THE EFFECT OF CROSS-LINKING ON PHOTOCYCLING ACTIVITY OF BACTERIORHODOPSIN

Abstract— Purple membrane preparations from Halobacterium halobium were chemically modified with imidoesters. Dimethyl adipimidate (8.3 Å chain length) amidinates about five of the six free lysine residues whereas dimethyl suberimidate (11.3 Å) under the same conditions reacts with only 2–3 residues. Gel electrophoresis showed that the shorter chain length imidoesters were less effective than dimethyl suberimidate in oligomer formation. However, dimethyl adipimidate resulted in a more marked inhibition of the photoreaction activity. Monofunctional imidates, methyl acetimidate and methyl butyrimi-date, at comparable degrees of amidination, did not appreciably affect activity indicating that the presence of bulky groups on the exposed lysine residues does not cause the effects observed. Hence, the introduction of molecular mobility constraints by intramolecular cross-linking slows photocycling, and, therefore, inhibits proton pumping activity of bacteriorhodopsin. This indicates that conforma-tional changes of the protein moiety of bacteriorhodopsin occur during photocycling activity.     

η1- and η2-coordination in phosphaalkeneplatinum(0) complexes. High resolution solid state 31P NMR spectrum of mesityl(diphenylmethylene)phosphinebis(triphenylphosphine)platinum(0)

The high resolution solid state ³¹P NMR spectrum of Pt(PPh₃)₂(P(mesityl)=CPh₂) shows the expected features for an η¹-coordinated phosphaalkene ligand and is completely different from that of the η²-complex which exists in solution.     

Interactions between Vitamin E Homologues and Ascorbate Free Radicals in Murine Skin Homogenates Irradiated with Ultraviolet Light

The mechanism of oxidation of ascorbic acid in mouse skin homogenates by UV light was investigated by measuring ascorbate free radical formation using electron spin resonance signal formation. Addition of vitamin E (α-tocopherol or α-tocotrienol) had no effect, whereas short-chain homologues (2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-6-hydroxy-chroman-2-carboxylic acid [Trolox] and 2,2,5,7,8-penta-methyl-6-hydroxychromane [PMC]) accelerated ascorbate oxidation. The similar hydrophilicity of ascorbate, Trolox and PMC increased their interaction, thus rapidly depleting ascorbate. When dihydrolipoic acid was added simultaneously with the vitamin E homologues, the accelerated ascorbate oxidation was prevented. This was due to the regeneration of ascorbate and PMC from their free radicals by a recycling mechanism between ascorbate, vitamin E homologues and dihydrolipoic acid. Potentiation of antioxidant recycling may be protective against UV irradiation-induced damage. The rate of ascorbate oxidation in the presence of vitamin E homologues was enhanced by a photosensitizer (riboflavin) but was not influenced by reactive oxygen radical quenchers, superoxide dismutase or 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline-iV-ox-ide. These experimental results suggest that the UV irradiation-induced ascorbate oxidation in murine skin homogenates is caused by photoactivated reactions rather than reactive oxygen radical reactions.     

[MESITYL]BACTERIORHODOPSIN. THE PROPERTIES OF AN ANALOGUE OF THE PURPLE MEMBRANE CONTAINING [MESITYL] RETINAL AS THE CHROMOPHORE

Abstract— A new synthesis of all-trans-[mesityl]retinal, II , (all-trans-3,7-dimethyl-9-(2',4',6'-trimethylphenyl)-2,4,6,8,-nonatetraenal) and 13-cis-[mesityl]retinal, VI , (3,7-dimethyl-9-(2'4'6'-trimethylphenyl)-2Z,4E,6E,8E-nonatetraenal) is reported. Combination of all-trans-[mesityl]retinal with bacterioopsin results in the formation of a synthetic membrane (Λ_max 460) which has photocycling properties similar to the purple membrane although its cycling rate is very much slower. An M-type intermediate can be trapped at -60°C. Photoreversal of the M-intermediate to the wavelength of initial absorption is observed. Phototransformation of the initial [mesityl]bacteriorhodopsin is accompanied by conversion of the all-frans to the 13- cis -isomer.     

Hydrogenation of

The course of the hydrogenation of [5]- and [6]metacyclophane (1b and 1c) and their thermochemistry is described. Both compounds are hydrogenated rapidly (within 10 s) to furnish the bridgehead olefins 13b and 12c. The accompanying hydrogenation enthalpies are -220 and -141 kJmol(-1), respectively. Strain energies (SE) and olefinic strains (OS) of a number of bridgehead olefins have been evaluated by DFT calculations; it was concluded that 13b belongs to the class of hyperstable olefins which correlates nicely with its reluctance to undergo hydrogenation. By combining experimental hydrogenation enthalpies and DFT calculations, SE of 187 and 121 kJmol(-1) were derived for 1b and 1c.     

Correlated dipole polarizabilities and dipole moments of the halides HX and CH3X (X=F,Cl and Br)

Summary We report values of the correlated dynamic dipole polarizability for the halides HX and CH₃X (X = F, Cl and Br). The polarizabilities are calculated within the second-order polarization propagator approximation (SOPPA). The correlated results are in much better agreement with the available experimental results, compared to RPA. We also report the second-order dipole moments using both the relaxed and unrelaxed MP2 density matrices. The relaxed results are in better agreement with experiment.