Radiation chemistry of amino acids, peptides and proteins in relation to the radiation sterilization of high-protein foods

Technical Report · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5582963· OSTI ID:5582963

Garrison, W. M.

An important source of information on the question of whether or not toxic or other deleterious substances are formed in the radiation sterilization of foods is the chemical study of reaction products and reaction mechanisms in the radiolysis of individual food components. The present evaluation of the radiation chemistry of amino acids, peptides, and proteins outlines the various radiation-induced processes which lead to amino acid degradation and to the synthesis of amino acid derivatives of higher molecular weight. Among the latter are the ..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..'-diamino dicarboxylic acids which are formed as major products in the radiolysis of peptides both in aqueous solution and in the solid state. The ..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..'-diamino acids are of particular interest as irradiation products because they represent a class of compounds not normally encountered in plant and animal protein sources. Such compounds have, however, been isolated from certain types of bacteria and bacterial products. All of the available data strongly suggest that the ..cap alpha..,..cap alpha..'-diamino acids are produced in significant yield in the radiation sterilization of high protein foods. The importance of initiating extensive chemical and biological studies of these and of other high molecular weight products in irradiated food is emphasized.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 5582963
• Report Number(s): LBL-8928-Rev.; ON: DE82011096
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEAR CHEMISTRY
400600* -- Radiation Chemistry
560132 -- Radiation Effects on Microorganisms-- Food Preservation-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AMINO ACIDS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CHEMICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DECOMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
FOOD
MIXTURES
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PEPTIDES
PROTEINS
RADIATION CHEMISTRY
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOLYSIS
RADIOSTERILIZATION
SOLIDS
SOLUTIONS
STERILIZATION