PHYTOCHROME INTERMEDIATES IN VIVO–II. CHARACTERISATION OF INTERMEDIATES BY DIFFERENCE SPECTROPHOTOMETRY

Abstract— In epicotyl tissue of Pisum , irradiation of P_r at – 196°C forms a stable product P₆₉₈, whereas P_fr forms a stable product P₆₅₀. On warming P₆₉₈, dark transformation to P_r predominates. On warming P₆₅₀ to – 70°C an intermediate P₆₉₀ is formed which bleaches on further warming to –10°C. When tissue is cooled to –196°C during actinic irradiation, difference spectra for subsequent warming to –10°C indicate that P_r, P_fr and an intermediate P₇₁₀ are formed from weakly absorbing intermediates. Complete photoconversion of P_r to P_fr is not possible at temperatures below –5°C. As the temperature is reduced, the amount of P_fr produced from P_r decreases, while P₇₁₀ increases. P₇₁₀ can be photoconverted at –20°C and above, ultimately forming P_r, but in contrast to P_fr it is not photoconvertible at –196°C.     

PHYTOCHROME INTERMEDIATES IN VIVO– III KINETIC ANALYSIS OF INTERMEDIATE REACTIONS AT LOW TEMPERATURE

Abstract— Kinetic experiments have provided evidence for a series of light and dark reactions of phytochrome intermediates at low temperature in Pisum epicotyl tissue. A photoequilibrium exists between P_r and P₆₉₈, and between P_fr and P₆₅₀. A dark reversion of P₆₉₈P_r and P₆₅₀p_fr at –70°C has been demonstrated. When cooled to 70°C under incandescent light, most of the phytochrome in the tissue is driven into photochemically unreactive intermediates. About 2% of the phytochrome remains as weakly absorbing intermediates that form P_r and P_fr in darkness. A scheme is presented for phytochrome phototransformation in vivo.     

PHOTOCONVERSION OF PHYTOCHROME IN VIVO STUDIED BY DOUBLE FLASH IRRADIATION IN Mougeotia AND Avena

Abstract— The kinetics of phytochrome phototransformation from the red-absorbing form (P_r) to the far-red-absorbing form (P_fr) in vivo at 22°C were studied using a double flash apparatus with 1-ms flashes. Photoconversion by simultaneous flashes of red light saturates at a low P_fr level, indicating the possible attainment of a photoequilibrium between the excitation of P_r and the photoreversion of intermediates in the course of the I-ms flashes. At saturation energy, simultaneous flashes resulted in about 50% as much P_fr as was produced by saturating irradiation with 5 s red light. Intermediates of the phototransformation pathway were analysed by separating two red or a red and a far-red flash by variable dark intervals. In both plants phototransformation intermediates with half-lives < 1 ms occur, but they are too short-lived to characterize by our method. The subsequent intermediates have half-lives of about 7 ms and 150 ms in A vena , 2 ms and 10 ms in Mougeotia. The conversion from P_r to P_fr seems to be completed 1 s after the red flash in Avena. In the alga Mougeotia , P_fr formation seems to be finished within only 50 ms after the inducing red flash. The kinetics obtained from physiological and spectrophotometric experiments with Avena mesocotyls are almost identical. These observations indicate that the physiological response corresponds directly to the amount of P_fr produced and not to phototransformation intermediates or "cycling" between P_r and P_fr.     

PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF RETINOCHROME

Abstract— Retinochrome is a photopigment found in the visual cells of cephalopods. It has been considered to act as a supplier of the 11- cis -retinal required for synthesis of rhodopsin, because its all-trans chromophore is isomerized to 11- cis form in the light. Light and thermal reactions of squid retinochrome were investigated by low-temperature spectrophotometry.
On irradiation with green light at liquid-nitrogen temperature, retinochrome (λ_max 496 nm, – 190°C) is converted mainly to an intermediate lumiretinochrome (λ_max 475 nm, – 190°C), its chromophore being changed to 11- cis -retinal. On irradiation with blue light at - 190°C, retinochrome is changed to a photosteady–state mixture (λ_max 487 nm, – 190°C) composed mainly of retinochrome and lumiretinochrome, since lumiretinochrome is partially regenerated back to retinochrome. Similarly, irradiation of lumiretinochrome with blue light also results in the same photosteady-state mixture, which can be completely reverted to lumiretinochrome on re-irradiation with green light.
Lumiretinochrome is stable at a wide range of temperatures from – 190°C to about – 20°C. Above – 20°C, it is further converted, thermally, into metaretinochrome (λ_max 470 nm), which is the same bleached product as has been observed on irradiation of retinochrome at room temperatures. Thus, the light-bleaching process of retinochrome is rather simple compared with that of rhodopsin.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF A MICROSECOND INTERMEDIATE IN THE LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSIS OF SMALL PHYTOCHROME FROM OAT

Abstract— Irradiation of small phytochrome from oat in its P_r form with 15 ns laser pulses of different wavelengths(605–655 nm) gave rise to a difference absorption with maxima at 400 and 685 nm for the first detectable transient. Bleaching of a 660 nm band was observed, non-recuperable up to 1 ms. The transient absorption has a lifetime of 70±15 μs at 273 K. The transient is tentatively identified as lumi-R and the conformation of its chromophore is postulated to be more extended than that of P_r. A deviation from the exponential decay of the lumi-R absorption at 284 and 300 K and the lack of observable enhancement of the far-red absorption within 1 ms are interpreted in terms of the appearance of still other intermediates on this time scale between lumi-R and P_fr phytochrome.     

LASER PHOTOLYSIS OF THE PURPLE MEMBRANE OF Halobacterium halobium IN THE PHOTOSTATIONARY STATE: THE PHOTOBRANCHING PROCESS FROM THE O640 INTERMEDIATE

Abstract The photobranching process from the O₆₄₀ intermediate (O) in the photocycle of bacteriorhodopsin was studied. The O form accumulated with continuous wave visible light (390–800 nm) irradiation of the acidic (pH 3.9–6.0) purple membrane of Halobacterium halobium at 22°C. The photocycle of O via an L-like (or N-like) intermediate was driven by 630 nm pulsed light. The newly found intermediate has an absorption band in the 450–560 nm region. The "green-light"-absorbing pigment, tentatively called G₅₂₀, was converted to O with a time constant of (1.2 ± 0.2) ms. No M-like species was found in the cycle. The quantum yield of the cycle was estimated to be 0.30 ± 0.15.     

A PHYTOCHROME STUDY USING TWO-LASER/TWO-COLOR FLASH PHOTOLYSIS: I700 IS A MANDATORY INTERMEDIATE IN THE PrPfr PHOTOTRANSFORMATION

Abstract— The phototransformation of native (124 kDa)oat phytochrome, P_r P_fr, Has been studied at 10C by two laser/ two-color flash photolysis. the overall P_rP_fr reaction yield did not vary with temperature within the range4–21C. Foloeing the excitation of P_r with a single 15 ns laser flash at 650nm, the formation of P_fr was quantitavely measured in a time-resolved experiment in the presence of a second 8 ns laser flash at 710 nm delayed from the initial flash. the second laser flash causes at 1.0 s after the initial laser flash a depletion of the uintermediate I₇₀₀ as welll as a reduction of the P_fr absorption at 730 nm. The depletion of I₇₀₀ correlates quantitavely with the reduction of P_fr formation. The absorpton spectra of I₇₀₀ and of the following intermendiate, I_bi, were calculated assuming that the amount of P_r, which is photoconverted by a single laser, equals the amount of P_fr formed.     

PHOTOTRANSFORMATIONS OF PHYTOCHROME: THE CHARACTERIZATION OF LUMI-F AND META-Fa

Abstract— …Phototransformations of the red/far red reversible plant pigment phytochrome involve several intermediates. At 77K, lumi-F , the initial product of phototransformation of the far red absorbing form P _fr and some of its relaxation products are shown to undergo further phototransformations. Lumi-F has an absorption maximum in the region 690–730nm. The product, giving rise to a maximum in the difference spectra at 650nm, formerly thought to be lumi-F , is now believed to represent one of its relaxation products. The nature of the reactions connecting these various intermediates are discussed.     

COMPARATIVE PHOTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF HIGHLY PURIFIED 124 KILODALTON OAT and RYE PHYTOCHROMES in vitro

Abstract A direct comparison of the photochemical interconversions between red (P_r-) and far-red (P_fr-) absorbing forms of highly-purified 124 kDa oat and rye phytochromes under identical experimental conditions was performed. In two different buffer systems at 5°C, the quantum yields for the P_r to P_tr and P_fr to P_r phototransformations under constant red and far-red illumination, φ _r and φ_fr respectively, were determined to be 0.152-0.154 and 0.060-0.065 for oat preparations and 0.172-0.174 and 0.074-0.078 for rye preparations. These values as well as the wavelength dependence of the photoequilibrium produced under continuous illumination throughout the visible and near-ultraviolet spectrum were based on the absorption spectra of the two phytochrome preparations and revised molar absorption coefficients. The molar absorption coefficients were estimated by quantitative amino acid analysis and shown to be identical for the two monocot phytochromes (i.e. 132 mM ⁻¹ cm⁻¹ at the red absorption maximum for the P_r form). Because these measurements were performed under identical experimental conditions, including buffer, temperature, light fluence rate, and instrumentation, the differences observed must reflect structural features inherent to the two different monocotyledonous phytochromes.     

SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF THE RHODOPSIN-SYSTEM OF THE CRAYFISH Astacus leptodactylus

Abstract— The absorption spectra of the membrane-bound and of the digitonin-solubilized visual pigment of crayfish Astacus leptodactylus were investigated by conventional spectrophotometry. A method was developed to isolate purified rhabdoms almost entirely free from screening pigments from a single retina. The quantity of isolated and purified rhabdoms from a single retina was sufficient to measure the absorption spectra of the visual pigment.
The absorption spectra of the chromoprotein system (R and M) show that both the membrane-bound and the digitonin-solubilized visual pigment isomers are stable at 0°C and pH 7.0. Rhodopsin and metarhodopsin are photoreversible under these conditions without any light-induced denaturation. The difference spectra for the chromoprotein isomers and those of different photostationary states yield maximal values for ΔE at 570 and 485 nm.
At neutral pH, 0°C, Λ_max of rhodopsin is 530 nm. Irradiation with light of Λ= 630 to 640 nm isomerizes rhodopsin nearly quantitatively to metarhodopsin with Λ_max, of 500 nm. The molar extinction coefficient of metarhodopsin is greater than that of rhodopsin by a factor of ˜ 1.41. each measured at its respective Λ_max Metarhodopsin can be isomerized to rhodopsin by irradiating at Λ > 630 nm. As the absorption spectra of the two chromoprotein isomers overlap, only part of the metarhodopsin can be reversed to rhodopsin. The maximal photoreversion can be achieved by irradiating at 460 nm. The stability of the digitonin-solubilized chromoprotein is remarkably dependent on temperature. Warming the digitonin extract of rhabdoms from 0 to 20 or 30°C caused a shift of the rhodopsin spectrum to shorter wavelengths (Λ_max= 485 nm) accompanied by a decrease of E_Λmax by about 30%.     

TARGETING ACTIVATED LYMPHOCYTES WITH PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY: SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MITOGEN-STIMULATED SPLENIC LYMPHOCYTES TO BENZOPORPHYRIN DERIVATIVE (BPD) PHOTOSENSITIZATION

Abstract— Benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid ring A (BPD), a hydrophobic chlorin-like porphyrin derivative, which fluoresces strongly at 690 nm, may have potential for both oncologic and nononcologic applications in photodynamic therapy (PDT). To study the influence of cellular characteristics on the uptake of BPD, the murine tumor cell line (P815), and in vitro and in vivo concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated and unstimulated murine splenic lymphocytes were incubated with 2 µg/mL BPD at 37°C for 0–60 min. At various times, cells were lysed and the amount of BPD taken up by the cells was quantified by fluorescence measurements. The subsets of cells taking up BPD were analyzed using a panel of monoclonal antibodies and the Coulter XL* fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Furthermore, Con A-stimulated and unstimulated spleen cells were incubated with 0–50 ng/mL of BPD for 1 h prior to exposure to red light (7.2 J/cm²). Cell survival 24 h post-PDT was measured by the MTT assay. We found that the rapidly dividing tumor cell line and mitogen-stimulated murine T cells (mainly CD4V IL-2R⁺) took up significantly more BPD (5–10-fold) than do unstimulated splenic lymphocytes. Increased BPD uptake correlated with greater photoinactivation when these cells were exposed to light at a wavelength of 690 nm. These findings suggest that activated cells of the immune system may be a target for photoinactivation by BPD.     

TIME RESOLUTION OF A BACK PHOTOREACTION IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN

Abstract— The back photoreaction from the M(412nm) intermediate in the photocycle of light-adapted bacteriorhodopsin, BR_LA(570 nm), is studied using pulsed laser excitation. The decay of a primarily produced species, M_P, regenerates BR_LA(570nm) in a process characterized by a half life of 200 ns at 25°C. The absorption maximum of M_P is blue shifted (Λ_max≃ 395 nm) relative to that of M(412nm). The primary photochemical step, M(412nm) → M_P, is attributed to a conformational change in the polyene residue. The energy and entropy of activation of the subsequent M_P→ BR_LA (570 nm) relaxation are reported and discussed.     

VARIATION IN THE RATES OF SYNTHESIS AND DEGRADATION OF PHYTOCHROME IN COTYLEDONS OF CUCURBITA PEPO L. DURING SEEDLING DEVELOPMENT

Abstract— The time courses for P_r appearance, P_r disappearance and P_fr destruction have been analysed in cotyledons of Cucurbita pepo L. after different preirradiation programs. In etiolated seedlings the rate of P_r appearance is low in young seedlings reaching a maximum in 3.5–5 day old seedlings then decreasing rapidly with increasing age. The rate of P_fr destruction is very low in young seedlings, increases rapidly up to the 4th day and then remains almost constant. The disappearance of P_r becomes significant for seedlings older than 45 days. These reactions seem not to be influenced by short preirradiations. However, after prolonged preirradiation, a degree of control of P, appearance and/or disappearance by the "internal clock appears to be operative.     

BLUE LIGHT INDUCED PHOTOTRANSFORMATION OF PHYTOCHROME IN THE PRESENCE OF FLAVIN*

Abstract— Irradiation of the P_r form of phytochrome in the presence of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) which absorbs the actinic blue light yields P_fr at a rate greater than that in the absence of FMN. The actinic blue light absorbed by FMN enhances the phototransformation of P_r via the energy transfer from the former to the latter. On the other hand, the photoreversion of P_fr was inhibited by the presence of FMN when illuminated with blue light. The lack of photo-enhancement of the reversion of P_r, by blue light suggests that the P_fr chromophore (acceptor) transition dipole is virtually perpendicular to the FMN transition dipole, as the result of a chromophore reorientation in the P_r→P_fr phototransformation. The fact that blue light absorbed by flavin preferentially enhances the forward phototransformation of phytochrome while inhibiting the reversion may have an important implication in the high irradiance responses in plants in terms of a preferential accumulation of P_fr by blue light excitation.     

THE PHOTOMOVEMENT OF Caenorhabditis elegans, A NEMATODE WHICH LACKS OCELLI. PROOF THAT THE RESPONSE IS TO LIGHT NOT RADIANT HEATING

Abstract— Caenorhabditis elegans adults were tested at constant temperature with 10 s periods of monochromatic light alternated with 20 s dark periods. Stimuli at effective intensities and wavelengths caused an increase in the frequency of ecclitic (phobic, avoidance) responses, which was measured as an increase in the probability of a temporary reversal in direction of movement. For monochromatic stimuli ranging from 420 to 680 nm at a constant 56 picoeinsteins s^-1 cm^-2, only those at520–600 nm elicited significant responses. At 540 nm the threshold fluence rate was approximately 30 pE s^-1 cm^-2. At saturating intensities the mean reversal probability was increased to 0.20 in 10 s from a background level of 0.12. approximately.
Because C. elegans lacks ocelli and is very sensitive to temperature, possible sources of radiant heating were considered in detail, including (a) infrared present in the stimuli, (b) absorption of light by the arena, and (c) absorption of light by a nematode pigment. All possible sources were found to cause a negligible temperature rise, on the order of or less than the natural temperature fluctuations inside the worm, 1.5 times 10^-6°C. A 2 times 10^-4°C temperature rise produced by a 1230 nm infrared stimulus had no significant effect on reversal frequency. It was concluded that the response to illumination must have been to light, and not to temperature changes.
Large, + or - 2 °C changes from the acclimation temperature caused significant increases in the background frequency of ecclitic responses (a thermoecclisis or thermoklinokinesis). However, neither the threshold nor the saturation level of light-induced responses was affected by the ± 2°C changes.     

A REVERSIBLE PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION OF CHLOROPHYLL a WITH I2

Abstract— Chlorophyll a and I₂ form a 1:1 addition compound, which exhibits a strong absorption maximum at about 360 nm. When dissolved in anaerobic methanol, this compound can be reversibly bleached by illumination with red light. Prolonged illumination at low temperatures (˜– 75°C) or intense illumination at room temperature reduces the height of the red absorp tion maximum to about half of its normal value. Since the thermal back reaction is negligibly slow at – 75°C, presumably the chlorophyll-I₂ complex is converted completely to its bleached form, when illuminated under those conditions. This assumption leads to a simple mechanism which is consistent with the experimental data.     

ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF DARK REVERSION OF PHYTOCHROME IN THE MUSTARD SEEDLING

Abstract —We present physiological evidence using the threshold control of lipoxygenase synthesis† by P_fr in the mustard seedling (LOG response) that there is no dark reversion of phytochrome
which would be relevant for this response. Such Ptr which can be detected with the lipoxygenase response disappears exclusively through degradation with a half-life of 45 min at 25°C. De novo synthesis of P*_r in the hypocotylar hook takes place at a constant rate (zero order rate constant) irrespective of the level of P_r or P*_tot, i.e. there is no detectable feedback control of P_r synthesis during the period of experimentation. The data of the present paper are consistent with a quantitative phytochrome model (Scheme 1) which has been advanced and treated quantitatively in the companion paper (Oelze-Karow and Mohr, 1976).     

PHOTODICHROISM OF RHODOPSIN SOLUTIONS AT -196°C

Abstract— The photodichroism of a system of randomly oriented, bleachable pigment molecules, rigidly fixed in an inert transparent matrix was investigated theoretically. A formula was derived for the photochemical equilibrium reaction between three pigments, N ₁⇆ N ₂⇆ N ₃ in the case that the absorption ellipsoids of the pigments are rotationally symmetric and their symmetry axes coincide. The formula was applied to the dichroism induced by plane polarized light of different wavelengths in an aqueous rhodopsin-glycerol mixture at –196°C. It was found that the absorption ellipsoids of this visual pigment, its analogue, isorhodopsin, and its first bleaching product, prelumirhodopsin, are elongated with an apparent axial ratio of about 5. It was concluded that the light absorbing properties of these pigments cannot be described by a single transition moment vector (linear absorber). The absolute value of the quantum efficiency of the conversion of rhodopsin to prelumirhodopsin was shown to be approximately equal to the quantum efficiency of bleaching rhodopsin at room temperature. Some evidence was obtained that indicates that the relative quantum efficiencies of the rhodopsin system at – 196°C may be wavelength dependent.     

PHYTOCHROME-MEDIATED PHOTOTROPISM IN PROTONEMATA OF THE MOSS Ceratodon purpureus BRID

Abstract— Protonemata of the moss Ceratodon purpureus cultured in white light were transferred to darkness for 3 days and then used for phototropic experiments. Irradiation of the apical region of vertically position protonemata with small beams (0.2 mm) of red light induced a growth response towards the irradiated side (positive phototropism). The phototropic response showed irradiance dependence. The effect of red light was completely reversed by far-red light following red light irradiations, demonstrating that phytochrome was the photoreceptor pigment. Far-red light or UV-blue light had no influence on either bulging or phototropism. Experiments with linearly polarized red or far-red light showed a different dichroic distribution of phytochrome in its different forms, the red-absorbing form, P_r and the far-red-absorbing form, P_fr. Red light with a vibration plane parallel to the long axis of the filaments was most effective. The effectiveness of far-red light was expressed best when its vibration plane was 90° to the electrical vector of the inductive red light.     

TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVITY OF LIGHT-INDUCED PHASE SHIFTING OF THE CIRCADIAN CLOCK OF NEUROSPORA

Two new mutants of Neurospora craasa , designated hth-1 and hth-2 , have been isolated which allow clear expression of the circadian conidiation rhythm at high temperature (36°C). Both strains showed single-gene segregation and produced similar phenotypes but mapped to different genetic loci. These mutants allowed an analysis of the effect of temperature on (1) light-induced phase-shifting of the circadian rhythm, (2) period length of rhythm, and (3) growth rate. The amplitude of the phase response curve to light was drastically reduced as the temperature was increased from 25°C to 34°C. Phase advances were decreased more than phase delays. As previously reported (Sargent et al. , 1966), the period length of the rhythm is temperature-compensated below 30°C ( Q ₁₀˜ 1) but not well-compensated above 30°C ( Q ₁₀ 1.3–1.7). The decrease in amplitude of the light phase response curve occurred in both temperature ranges. Furthermore, the Q ₁₀ value was lowered by addition of yeast extract in the high temperature range but not in the low range. Q ₁₀ values for growth rate also differed in these strains both in the low temperature range (25–30°C) and the high temperature range (30–34°C).