Deamination and degradation of hydroxyl-containing dipeptides and tripeptides in the radiolysis of their aqueous solutions

The effect of the presence of hydroxyl groups at the side chains of di- and tripeptides on the radiation-initiated deamination and main-chain cleavage was examined. It was found that the presence of hydroxyl groups is favorable to peptide main-chain degradation with the formation of amino acid amides. The deamination was intensified or inhibited depending on the positions of OH groups in the molecules of test compounds. As a rule, both deamination and main-chain degradation processes in oxygenated solutions of di- and tripeptides were inhibited because of oxidation of hydroxyl-containing groups in the starting substances.