Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, Vol. 22, No. 1, 1996, p. 35

Initiation of Degenerate-Branched Chain Reaction of Glycine Deamination with Ultraweak UV Irradiation or Hydrogen Peroxide

V. L. Voeikov*, ¹ I. V. Baskakov**, K. Kafkalias*, and V. I. Naletov*

Moscow State University , Biological Faculty, Vorob’evy Gory, Moscow , 119899 Russia ,

** Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, ul. Miklukho-Maklaya 16/10, V-437, GSP-7, Moscow , 117871 Russia

Abstract: Short irradiation of an aqueous solution of glycine by an ultraweak source of UV photons initiates a process accompanied by the accumulation of ammonium ions. More intense deamination occurs in an aqueous solution of glycine in the presence of H₂O₂. The kinetics of the ammonia formation coincides with the kinetics of enhancement of luminescence, which was registered in the presence of a luminophore, ethidium bromide or tyrosine. When the process is completed, less than 5% glycine is consumed. At the initial step of the reaction, the concentration of H₂O₂ in the solution increases significantly in comparison with the starting concentration but then begins to decrease. If the luminophore concentration exceeds the optimum, the reaction rate enhancement decelerates and the ammonia yield decreases. UV photons and H₂O₂ are assumed to initiate the degenerate-branched chain reaction of glycine deamination.

Key words: deamination, ammonia, glycine, chemiluminescence, branched chain reaction, ultraweak UV irradiation