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Laser flash photolysis of aqueous tryptophan

Journal Article · · J. Phys. Chem.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/j100592a002· OSTI ID:7211147

Laser flash photolysis of aqueous tryptophan at 265 nm generates the neutral radical product of indole ring N-H bond photolysis (lambda/sub max/ 510 nm, 1800 M/sup -1/ cm/sup -1/; 330 nm, 3100 M/sup -1/ cm/sup -1/), the triplet state (lambda/sub max/ 460 nm), and the hydrated electron as initial products. The photoionization quantum yields for tryptophan, 1-methyltryptophan, tyrosine, and glycine-tryptophan peptides have been determined using ferrocyanide as the reference system. The electron and aromatic radical decay by a previously unreported first-order back reaction of 0.80-..mu..sec half-time, leading to residual yields of the separated products after several microseconds significantly smaller than the photoionization yield. The kinetics results are consistent with the formation of a loose complex between the hydrated electron and the radical in which recombination competes with separation. The implications of this process for tryptophyl residue destruction in proteins are considered. A comparable first-order electron decay stage was observed with tryptophan derivatives, tyrosine, I/sup -/, and Fe(CN)/sub 6//sup 4 -/.

Research Organization:
Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago
OSTI ID:
7211147
Journal Information:
J. Phys. Chem.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phys. Chem.; (United States) Vol. 79:25; ISSN JPCHA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English