Analysis of Photodegradation of proteins by UV-Vis Spectroscopy (CAT#: STEM-MB-0918-WXH)

Introduction

The exposure of proteins to light and the ensuing chemical and physical degradation has been studied extensively for many years. The residues in proteins that undergo primary photooxidation include tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and cysteine/cystine. While photooxidation has been recognized as a major contributor to protein degradation, the effects of photoinduced damage have not been widely studied for biopharmaceuticals. This is particularly important since photodegradation can lead to changes in primary, secondary, and tertiary structures of protein and these changes, while not definitively established, could lead to differences in long-term stability, bioactivity, or immunogenicity.