arch. ges. Physiol., 1915, clxi, 384. 



