INTERACTIONS AND PHOTOREACTIVITY OF 5-ALKOXYPSORALENS WITH THYMINE. A MODEL APPROACH

Abstract— In order to investigate the interactions and the photoreactions in solution between the thymine (thy) and the psoralen (Pso) rings, we have prepared model compounds Thy-(CH₂)_n-Pso in which two aromatic chromophores Thy and Pso are linked by flexible polymethylene chains of varying length (CH₂)_n. Two series of compounds were examined and compared as models for the two important drugs 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen. Results concerning the 5-alkoxypsoralen series are reported here. In water, these model molecules exhibit intramolecular ring-ring stacking interactions as indicated by hypochromism in the UV and by shielding of the protons in ¹H NMR spectroscopy. These interactions disappear in organic solvents. The photochemical properties of the models were examined in relation with their ground state interaction properties. Irradiation at 365 nm carried out at the usual concentrations (10^-2-10^-3 M) leads exclusively to a stereoselective dimerization involving the psoralen moieties of the models at the 3,4 double bonds. However, when operating at exceedingly low concentrations (2 × 10^-5 M ), the psoralen photodimerization is avoided and a highly regio and stereo-selective psoralen thymine photoaddition is observed involving the 3,4 double bond of psoralen leading to the cis adduct. The same reaction occurs for all models under study being independent of the length of the (CH₂)_n polymethylene linking chain, n = 2 to 6, 12 and of the solvent used. This is unambiguous proof for the highest intrinsic photoreactivity of the 3,4 vs the 4',5' double bond in 5-alkoxy psoralen.     

ULTRAVIOLET-INDUCED REACTIONS OF THYMINE AND URACIL IN THE PRESENCE OF CYSTEINE

Abstract —Ultraviolet-radiation photolysis of thymine in the presence of cysteine gives rise to four isomeric dimers, dihydrothymine, and at least five cysteine addition products. Similar reactions occur for uracil but the products have not all been characterized in detail. The addition reactions arise from the triplet state of the pyrimidine. The initial step is production of a hydropyrimidine radical, which then reacts with cysteine to give the addition products. The triplet is quenched by cysteine with a rate constant of about 2 times 10⁸ M^-1 s^-1 for thymine and 2–9 times 10⁸ for uracil. The total yield of products gives a lower-limit estimate of the triplet yield and hence of the intersystem-crossing efficiency. These studies, combined with earlier determinations of dimer yields, show that 93% of the thymine triplets which interact with another thymine molecule are quenched without forming stable dimers. For uracil, the corresponding figure is 75%.     

槲皮素与尿嘧啶和胸腺嘧啶氢键的结合位点

深入理解药物分子和核酸碱基间的相互作用机制对合理设计研发新型高效药物有重要意义. 本文运用密度泛函理论B3LYP方法对核酸碱基尿嘧啶和胸腺嘧啶与药物分子槲皮素间的氢键相互作用位点进行了研究. 使用B3LYP/6-31G(d)方法优化得到了30个稳定的氢键复合物结构, 使用B3LYP/6-311++G(3df,2p)方法计算了这些复合物的结合能. 研究结果表明, 槲皮素可以使用5个不同的结合位点与尿嘧啶或胸腺嘧啶形成氢键复合物, 尿嘧啶或胸腺嘧啶可以使用3个不同的结合位点与槲皮素形成氢键复合物. 当槲皮素的结合位点固定时, 槲皮素与尿嘧啶的位点u1或胸腺嘧啶的位点t1形成的氢键作用最强, 与位点u2或位点t2形成的氢键强度最弱; 当尿嘧啶或胸腺嘧啶的作用位点固定时, 二者与槲皮素的位点qu1 形成的氢键作用最强, 与位点qu5 作用强度次之, 与位点qu3的作用强度最弱. 分子中原子(AIM)和自然键轨道(NBO)分析计算结果表明, 轨道作用在氢键中起重要作用.     

PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF NUCLEIC ACID COMPONENTS—1. THE PYRIMIDINES: THYMINE, URACIL, N, N-DIMETHYL DERIVATIVES AND THYMIDINE

Abstract— Low-temperature (and some room temperature) absorption and emission, fluorescence and phosphorescence, data including quantum yields and lifetimes have been obtained from the title pyrimidine bases as a function of the nature of the solvent environment. Modest vibrational resolution has been observed for the first time in the absorption spectra, particularly for thymine and uracil. The excitation spectra also show structure. The quantum yields of fluorescence (φ_F) and phosphorescence are independent of the excitation wavelength. Thymine, thymidine and uracil have profoundly different photophysical properties in polar-aprotic vs polar-protic solvents. The N, N-dimethyl substitution of thymine and uracil produces photophysical changes comparable to the solvent change for the unsubsti-tuted bases. The species involved in the emission processes is the keto (lactam) form. It is probable that ^1,3(n,π*) state(s) has(have) changed order relative to a lowest ¹(π,π*) state as a consequence of both the solvent change and N, N-dimethyl substitution. The lowest triplet state is assigned as ³(n π*). We propose that an important factor contributing to the previously reported excitation wavelength dependence of φ_F and φ_T1 (φ_isc) for nucleic-acid components is the equilibrium coexistence of H-bonded and non-H-bonded forms each having different photophysical properties. Consideration is given of the impact of the significantly different photophysical properties of nucleic-acid bases as a function of the nature of the solvent upon the photochemical properties.     

PHOTOREACTIONS AT 3655Å BETWEEN PYRIMIDINE BASES AND SKIN-PHOTOSENSITIZING FUROCOUMARINS

Abstract After irradiation at 3655 Å of an aqueous frozen solution containing thymine and psoralen, a new photocompound was isolated by column chromatography. It contains a furocoumarin and a pyrimidine-moiety linked together by the formation of a cyclobutane ring (see formulas II and III). By irradiation at 2537 Å in acetic acid solution, the photocompound breaks up again yielding psoralen and thymine. From an aqueous frozen solution containing cytosine and psoralen irradiated at 3655 Å, an analogous photocompound was obtained, which, however, consists of the addition to psoralen of a uracil molecule, instead of a cytosine one (IV, V). It has been stated that the hydrolytic deamination of the cytosine moiety to the uracil one takes place during the working up of the photocompound in aqueous solution after irradiation. Substances with properties similar to those above were obtained from bergapten (5-methoxy-psoralen) and thymine, from psoralen and thymidine or thymidylic acid, irradiated at 3655 Å.
The new substances may be considered as model compounds in explaining the photoreactions which take place between the skin-photosensitizing furocoumarins and DNA upon irradiation at 3655 Å.     

Optimum geometries and relative energies for cytosine,thymine, uracil,the imino tautomer of cytosine,the enol tautomer of thymine,and the enol tautomer of uracil by the MINDO/2 SCF MO method

A MINDO /2 SCF MO geometry optimization of cytosine (C), thymine (T), uracil (U), the imino tautomer of cytosine (C*), the enol tautomer of thymine (T*), and the enol tautomer of uracil (U*)was made. The optimized geometries for cytosine, thymine, and uracil agree well with crystallographic data. The optimized geometries for the tautomers show the correct trends in bond lengthening and bond angle except for the C4—O4 length and C4—O4—H angle of T* and U*. The energies of tautomerization were found to be 10.3, ?9.0, and ?14.2 kcal/mol for C?C*, T?T*, and U?U*, respectively, when optimized geometries are used. The overestimation of the C4—O4—H angle is speculated to arise because of an inadequacy in the parametrization of the one-center integrals in MINDO /2.     

SINGLET OXYGEN FORMATION BY SENSITIZATION OF FUROCOUMARINS COMPLEXED WITH, OR BOUND COVALENTLY TO DNA

Abstract— The formation of singlet molecular oxygen (¹O₂) by sensitization of the furocoumarins 5-methoxypsoralen (5-MOP), 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and psoralen complexed with DNA was investigated. From the results it is concluded that 5-MOP complexed with native DNA is able to generate ¹O₂, even in a larger extent than 5-MOP free in solution. Also, with 8-MOP and especially with psoralen, ¹O₂ formation by the complexed compound could be observed. The ¹O₂ formation sensitized by covalently bound furocoumarin was demonstrated with psoralen as a model compound. 4',5'-Dihydropsoralen, a model compound for the UVA light absorbing 4',5'monoadducts of furocoumarins to DNA, is also able to generate ¹O₂.     

PHOTOSENSITIZATION OF PYRIMIDINES BY 2-METHYLNAPHTHOQUINONE IN WATER: A LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSIS STUDY

2-Methylnaphthoquinone (MQ) has been excited in water with a 20 ns laser flash at 353 nm and the resultant transient species have been observed optically. Triplet-state MQ (³MQ) decays on a sub-microsecond time scale. It has been characterized in terms of its absorption spectrum and quantum yield. Rate constants have been measured for the decay of ³MQ in infinitely dilute solution, for self-quenching by ground-state MQ, and for reactions of ³MQ with oxygen, thymine, uracil, 6-methyluracil, and orotic acid. The interaction of ³MQ with pyrimidines involves charge transfer to give the pyrimidine cation radical and the MQ : anion radical. These reactions are discussed in relation to the mechanism of pyrimidine photooxidation sensitized by MQ.     

RESEARCH NOTE: PHOTOREACTION OF 4', 5'-DIHYDROPSORALEN WITH THYMINE

Abstract— The photocycloaddition reaction of 4',5'-dihydropsoralen with thymine was carried out in solution and in the frozen state. A major photoadduct was isolated and characterized by elemental analysis and physical methods. The photoadduct was proven to be the 1:1 C₄-cycloaddition product, an analogue of furocoumarin-DNA biadduct, with the stereochemistry of anti -head-to-head formed through 2+2 addition reaction between the pyrone double bond of 4', 5'-dihydropsoralenand 5,6-double bond of thymine.     

Photoactivated Psoralens Elicit Defense Genes and Phytoalexin Production in the Pea Plant

In the pea plant ( Pisum sativum ), compounds that intercalate into DNA induce the production of ∼20 major proteins similar to the pattern induced during nonhost disease resistance to the bean fungal pathogen, Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli . The pea phytoalexin, pisatin, as well as RNA homologous to several disease-resistance response (DRR) genes accumulate following treatment with these compounds. Psoralen was chosen to characterize this interaction further because it intercalates into DNA and, following irradiation with 365 nm UV light (UV₃₆₅), forms covalent bonds with pyrimidines on either or both strands of DNA. This produces monoadducts or cross-links, respectively. Dose experiments showed that 60 μg/mL 4'-aminomethyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen followed by 18 J/cm² UV₃₆₅ was sufficient to produce an accumulation of pisatin similar to that produced in response to the fungus. Under these inducing conditions, there was an average of 0.19 adducts per kb of pea genomic DNA. The accumulation of pisatin and the RNA of several DRR genes by psoralen required photoactivation, which suggests that covalent binding to DNA was necessary for induction. As the promoters of several putative fungal-induced pea genes contain long stretches of d(AT)_n, which is the preferred psoralen photobinding site, restriction fragments spanning DRR genes were examined after in vivo psoralen treatment. The rate of crosslinking was compared between fungal-induced and noninduced genes using a modified Southern blot analysis. Implications of the induction of the DRR due to psoralen binding are discussed.     

Investigation of proton transport tautomerism in clusters of protonated nucleic acid bases (cytosine, uracil, thymine, and adenine) and ammonia by high-pressure mass spectrometry and ab initio calculations

The energetics of the ion-molecule interactions and structures of the clusters formed between protonated nucleic acid bases (cytosine, uracil, thymine, and adenine) and ammonia have been studied by pulsed ionization high-pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS) and ab initio calculations. For protonated cytosine, uracil, thymine, and adenine with ammonia, the measured enthalpies of association with ammonia are -21.7, -27.9, -22.1, and -17.5 kcal mol-1, respectively. Different isomers of the neutral and protonated nucleic acid bases as well as their clusters with ammonia have been investigated at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theory, and the corresponding binding energetics have also been obtained. The potential energy surfaces for proton transfer and interconversion of the clusters of protonated thymine and uracil with ammonia have been constructed. For cytosine, the experimental binding energy is in agreement with the computed binding energy for the most stable isomer, CN01-01, which is derived from the enol form of protonated cytosine, CH01, and ammonia. Although adenine has a proton affinity similar to that of cytosine, the binding energy of protonated adenine to ammonia is much lower than that for protonated cytosine. This is shown to be due to the differing types of hydrogen bonds being formed. Similarly, although uracil and thymine have similar structures and proton affinities, the binding energies between the protonated species and ammonia are different. Strikingly, the addition of a single methyl group, in going from uracil to thymine, results in a significant structural change for the most stable isomers, UN01-01 and TN03-01, respectively. This then leads to the difference in their measured binding energies with ammonia. Because thymine is found only in DNA while uracil is found in RNA, this provides some potential insight into the difference between uracil and thymine, especially their interactions with other molecules.     

INTERACTIONS AND PHOTOREACTIVITY OF 8-ALKOXYPSORALENS WITH THYMINE. A MODEL APPROACH

Abstract— To investigate the interactions and the photoreactions in solution between thymine and psoralen, model compounds have been synthesized in which a thymine molecule is linked to a psoralen ring by a polymethylene bridge. Two series of compounds have been studied and compared as models for the two major drugs 5-MOP and 8-MOP. We report here the results obtained in the 8-alkoxypso-ralen series. In water, intramolecular ring-ring stacking interactions were evidenced using UV and ¹H NMR spectroscopies. In organic solvents such as ethanol, these interactions disappear completely. The photoreactivity of the models was examined in relation to their ground state interaction properties. in water and in ethanol. Slow photolysis of the pyrone ring of psoralen occurs whatever the length of the linking chain (3 to 12 methylenes). No intramolecular thymine-psoralen photoaddition nor psoralen photodimerization were observed. These results are discussed with regards to the behavior of the 5-alkoxy models which lead selectively to the 3,4 psoralen-thymine photoadduct.     

THE CHARACTERISATION OF THE TRIPLET STATE OF CROCETIN, A WATER SOLUBLE CAROTENOID, BY NANOSECOND LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSES

Abstract— The triplet state of crocetin, which is a water soluble carotenoid, has been sensitized by psoralen. The triplet extinction coefficient, ε_T (73000 dm³ mol^-1 cm^-1 at 470 nm), the triplet-triplet spectrum and the quantum yield of triplet formation, φ_T (less than 1%) are reported in aqueous solution.
In order to calculate the extinction coefficient of crocetin it was necessary to obtain ε_T for psoralen in water (10000dm³ mol^-1 cm^-1 at 450 nm). This latter value was obtained using the complete conversion technique and is reported with the triplet-triplet spectrum.     

C4-CYCLODIMERS OF PSORALEN ENGAGING THE 4'',5''- DOUBLE BOND

Abstract— By irradiating psoralen (the parent linear furocoumarin) in thin solid film two new fluorescent photodimers. compounds I and II, have been isolated and characterized. Unlike previously isolated dimers of furocoumarins which showed a 'pyrone-pyrone' structure involving in the C₄-cycloaddition the 3,4-double bond of the furocoumarinic moiety, the new dimers show respectively a 'furan-furan' and a 'furan-pyrone' structure, involving therefore the 4',5'-double bond. By analogy with the photocycloaddition reactions between furocoumarins and pyrimidine bases of DNA, in this case too the 4',5'-double bond of the furocoumarin can be involved. The experimental conditions, however, in which irradiation is carried out play an important role.     

Synthesis and Photoreaction of 5-Aikenyloxypsoralen Derivatives

Abstract— In order to investigate the intramolecular "quenching" of the photoexcitation of some 5-alkenyloxypsoralen derivatives, we have prepared model compounds in which a psoralen moiety was linked at position 5 to a terminal double bond via a polymethylenic chain of various length (n = 2-9). The isolation and characterization of photocycloadducts obtained for each compound after irradiation at 365 nm in a polar solvent was performed. The results on the photoreactivity of this series of compounds show that the 3,4-pyrone double bond of 5-alkoxypsoralens is the most reactive. Four kinds of intramolecular photocycloadducts between the 3,4-pyrone double bond and the chain unsaturation were obtained according to the length of the linking chain: cis-syn, trans-syn, cis-anti and trans-anti. Their structures were established by a combination of ¹H and ¹³C NMR and fully assigned by ^lH NOE (nuclear Overhauser effect) and ¹H-¹³C HMQC (heteronuclear multiquantum correlation) spectroscopies. No traces of 4',5' adducts were detected.     

PHOTOBINDING OF PSORALENS TO BACTERIAL MACROMOLECULES IN SITU AND INDUCTION OF GENETIC EFFECTS IN A BACTERIAL TEST SYSTEM. EFFECTS OF SINGLET OXYGEN DIAGNOSTIC AIDS D2O AND DABCO

The photobinding of radiolabeled psoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) to biological macromolecules under conditions that affect the lifetime of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) is reported. These conditions are: increase of ¹O₂ lifetime in D₂O and ¹O₂ quenching with DABCO. The photobinding to calf thymus DNA was studied in vitro and the covalent photobinding to DNA and other biological macromolecules (RNA, proteins) was also studied in intact bacteria. The results of the DNA photobinding experiments have been related to the induction of genetic damage in a bacterial test system. In addition, laser flash photolysis has been used to measure the effect of D₂O and DABCO on the psoralen and 8-MOP triplet lifetimes. In general D₂O increases the triplet lifetimes and DABCO quenches the triplet states with the probable formation of radicals. The results suggest that the covalent photobinding of 8-MOP to various biological macromolecules in situ is a basis for cell damage occurring at various cellular targets. Analysis of the results of the mutagenicity test suggests that in the presence of D₂O the mechanism of induction of genetic lesions is not changed and therefore largely seems to be independent of singlet oxygen.     

Generation and Characterization of Psoralen Radical Cations

Abstract— Radical cations of psoralen, 8-methoxypsoralen(8-MOP) and 5-methoxypsoralen have been generated by photosensitized electron transfer in acetonitrile and aqueous buffer/acetonitrile (1:1) and have absorption maxima at 600, 650 and 550 nm, respectively. The radical cations have lifetimes of 5 p.s under these conditions, are unreactive toward oxygen and show behavior typical of ar-ylalkene radical cations in their reactivity toward nucle-ophiles and the precursor psoralens. Direct 355 nm excitation of 8-MOP in aqueous buffer at physiological pH results in monophotonic photoionization to give 8-MOP_*+ with a quantum yield of 0.015.The 8-MOP_*+ reacts with both guanosine and adenosine mononucleotides ( k = 2.5 times 10₉ and 3.4 times 10₇ M_-1 s₁, respectively) via electron transfer to give the purine radical cations, but does not react with pyrimidine mononucleotides. These results suggest that reactions of psoralen radical cations generated by electron transfer or photoionization may be involved in psoralen/UVA therapy.     

THE THYMIDINE-PSORALEN PHOTOADDITION. A MODEL APPROACH

Abstract— In order to investigate the photoreactions between the thymidine and the psoralen chromophores and to devise a synthetic route to prepare thymidine-5-methoxypsoralen adducts, we have prepared and studied a compound in which thymidine is linked to a 5-methoxypsoralen derivative by a diester chain. Irradiation at 365 nm carried out at usual concentrations (10–³ M ) leads exclusively to one diastereoisomer of an intramolecular 3,4 cis-anti [2+2] adduct. No photodimerization is observed in these conditions. These results are compared to those obtained for models studied previously in which the thymine and the psoralen rings are linked by polymethylenic chains of varying length.     

Can cytosine, thymine and uracil be formed in interstellar regions? A theoretical study

This theoretical study investigates possible synthetic routes to cytosine, uracil and thymine in the gas phase from precursor molecules that have been detected in interstellar media. Studies at the CCSD(T)/6-311++G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level of theory suggest that: The reactions between :CCCNH and :CCCO with monosolvated urea may constitute viable interstellar syntheses of cytosine and uracil. No low energy equilibration between cytosine and uracil has been demonstrated. The interaction of :CH(2) with the 5 C-H bond of uracil may form thymine in an energetically favourable reaction, but competing reactions where :CH(2) reacts with double bonds and other CH and NH bonds of uracil, reduce the effectiveness of this synthesis. The reaction between the hydrated propional enolate anion and isocyanic acid may produce thymine, in a reaction sequence where ΔG(reaction)(298 K) is -22 kJ mol(-1) and the maximum energy requirement (barrier to the first transition state) is only 47 kJ mol(-1).     

DETECTION OF CYCLOBUTANE THYMINE DIMERS IN DNA OF HUMAN CELLS WITH MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES RAISED AGAINST A THYMINE DIMER- CONTAINING TETRANUCLEOTIDE

Abstract— A hybrid cell line (hybridoma) has been isolated after fusion between mouse-plasmacytoma cells and spleen cells from mice immunized with a thymine dimer-containing tetranucleotide coupled to a carrier protein. Monoclonal antibodies produced by this hybridoma were characterized by testing the effect of various inhibitors in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antibodies have a high specificity for thymine dimers in single-stranded DNA or poly(dT), but do not bind UV-irradiated d(TpC)₅. Less binding is observed with short thymine dimer-containing sequences. In vitro treatment of UV-irradiated DNA with photoreactivating enzyme in the presence of light, or with Micrococcus luteus UV-endonuclease results in disappearance of antigenicity. Antibody-binding to DNA isolated from UV-irradiated human fibroblasts (at 254 nm) is linear with dose. Removal of thymine dimers in these cells during a post-irradiation incubation, as detected with the antibodies, is fast initially but the rate rapidly decreases (about 50% residual dimers at 20 h after 10 J/m²). The induction of thymine dimers in human skin irradiated with low doses of UV-B, too, was demonstrated immunochemically, by ELISA as well as by quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy.