Fluorescent Whitening Agents. II. Covalent Binding to Proteins during Irradiation by Sunlight

Abstract

Simulated solar irradiation of wool, silk, bovine serum albumin and apomyoglobin in the presence of radioactively labelled fluorescent whitening agents of the bistriazinylaminostilbene and pyrazoline types results in the irreversible binding of radioactivity to the protein. This photochemical reaction occurs both in the solid state and in aqueous solution, and is believed to result in the formation of a covalent bond between the whitener (or a photodecomposition product) and the protein.