Radiation Damage to Peptides: An ENDOR Study of X-Irradiated Acetylglycine

Abstract
ENDOR spectroscopy and isotopic substitution were used in a study of the paramagnetic species produced by x irradiation in single crystals of acetylglycine maintained at 4.2°K. A reduced species was identified which is formed by the addition of an electron to oxygen of the peptide link. Another reduced species, formed by the addition of an electron to the carboxyl group, occurs in two conformations. The oxidized species decomposes losing a proton and CO2.