THE PHOTOLYSIS RATES OF SOME DI- AND TRIPEPTIDES OF TRYPTOPHAN

We have measured the relative rates of photolysis of free tryptophan (trp), the dipeptides Gly-Trp, Trp-Gly, Leu-Trp, and Trp-Leu, and the tripeptides Gly-Trp-Gly and Leu-Trp-Leu. The photolyses were performed in neutral 0.1 mM aqueous solutions at 25°C using monochromatic 290 nm Xe arc radiation. Tryptophan loss was monitored by absorption, fluorescence and phosphorescence spectroscopy. The rate of tryptophan fluorescence loss was found to be different in the di-and tripeptides than in tryptophan monomer. These rate differences depended on both the identity of the neighboring amino acid (gly or leu) and on the nature of the linkage, e.g., the rate of Gly-Trp photolysis was more than 10 times greater than the rate of Trp-Gly photolysis. Degassing was found to markedly reduce (factor of 8) the photolysis rates of Trp, Trp-Gly, and Trp-Leu, but degassing only slightly reduced (less than a factor of 2) the photolysis rates of the other di-and tri-peptides. Photochemical product structures were not determined, but absorption and fluorescence spectra were obtained and products could be inferred in some cases by comparison with data of previous workers. The products appeared to differ greatly among the various peptides studied; Trp, Trp-Gly, and Trp-Leu gave oxidation products, while Gly-Trp and Leu-Trp apparently gave ring closure products, not requiring oxygen.     

THE PHOTOLYSIS OF TRYPTOPHAN WITH 337.1 nm LASER RADIATION

Abstract— Aqueous solutions of L-tryptophan were photolyzed by exposure to 337.1 nm radiation from a pulsed nitrogen laser. These data were compared with results for the 290 nm conventional-source photolysis of tryptophan. The progress of photolysis was monitored by fluorescence analysis of tryptophan. UV absorption spectroscopy, HPLC, TLC, and proton NMR spectroscopy. The loss of Trp was observed to be first order for 290 nm photolysis but of mixed order for 337.1 nm photolysis. Five photolysis products were detected by TLC analysis, including: N-formylkynurenine. kynurenine, tryptamine (detected after 290 nm photolysis but not 337.1 nm photolysis) and two unknown products. The tryptophan-containing peptides N-acetyl-tryptophanamide (NATA) and tryptophylglycine (Trp-Gly) were also observed to photolyze upon 337.1 nm laser radiation demonstrating that this phenomenon is not restricted to free tryptophan monomer.
Since Trp is not ordinarily thought to absorb U V radiation at wavelengths as long as 337.1 nm. a number of experiments were performed in an effort to determine the mechanism of photolysis at this wavelength. Evidence is presented which indicates that the 337.1 nm laser photolysis of Trp does not result from two photon absorption, dielectric breakdown, or other laser-specific processes. Instead. it is concluded that this photolysis results either from a very weak absorption tail extending to 337.1 nm in tryptophan itself or from a reaction involving an impurity sensitizer which absorbs the 337.1 nm radiation. The sensitizing impurity. if present, could not. however, be removed by preparative HPLC and could not be detected by TLC or fluorescence analysis.     

FLUOROMETRIC STUDY OF TRYPTOPHAN PHOTOLYSIS

Abstract— Measurements of fluorescence spectra and fluorescence intensity for tryptophan solutions at different pH show an effective decarboxylation and deamination of tryptophan molecules under UV irradiation. The nonexponential dose-relationship of decrease in total fluorescence of tryptophan solutions is due to the formation of the products retaining indole ring in the course of these reactions. Dose-relationships and quantum yields of indole ring photolysis, deamination and decarboxylation are determined for tryptophan at 254 nm irradiation. Indole ring destruction accounts for about 60% of the total photolysis of tryptophan. Decarboxylation of tryptophan is two times more effective than its deamination. In the absence of oxygen quantum yield of indole photolysis in tryptophan and in the products of decarboxylation and deamination is reduced by a factor of two and by approximately an order of magnitude, respectively. Tryptophan photolysis products which, when excited at 365 nm. fluoresce in the visible region are formed from an intermediate product of indole ring destruction.     

INFLUENCE OF THE ENVIRONMENT ON THE EXCITATION WAVELENGTH DEPENDENCE OF THE FLUORESCENCE QUANTUM YIELD OF INDOLE

Abstract— The influence of excitation wavelength, pH, oxygen and solvents, upon fluorescence quantum yields, were measured for insole Indole in neutral aqueous solution exhibits the same wavelength dependence as tryptophan, which indicates that COO- absorption is not responsible for the effect. Parameters such as pH and oxygen influence only the absolute fluorescence quantum yields but not their relative variation with wavelength, indicating competition with fluorescence emission for S1 deactivation. without any influence upon deactivation of higher excited states. In contrast, solvents exhibit a specific influence upon the wavelength dependence; for indole, the decrease of fluorescence yield excited around 215 nm, compared with the yield in the first absorption band is about 40% in water, 10% in acetonitrile, 70% in n-hexane and cyclohexane, whereas no appreciable decrease occurs in methanol, ethanol or n-butanol. These observations, together with the Stokes shifts of the emission spectra, may be well correlated with Kosower's Z-values, expressing microscopic solvent-solute interactions.     

FLUORESCENCE PROPERTIES OF PORPHYRIN-GLOBIN FROM HUMAN HEMOGLOBIN

Fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, decays, and quantum yields are reported for the porphyrin-globin of hemoglobin (Hb^desFe) in aqueous solution of pH 8, at 4°C. A very weak fluorescence was observed in the UV (maximum at 334 nm), due to tryptophan and tyrosine residues, in addition to the strong porphyrin emission in the visible (maxima at 624 and 692 nm) reported previously. The absorption and fluorescence properties of the porphyrins of Hb^desFe were compared to those for free porphyrin in organic solvents and in aqueous solution. The close similarity of the fluorescence decays and quantum yields in Hb^desFe and in solution indicate the absence of stronger, specific porphyrin-protein interactions; however, slight spectral shifts point to the existence of water molecules in the Hb^desFe porphyrin environment. The fluorescence study also demonstrates the existence of efficient Trp-porphyrin energy transfer of Förster type. The extent of transfer is in satisfactory agreement with the value expected from crystallographic data for hemoglobin. The results are discussed and compared to previous fluorescence studies of hemoglobin and apohemoglobin. An improved method for the preparation of Hb^desFe is reported.     

THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE ABSORPTION AND FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA OF SANGUINARINE

Abstract— The influence of pH in the range 1.0 to 13.0 on the structure of sanguinarine has been investigated by spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric measurements. The data on absorption maxima, molar extinction coefficient, fluorescence emission maxima, relative fluorescence intensity and fluorescence quantum yield of the sanguinarine under various pH are presented. It is suggested that the pH dependent absorbance and fluorescence property of sanguinarine is due to the formation of the carbinolamine by hydroxylation at C-6 at alkaline pH.     

SPIN-TRAPPING and ESR STUDIES OF THE DIRECT PHOTOLYSIS OF AROMATIC AMINO ACIDS, DIPEPTIDES, TRIPEPTIDES and POLYPEPTIDES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS—III. TRYPTOPHAN and RELATED COMPOUNDS

Abstract— The UV photolysis of tryptophan (Trp) and Trp-containing peptides in aerated aqueous solutions has been studied by ESR and spin-trapping techniques using f-nitrosobutane as the spin-trap. The photolysis of Trp alone at 290 nm gave rise to the addition of the spin-trap to carbon 3 of the indole ring. A large ESR signal from the hydronitroxide spin-adduct was also observed revealing the formation of hydrated electrons. Generally, the photolysis of Trp-containing dipeptides generated the deamination radical of the N-terminal amino acid followed by addition to the spin-trap. In the case of lysyl-Trp, a deamination radical from the side chain of lysine was proposed. A sensitization experiment with Trp as sensitizer and glycine (Gly) as substrate led to the generation of the deamination radical of Gly. Most of the observed free radicals resulting from the photolysis of Trp-containing peptides can be explained in terms of hydrated electrons reacting with the carbonyl group followed by deamination of the N-terminus.     

THE ULTRAVIOLET FLUORESCENCE OF BACTERIORHODOPSIN AND THE LOCATION OF TRYPTOPHANYL RESIDUES

Abstract— The ultraviolet fluorescence spectrum of bacteriorhodopsin is characterized by emission from an ensemble of internal, surface and exposed Trp residues. The temperature dependence of fluorescence yields exhibits a discontinuity at about 30°C coincident with previously observed transitions in membrane lipid microviscosity, photocycle lifetime and photoconductivity. Quenching at high pH coincides with ionization of Tyr and an emission red shift to a spectrum typical of that of tyrosinate. Guanidine hydrochloride produces only partial protein denaturation, increasing the number of exposed Trp by 50%. While exposed Trp in native bacteriorhodopsin are in the minority, they represent a higher proportion of total Trp than is found in rhodopsin of animal rod outer sections.     

THE UV PROTEIN FLUORESCENCE OF PURPLE MEMBRANE AND ITS APOMEMBRANE

The ultraviolet fluorescence of the purple membrane of H. halobium and its apomembrane was characterized by measuring emission spectra, polarization, decay lifetimes and the changes induced by pH and temperature. The fluorescence quantum yields of the two membranes are 0.024 × 0.003 and 0.17 × 0.03, respectively. The emission, which shows lifetimes in the 0.4 to 4 ns range, was assigned to heterogeneous populations of emitters, consisting, probably, of two tryptophans in the purple membrane and seven or eight residues in the apomembrane. Acrylamide quenching experiments showed that the accessibility of this neutral quencher to the fluorophors is reduced greatly in both membranes. Fluorimetric methods were also used in an attempt to monitor the purple complex reconstitution process. It was concluded that the fluorescence quantum yields of any monomers, dimers and trimers present in the partially reconstituted membranes should be very similar.
Finally, based on the spectroscopic results and on specific folding patterns of the seven α-helical regions of bacteriorhodopsin (Stoeckenius and Bogomolni, 1982), it is proposed that Trp 137, Trp 138 (and perhaps Trp 10) of the protein molecule are the most plausible fluorophors in the purple membrane. It is also suggested that the protein in the apomembrane takes a more open configuration which is permeable to small ions and molecules.     

LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSIS AND PHOTOINACTIVATION OF SUBTILISIN BPN'

Abstract— Laser flash photolysis of subtilisin BPN'at 265 nm has shown that photoionization of tryptophanyl (Trp) and tyrosinyl (Tyr) residues are the principal initial photochemical reactions. The initial products are the corresponding oxidized radicals. Trp and Tyr, and hydrated electrons (e_aq) which react with the enzyme at: k (e_aq+ subt. BPN') = 2.1 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. The photoionization quantum yield was 0.032 ± 0.005 at 265 nm, which was enhanced 3.5-fold by simultaneous excitation at 265 and 530 nm. The photoionization yields were unchanged by 3 M bromide ion and 8 M urea. which did affect the enzyme fluorescence excited at 265 and 295 nm. A similar lack of correlation between the effects of perturbants on the photionization yields and fluorescence yields was found for subtilisin Carlsherg. The results indicate that the monophotonic and biphotonic ionization of the Trp residues does not involve the thermally-equilibrated. lowest excited singlet state and that singlet energy transfer from Tyr to Trp does not contribute to Trp photoionization. The photoinactivation quantum yield was 0.014 for 265 nm laser excitation. which was not changed by simultaneous 530 nm excitation. The corresponding quantum yield was 0.009 for low intensity 254 nm radiation, indicative of a biphotonic contribution to photoinactivation. The results are explained by postulating that photolysis of Trp-113 leads to disruption of hydrogen bonding to Asn-117 and a shift in the primary chain sequence associated with the aromatic substrate binding sites. The photoionization quantum yields in subtilisin BPN'and subtilisin Carlsberg agree with a model based on the assumption that exposed Trp and Tyr residues contribute independently at intrinsic photoionization efficiencies characteristic of the chromophores.     

ROLE OF THE TRYPTOPHAN FLUORESCENT STATE IN THE ULTRAVIOLET-INDUCED INACTIVATION OF β-TRYPSIN*

Abstract— Stern-Volmer quenching constants for β-trypsin at pH 3 were determined for fluorescence quenching by histidine, acrylamide, and nitrate ion. A modified Stern-Volmer plot (Lehrer, 1971) was employed to show that all of the fluorescent tryptophanyl residues of β-trypsin were equally susceptible to quenching by acrylamide at pH 3 when the enzyme was either in its native conformation or denatured in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl). Fluorescence lifetime measurements indicated that acrylamide quenched β-trypsin fluorescence by a purely collisional mechanism. Solvation of tryptophanyl residues of the protein was maximal at 2.5 M GuHCl, as monitored by fluorescence emission wavelength.
Investigations of the ultraviolet-induced inactivation of β-trypsin at 295 nm were performed in the presence of acrylamide at pH 3. The quantum yields for enzyme inactivation and indole destruction (determined using the PDAB reagent) were unchanged upon depopulation of the fluorescent state by 65 per cent, whether the enzyme was in its native conformation or denatured by 6 M GuHCl. It is concluded that the fluorescent state of tryptophanyl residues of β-trypsin is not involved in enzyme inactivation or tryptophan destruction.     

PHOTOPHYSICAL and PHOTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF COUMARIN DYES IN AMPHIPHILIC MEDIA

Abstract— Photophysical properties of coumarin dyes solubilized in aqueous detergent solutions have been investigated including measurement of absorption and fluorescence emission maxima, and fluorescence quantum yields. Use of coumarin 4 as a fluorescence probe of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) solutions led to the conclusion that the sites for dye incorporation in micelles are significantly hydrogen-bonded (hydrated). The inhibition of photochemical decomposition for detergent-solubilizcd dyes has also been observed. Electron transfer from micelle-bound dye to a water soluble acceptor, methyl viologen, has been investigated by flash photolysis.     

FLASH PHOTOLYSIS OF RIBONUCLEASE A

Abstract— Flash photolysis spectra show that ultraviolet irradiation of RNase (Λ > 250 nm) at pH 11.5 generates the hydrated electron and a long-lived transient with absorption maxima at 390 nm and 410 nm, attributed to the phenoxyl type radical from tyrosyl residues. Comparison of the initial yields with flash photolysis spectra obtained from aqueous tyrosine and mixtures of the chromophoric amino acids indicates that 3–4 tyrosyl residues are photoionized in the primary act. This process is almost completely quenched at pH 1–9, even though the p -alanylphenoxyl radical is obtained with tyrosine over this pH range and the accompanying electron is observed at pH 7. The negative result is not altered by denaturation of RNase with 8 M urea or heating to 70°C, suggesting that a primary chain interaction is responsible for the suppression of tyrosyl residue photolysis. This mechanism is supported by flash photolysis spectra of small peptides, showing that the initial radical yield from tyrosylglycylglycine is strongly quenched compared to tyrosine when the phenolic group is protonated. Comparion of this work with published results on fluorescence and inactivation quantum yields indicates that photochemical electron ejection from RNase in alkaline solutions takes place in the dissociable residues and does not contribute to loss of enzymic activity.     

THE PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL PROCESSES OF TRYPTOPHAN IN INTERACTION WITH POLYNUCLEOTIDES: LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSIS STUDY

Abstract— The influence of nucleotides or polynucleotides on the photophysics and the photochemistry of tryptophan (Trp) derivatives has been investigated in aqueous solutions using the 265 nm laser flash photolysis technique. In solutions containing mixtures of N -acetyltryptophanamide and uridine monophosphate (UMP) or mercurated dUMP, the Trp triplet and the hydrated electron (e_aq) are quenched at almost diffusion controlled rates by the nucleotides leading to uracil reduction. Lysyl-tryptophyl-α-lysine (Lys-Trp-Lys) forms stable complexes in solution with normal or mercurated poly(uridylic acid) [poly(U)]. In the Poly(rU)-Lys-Trp-Lys complex the Trp triplet state is completely quenched, whereas the Trp triplet formation quantum yield is enhanced in complexes with mercurated poly(U). In this last case, the 'heavy atom effect' is characterized by a shortening of the Trp triplet lifetime in agreement with low temperature experiments. Our results also show that photoionization of Trp does occur in the complexed state with both polymers. The e_aq lifetime is however longer with the complexed than with the free peptide.     

INFLUENCE OF THE LOCATION OF TRYPTOPHANYL RESIDUES IN PROTEINS ON THEIR PHOTOSENSITIVITY

The environmental effect on Trp residues photolysis was investigated on four proteins containing a single Trp residue in environments of various polarities: glucagon (exposed residue), nuclease (partially buried residue), RNase T₁ (fully buried residue) and melittin (exposed or partially buried residue depending on the salt concentration). Direct photolysis was performed in neutral N₂-saturated phosphate solution at 20°C using 302 nm monochromatic light. Tryptophan loss was monitored by both absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy and by amino acid analysis. The results suggest that tryptophan photodegradation depends on the location of the residue in the protein, with regard to the exposure to the aqueous medium and to the neighbouring amino acids in the primary amino acid sequence and in the three dimensional structure. Photochemical products were not analysed but fluorescence spectra indicate that they vary with protein.     

THE PHOTOPHYSICS OF MEROCYANINE 540. A COMPARATIVE STUDY IN ETHANOL AND IN LIPOSOMES

Abstract— Absorption and fluorescence emission spectra, fluorescence lifetimes, fluorescence quantum yields, photoisomerization quantum yields and triplet quantum yields were measured for Merocyanine 540 (MC540) in ethanol and in large unilamellar dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles. The major differences in the photophysics between the two media are the increase of the fluorescence quantum yield from 0.15 in ethanol to 0.6 in vesicles at 25° C, and the appearance of a second fluorescence decay with a lifetime of 1.87 ns in the latter medium. Upper and lower limits for the photoisomerization quantum yields were determined by combining the data from laser flash photolysis and optoacoustic spectroscopy. The decrease in photoisomerization quantum yield upon incorporation of the dye into the lipid bilayer by a factor 2 suggests that this process competes directly with fluorescence. The temperature dependence of the fluorescence and photoisomerization quantum yields in solution supports this model. In both media MC540 has a very low triplet quantum yield with values 0.002 > (> ø_T > 0.02 in ethanol and 0.01 > ø_T- > 0.09 in liposomes Our data are consistent with the model whereby the dye is incorporated into the lipid bilayer as a monomer with two different orientations and this model is adopted on the basis of the biexponential behaviour of the fluorescence and photoisomer decay.     

A FLUORESCENCE STUDY OF TRYPTOPHAN-HISTIDINE INTERACTIONS IN THE PEPTIDE ANANTIN AND IN SOLUTION

Abstract—Anantin is a heptadecapeptide in which the C-terminal peptide chain pierces the covalently cyclized peptide ring formed by an amide link between the α-NH₂ end group and the β-carboxyl group of Asp(8). It contains a tryptophan and a histidine at positions 5 and 12 , respectively. Des-Phe(17)-anantin lacks the C-terminal phenylalanine. Fluorescence emission intensity as a function of pH follows the ionization of a single residue. The pK_a amounts to 7.23 ± 0.03 for anantin and is attributed to His(12). At pH 9 the quantum yield is 0.12 ± 0.01 for anantin, whereas at pH 4.5 the quantum yield decreases more than two-fold (0.05 2 0.01). Practically identical parameters are observed for des-Phe(17)-anantin. This pH dependency reveals intramolecular quenching of the excited indole ring of Trp(5) by the imidazole of His(12), which results in a marked decrease of the tryptophan fluorescence at low pH. In a multifrequency phase fluorometric study the fluorescence lifetimes for both peptides at pH 4.5 and pH 9 are determined. At both, pH fluorescence decay is well described by a sum of two exponentials. For anantin at pH 4.5 the lifetimes are 0.72 ± 0.07 ns and 1.67 ± 0.07 ns. At pH 9 the lifetimes are 1.11 ±0.12 ns and 2.55 ± 0.03 ns. In methanol we find two lifetimes for anantin: 0.68 ± 0.01 ns and 2.57 ± 0.01 ns. The lifetimes are found to be slightly dependent upon emission wavelength. For des-Phe(17)-anantin practically the same values are observed. The quenching of tryptophan fluorescence by histidine is further studied in solution using N-acetyl-tryptophanamide in the presence of increasing concentrations of imidazole in the protonated (pH 4.5) and unprotonated (pH 9) state and in methanol. At both pH values and in methanol, a linear increase in both the inverse of the steady-state fluorescence F_o/F and the inverse of the lifetime 1/τ with increasing imidazole concentration indicates that a collisional mechanism is at the root of the observed quenching. The quenching efficiency values, γ, are calculated and amount to about 0.32 at pH 4. 5 , 0.02 at pH 9 and 0.002 in methanol, showing that protonated imidazole is a better quencher than the unprotonated form, and that the nature of the solvent is involved even in the quenching by unprotonated imidazole. Tryptophan-histidine interactions in solution and in the peptide are compared.     

THE PHOTOLYSIS OF TRYPTOPHAN IN THE PRESENCE OF OXYGEN

Abstract— Quantum yields for the destruction of tryptophan by a single 500 J flash in aqueous solution have been determined over the pH range 1–13 in both air-equilibrated and nitrogen-saturated conditions. When these quantum yields are compared with the quantum yields for radical formation and photoejection of electrons, it is found that there is good agreement only for the nitrogen-saturated case. In air-equilibrated solutions of tryptophan, there is a large disparity between the measured degradation quantum yields and those for photoejection of electrons and radical formation. Oxygen, therefore, is playing a major role in the photochemical decomposition and it is proposed that the major reaction which occurs, under normal atmospheric conditions, is the reaction of the lowest triplet excited state of tryptophan with oxygen.
Preliminary photolysis-product distributions against pH are discussed, and indicate that a total of nine major products are formed in the presence of oxygen.     

A METHOD FOR THE CORRECTION OF QUANTUM YIELDS OF FLUORESCENCE IN SOLUTIONS

Abstract— The correction factors due to the overlap of absorption and emission spectra have been calculated for various concentrations of fluorescein dye at pH 12 by using the experimentally obtained value of apparent molar absorptivity, ε₂, for the fluorescence radiation. The observed fluorescence intensities for the same-surface detection for a given geometry have been corrected for the secondary emission effect thus calculated, and also for refraction and dilution effects, to give corrected relative quantum yields for the solutions. These have been converted to the absolute values by comparison of the integrated fluorescence quantum spectrum of a dilute solution of fluorescein with that for quinine sulphate in 0.1 N H₂SO₄. The corrected quantum yields compare well with values given in the literature.     

ACRYLAMIDE QUENCHING OF TRYPTOPHAN PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOPHYSICS

Studies of acrylamide quenching of tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence, photochemistry, and photoionization have been conducted. Quenching of Trp fluorescence in aqueous solution by addition of acrylamide in the concentration range 0.0-0.5 M was measured and resulted in a Stern-Volmer quenching constant of KSV = 21 +/- 3 M-1. Photolysis experiments were performed in which Trp was photolyzed at 295 nm in the presence of varying concentrations of acrylamide. The loss of Trp was monitored using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and was observed to follow first order kinetics. Production of N-formylkynurenine (NFK) was observed by RP-HPLC in irradiated Trp samples both in the presence and absence of added acrylamide. In addition, no new photochemical product was detected. This was taken as evidence that acrylamide did not alter the photochemical pathway but just reduced the reaction rate as expected for a physical quenching mechanism. Plotting the reciprocal of photolysis rate constant versus acrylamide concentration produced a Stern-Volmer constant for quenching of Trp photochemistry of KSV = 6 +/- 2 M-1. The KSV values for both fluorescence quenching and photolysis quenching were thus large, implying efficient quenching of both processes by acrylamide. Assuming an excited singlet state lifetime of 2.8 ns, the calculated second-order quenching rate constants for fluorescence and photolysis were kq = 7.5 x 10(9) and 2.1 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 respectively. The possible involvement of photoionization in the photolysis mechanism was investigated by studies of acrylamide quenching of voltage transients produced by xenon flash lamp excitation of Trp at aqueous/teflon or aqueous/mica interfaces.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)