Described here is the sonolytic hydrolysis of peptides achieved by treatment of aqueous solution to which the radical scavenger 1,4-benzenedithiol (1,4-BDT), which has hydrogen donating ability, has been added. Mass spectrometric analysis of the products of sonolytic hydrolysis gave information about amino acid sequence of the peptides without any byproducts. The additive 1,4-BDT improves the sonolytic hydrolysis of peptides in terms of the rate of hydrolysis reaction and the amount of additive required when compared to catechol, a previously reported additive. The sonolytic hydrolysis of peptides differs from both acid hydrolysis and hydrogen atom-induced dissociation named matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization in-source decay (MALDI-ISD), in characteristics. We propose a mechanistic reaction for the sonolytic hydrolysis of peptides, based on the mechanisms of both acid hydrolysis and MALDI-ISD processes. The sonolytic hydrolysis of peptides upon addition of hydrogen donating radical scavengers can be rationalized via the attachment of a hydrogen atom to the carbonyl oxygen with subsequent hydrolysis.
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