[Objective] The aim of this work was to identify molecular weight （MW） distribution and antioxidant activity of fish skin col agen hydrolysates. [Method] The MW distribution of hydrolysates was determined using both size exclusion chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spec-trometry （MALDI-TOF-MS）. Fish skin were treated by the alkaline protease 2709. [Result] The optional conditions for hyerolysis were time 3 h, temperature 55 ℃, pH 10.0, substrate concentration 80 g/L and E/S 4%. The results of both methods indi-cated that the molecular weight of col agen hydrolysates was from 400 to 1 800 Da, and the peptides’ molecular weight was less than 1 400 Da mostly. The reducing power and antioxidant/radical scavenging activity [1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl （DPPH） free radical scavenging activity] were determined. [Conclusion] The results reveal that the fishskin hydrolysate is a potential source of antioxidants.
