THE SOLID-STATE CATALYTIC SYNTHESIS OF TRITIUM-LABELED AMINO-ACIDS, PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS

New catalytic reaction between a solid bioorganic compound and activat ed spillover tritium (ST), based on High-temperature Solid-state Catal ytic Isotopic Exchange (HSCIE) was examined. The HSCIE mechanism and d etermination of the reactivity of hydrogen atoms in amino acids, pepti des and proteins was investigated. Quantum mechanical calculations of the reactivity of hydrogen atoms in amino acids in the HSCIE reaction were done. The carbon atom with a greater proton affinity undergoes a greater exchange of hydrogen for tritium in HSCIE. The electrofilic na ture of spillover hydrogen in the reaction of HSCIE was revealed. The isotope exchange between ST and the hydrogen of the solid organic comp ound proceeds with a high degree of configuration retention at the car bon atoms. The HSCIE reaction enables to synthesize tritium labeled pr oteins with a specific activity of 20-30 mCi/mg and kept biological ac tivity.