The Effect of Ionizing Radiation on Amino Acids: II. The Effect of X-Rays on Aqueous Solutions of Alanine

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Abstract
The action of 50 KV X-rays on 1 M aqueous alpha-alanine in vacuo gives rise to ammonia, ethylamine, pyruvic acid, acetaldehyde, propionic acid, CO2, H, and traces of CO and methane. Extrapolated initial yields show that the sum of the acetaldehyde, pyruvic acid and propionic acid accounts for 79.2% of the ammonia, while the CO2 accounts for 77.6% of the sum of ethylamine and acetaldehyde. Also less H was evolved than was calculated. Lactic acid could not be detected, and there was no measurable conversion of L-alanine to the D form. The qualitative and quantitative parallel with glycine irradiation is pointed out. If the irradiations are carried out in the presence of air, formic and acetic acids are formed at the apparent expense of the propionic acid.

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