Effects of ionizing radiation on nitric oxide myoglobin.  Part 1.  Effects on the NO-haem moiety. 
Bovine nitric oxide myoglobin (NOMb) was irradiated with 40-4000 krad of gamma-radiation, and the effects on the haem studied using absorption spectroscopy and electron spin resonance (e.s.r.)  spectroscopy.  The results show the following behaviour.  The bright red colour of NOMb changes to brown upon irradiation.  This is similar to changes observed in radiation sterilized.  nitrite-containing meats.  NOMb becomes progressively denitrosylated, with met-myoglobin (metMb) as the immediate product.  Upon increasing doses of radiation (up to 800 krad) at 0 degrees C parallel to NOMb denitrosylation, metMb is gradually converted, by water radiolytic products, to other products, believed to be ferromyoglobin and ferrimyoglobin peroxide.  A minor quantity of 'choleglobin-type' pigments may also be formed at the highest doses.  Freezing of NOMb has a substantial protective effect against radiation.  Native bovine NOMb behaves as a pentaco-ordinate (hfs of 3 peaks with equal intensity); the bond between iron and N epsilon is thus dramatically stretched and weakened.  Using a thermal energy analyser, no NO could be detected over irradiated NOMb solution, indicating rapid reaction of NO liberated from NOMb by radiation, with radiolytic products of water.