Effect of Ultraviolet Light Irradiation on the Peptide Bonds of Protein

Abstract

In order to examine whether the peptide bonds of proteins are hydrolyzed with the ultra-violet light irradiation or not, egg white lysozyme, α-casein and β-lactoglobulin solutions were irradiated and the chemical analysis of the amino groups, total acidic and basic groups of each protein was carried out. As the result no significant change in the amount of these groups occurred before and after the irradiation. It is concluded that the peptide bonds of protein are not hydrolyzed by the irradiation and decomposition of tryptophan as reported in the previous paper¹⁾ might occur without peptide linkage cleavage.