title: Radiation chemistry of an aqueous solution of glycine: compounds of interest to chemical evolution studies.
abstract: We have examined the radiolysis of an O2-free aqueous solution of glycine at absorbed doses of 60Co gamma-radiation of up to 20 Mrad. At least 20 compounds are formed during radiolysis, among them several amino acids, an oligoamine, and the nitrogen-free polymers (Mw less than or equal to 28,000 daltons). When dicyandiamide is present in the solution of glycine, various nitrogen-containing products, including some polymers (Mw less than or equal to 12,000 daltons), are synthesized along with radiolytic products of glycine; polyglycines are not formed. We have determined the radiation-chemical yields of radiolytic-product formation and of decomposition of glycine, and have considered possible free-radical reactions leading to the radiation-induced changes observed.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002854:Chromatography, Paper; D003124:Colorimetry; D004590:Electrophoresis, Paper; D005998:Glycine / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013055:Spectrophotometry, Infrared
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D000641:Ammonia; D005998:Glycine