Self-decomposition components generated from 35S-labeled amino acids

We examined the fragment molecules in the gaseous components generated from 35S-amino acids with high specific radioactivity. The self-decomposition mode of a molecule labeled with a β-emitter was similar to the fragmentation mode of organic compounds impacted by accelerated electrons as in organic mass spectrometry. Degradation products of unlabeled amino acids irradiated by 60Co γ-ray indicated that the degradation mode induced by external γ-rays irradiation was different from the self-decomposition mode of labeled compounds. (Author)