THE DENATURATION OF EGG ALBUMIN BY ULTRA-VIOLET RADIATION

The coagulation of isoelectric egg albumin solutions, on exposure to ultraviolet radiation, involves three distinct processes, (1) the light denaturation of the albumin molecule, (2) a reaction between the light denatured molecule and water which may be similar to heat denaturation but occurs at a lower temperature, and (3), the flocculation of the denatured molecules to form a coagulum. The light denaturation is unimolecular, independent of temperature, and occurs over a wide pH range. The reaction between the light denatured molecule and water has a temperature coefficient of 10(+) and occurs rapidly at 40°C., a temperature at which heat denaturation is inappreciable.