The action of ionizing radiation on protein. III. Radical formation in L-phenylalanine.HCl

SummaryThe radicals produced by X-irradiation in L-phenylalanine ·HCl crystals have been analysed by electron-spin-resonance (e.s.r.) spectroscopy. Four radicals have been identified: the radical resulting from electron capture by the carboxylic group, the radical resulting from deamination, an hydrogen addition radical to the benzene ring, and the radical resulting from hydrogen abstraction from the methylene group bonded to Cβ. These identifications are supported by INDO calculations.