Micellar effect on tyrosine one-electron oxidation by azide radicals

Dityrosine formation, via radiolytic production of N3 and TyrO free radicals by gamma and pulse radiolysis, has been studied in buffered water and direct micellar solutions of tyrosine. Steady-state studies (60Co) allowed, for the first time, the determination of dityrosine yield in the different systems. It is shown that, whatever the interfacial charge is, micelles exert an efficient protection against tyrosine oxidation when compared to aqueous solutions. Such an effect is related to a different location of the reactants in the different media.