Stereo‐ and Regioselective Phyllobilane Oxidation in Leaf Homogenates of the Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii): Hypothetical Endogenous Path to Yellow Chlorophyll Catabolites

In senescent leaves, chlorophyll typically is broken down to colorless and essentially photo‐inactive phyllobilanes, which are linear tetrapyrroles classified as “nonfluorescent” chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) and dioxobilane‐type NCCs (DNCCs). In homogenates of senescent leaves of the tropical evergreen Spathiphyllum wallisii, when left at room temperature and extracted with methanol, the major endogenous, naturally formed NCC was regio‐ and stereoselectively oxidized (in part) to a mixture of its 15‐hydroxy and 15‐methoxy derivative. In the absence of methanol in the extract, only the 15‐OH‐NCC was observed. The endogenous oxidation process depended upon molecular oxygen. It was inhibited by carbon monoxide, as well as by keeping the leaf homogenate and extract at low temperatures. The remarkable “oxidative activity” was inactivated by heating the homogenate for 10 min at 70 °C. Upon addition of a natural epimeric NCC (epiNCC) to the homogenate of senescent or green Sp. wallisii leaves at room temperature, the exogenous epiNCC was oxidized regio‐ and stereoselectively to 15‐OH‐epiNCC and 15‐OMe‐epiNCC. The identical two oxidized epiNCCs were also obtained as products of the oxidation of epiNCC with dicyanodichlorobenzoquinone (DDQ). Water elimination from 15‐OH‐epiNCC occurred readily and gave a known “yellow” chlorophyll catabolite (YCC). The endogenous oxidation process, described here, may represent the elusive natural path from the colorless NCCs to yellow and pink coloured phyllobilins, which were found in (extracts of) some senescent leaves.     

Chlorophyll Breakdown in Maize: On the Structure of Two Nonfluorescent Chlorophyll Catabolites

In extracts of senescent leaves of the maize plant Zea mays, two colorless compounds with UV/Vis-characteristics of nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) were detected and tentatively named Zm-NCCs. The constitution of the two polar Zm-NCCs was determined by spectroscopic means, which confirmed both of these tetrapyrroles to have the basic ligand structure typical of the NCCs from (other) senescent higher plants. In the less polar catabolite, named Zm-NCC-2, the core structure was conjugated at the 8²-position with a glucopyranose unit. Zm-NCC-2 had the same constitution as Nr-NCC-2, an NCC from tobacco (Nicotiana rustica). Indeed, the two NCCs were identified (further) based on their HPL-chromatographic and NMR-spectroscopic properties. The more polar NCC from maize, Zm-NCC-1, differed from Zm-NCC-2 by carrying a dihydroxyethyl side chain instead of a vinyl group at the 3-position. In earlier work on polar NCCs, only separate glucopyranosyl- and dihydroxyethyl-functionalities were detected. Zm-NCC-1 thus is a new constitutional variant of the structures of NCCs from senescent higher plants.     

Breakdown of Chlorophyll: A Tetrapyrrolic Chlorophyll Catabolite from Senescent Rape Leaves. Preliminary communication

The experiments leading to the isolation and to the elucidation of the constitution of Bn-NCC-1, a colourless non-fluorescent chlorophyll catabolite from senescent cotyledons of rape (Brassica napus L.), are described. A series of fast-atom-bombardment (FAB) mass and ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectral experiments are used to determine the constitution of the catabolite Bn-NCC-1. The structural information available indicates Bn-NCC-1 to be a 1-formyl-19-oxobilane, structurally related to ‘RP 14’, isolated earlier from artificially aged primary leaves of barley. The major differences between the constitution of the metal-free chlorophyll pheophorbide a and that of Bn-NCC-1 concern oxygenolytic opening of the porphinoid macrocycle at C(4)? C(5), saturation at the other meso positions, hydrolysis of the methyl-ester function, and functionalization by a malonic-acid unit of the side chain at C(8). This work provides for the first time the structural data of a chlorophyll-degradation product from senescent plant leaves formed under normal growth conditions.     

Chlorophyll Breakdown in Maize: On the Structure of Two Nonfluorescent Chlorophyll Catabolites

Summary. In extracts of senescent leaves of the maize plant Zea mays, two colorless compounds with UV/Vis-characteristics of nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) were detected and tentatively named Zm-NCCs. The constitution of the two polar Zm-NCCs was determined by spectroscopic means, which confirmed both of these tetrapyrroles to have the basic ligand structure typical of the NCCs from (other) senescent higher plants. In the less polar catabolite, named Zm-NCC-2, the core structure was conjugated at the 8²-position with a glucopyranose unit. Zm-NCC-2 had the same constitution as Nr-NCC-2, an NCC from tobacco (Nicotiana rustica). Indeed, the two NCCs were identified (further) based on their HPL-chromatographic and NMR-spectroscopic properties. The more polar NCC from maize, Zm-NCC-1, differed from Zm-NCC-2 by carrying a dihydroxyethyl side chain instead of a vinyl group at the 3-position. In earlier work on polar NCCs, only separate glucopyranosyl- and dihydroxyethyl-functionalities were detected. Zm-NCC-1 thus is a new constitutional variant of the structures of NCCs from senescent higher plants.     

A Dioxobilin‐Type Fluorescent Chlorophyll Catabolite as a Transient Early Intermediate of the Dioxobilin‐Branch of Chlorophyll Breakdown in Arabidopsis thaliana

Chlorophyll breakdown in higher plants occurs by the so called “PaO/phyllobilin” path. It generates two major types of phyllobilins, the characteristic 1‐formyl‐19‐oxobilins and the more recently discovered 1,19‐dioxobilins. The hypothetical branching point at which the original 1‐formyl‐19‐oxobilins are transformed into 1,19‐dioxobilins is still elusive. Here, we clarify this hypothetical crucial transition on the basis of the identification of the first natural 1,19‐dioxobilin‐type fluorescent chlorophyll catabolite (DFCC). This transient chlorophyll breakdown intermediate was isolated from leaf extracts of Arabidopsis thaliana at an early stage of senescence. The fleetingly existent DFCC was then shown to represent the direct precursor of the major nonfluorescent 1,19‐dioxobilin that accumulated in fully senescent leaves.     

Breakdown of Chlorophyll: A Fluorescent Chlorophyll Catabolite from Sweet Pepper (Capsicum annuum)

The primary fluorescent chlorophyll catabolite 1 (Ca‐FCC‐2) from sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) has similar optical properties, but is slightly less polar than the primary FCC (pFCC; 2 ) from senescent cotyledons of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Ca‐FCC‐2 was prepared from pheophorbide a using an enzyme extract from ripe C. annuum chromoplasts. The catabolite Ca‐FCC‐2 ( 1 ) could be determined from fast‐atom‐bombardment (FAB) mass spectra to be an isomer of pFCC ( 2 ). The constitution of Ca‐FCC‐2 was determined by homo‐ and heteronuclear magnetic‐resonance experiments and was found to be identical to that of pFCC. Further 2D‐homonuclear spectra of Ca‐FCC‐2 revealed it to differ from pFCC by the configuration at the methine atom C(1), whose configuration results from the action of red chlorophyll catabolite reductase (RCCR). The occurrence of two primary FCCs that are epimeric at C(1) provides a structural basis for the recent observation of two types of RCCRs among higher plants.     

Hydroxymethylated Dioxobilins in Senescent Arabidopsis thaliana Leaves: Sign of a Puzzling Biosynthetic Intermezzo of Chlorophyll Breakdown

1‐Formyl‐19‐oxobilin‐type tetrapyrroles are characteristic, abundant products of chlorophyll breakdown in senescent leaves. However, in some leaves, 1,19‐dioxobilin‐type chlorophyll catabolites (DCCs) lacking the formyl group accumulate instead. A P450 enzyme was identified in in vitro studies that removed the formyl group of a primary fluorescent chlorophyll catabolite (pFCC) and generated fluorescent DCCs. These DCCs are precursors of isomeric nonfluorescent DCCs (NDCCs). Here, we report a structural investigation of the NDCCs in senescent leaves of wild‐type Arabidopsis thaliana. Four new NDCCs were characterized, two of which carried a stereoselectively added hydroxymethyl group. Such formal DCC hydroxymethylations were previously found in DCCs in leaves of a mutant of A. thaliana. They are now indicated to be a feature of chlorophyll breakdown in A. thaliana, associated with the specific in vivo deformylation of pFCC en route to NDCCs.     

Chlorophyll Catabolites in Fall Leaves of the Wych Elm Tree Present a Novel Glycosylation Motif

Fall leaves of the common wych elm tree (Ulmus glabra) were studied with respect to chlorophyll catabolites. Over a dozen colorless, non‐fluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) and several yellow chlorophyll catabolites (YCCs) were identified tentatively. Three NCC fractions were isolated and their structures were characterized by spectroscopic means. Two of these, Ug‐NCC‐27 and Ug‐NCC‐43, carried a glucopyranosyl appendage. Ug‐NCC‐53, the least polar of these NCCs, was identified as the formal product of an intramolecular esterification of the propionate and primary glucopyranosyl hydroxyl groups of Ug‐NCC‐43. Thus, the glucopyranose moiety and three of the pyrrole units of Ug‐NCC‐53 span a 20‐membered ring, installing a bicyclo[17.3.1]glycoside moiety. This structural motif is unprecedented in heterocyclic natural products, according to a thorough literature search. The remarkable, three‐dimensional bicyclo[17.3.1]glycoside architecture reduces the flexibility of the linear tetrapyrrole. This feature of Ug‐NCC‐53 is intriguing, considering the diverse biological effects of known bicyclo[n.3.1]glycosidic natural products.     

Chlorophyll Breakdown in Senescent Banana Leaves: Catabolism Reprogrammed for Biosynthesis of Persistent Blue Fluorescent Tetrapyrroles

Chlorophyll breakdown is a visual phenomenon of leaf senescence and fruit ripening. It leads to the formation of colorless chlorophyll catabolites, a group of (chlorophyll‐derived bilin‐type) linear tetrapyrroles. Here, analysis and structure elucidation of the chlorophyll breakdown products in leaves of banana (Musa acuminata) is reported. In senescent leaves of this monocot all chlorophyll catabolites identified were hypermodified fluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (hmFCCs). Surprisingly, nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) were not found, the often abundant and apparently typical final chlorophyll breakdown products in senescent leaves. As a rule, FCCs exist only fleetingly, and they isomerize rapidly to NCCs in the senescent plant cell. Amazingly, in the leaves of banana plants, persistent hmFCCs were identified that accounted for about 80 % of the chlorophyll broken down, and yellow leaves of M. acuminata display a strong blue luminescence. The structures of eight hmFCCs from banana leaves were analyzed by spectroscopic means. The massive accumulation of the hmFCCs in banana leaves, and their functional group characteristics, indicate a chlorophyll breakdown path, the downstream transformations of which are entirely reprogrammed towards the generation of persistent and blue fluorescent FCCs. As expressed earlier in related studies, the present findings call for attention, as to still elusive biological roles of these linear tetrapyrroles.     

Yellow Dioxobilin-Type Tetrapyrroles from Chlorophyll Breakdown in Higher Plants—A New Class of Colored Phyllobilins

In senescent leaves chlorophyll (Chl) catabolites typically accumulate as colorless tetrapyrroles, classified as formyloxobilin-type (or type-I) or dioxobilin-type (type-II) phyllobilins (PBs). Yellow type-I Chl catabolites (YCCs) also occur in some senescent leaves, in which they are generated by oxidation of colorless type-I PBs. A yellow type-II PB was recently proposed to occur in extracts of fall leaves of grapevine (Vitis vinifera), tentatively identified by its mass and UV/Vis absorption characteristics. Here, the first synthesis of a yellow type-II Chl catabolite (DYCC) from its presumed natural colorless type-II precursor is reported. A homogenate of a Spatiphyllum wallisii leaf was used as “green” means of effective and selective oxidation. The synthetic DYCC was fully characterized and identified with the yellow grapevine leaf pigment. As related yellow type-I PBs do, the DYCC functions as a reversible photoswitch by undergoing selective photo-induced Z/E isomerization of its C15=C16 bond.     

Hydroxymethylated Phyllobilins: A Puzzling New Feature of the Dioxobilin Branch of Chlorophyll Breakdown

Colorless nonfluorescent chlorophyll (Chl) catabolites (NCCs) are formyloxobilin‐type phyllobilins, which are considered the typical products of Chl breakdown in senescent leaves. However, in degreened leaves of some plants, dioxobilin‐type Chl catabolites (DCCs) predominate, which lack the formyl group of the NCCs, and which arise from Chl catabolites by oxidative removal of the formyl group by a P450 enzyme. Here a structural investigation of the DCCs in the methylesterase16 mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana is reported. Eight new DCCs were identified and characterized structurally. Strikingly, three of these DCCs carry stereospecifically added hydroxymethyl groups, and represent bilin‐type linear tetrapyrroles with an unprecedented modification. Indeed, DCCs show a remarkable structural parallel, otherwise, to the bilins from heme breakdown.     

Blue-shifted fluorescence spectrum in silica xerogels with incorporation of extract’s leaves

The spectral characteristics of different kind of leaves extracts fluorescence embedded in silica xerogel matrix under structural evolution promoted by heat treatment was studied. We obtain a higher PSII thermostability for extract of leaves, rich in chlorophyll such as spinach, made in darker condition than extract of leaves made in lighter (non-dark) conditions, both embedded in xerogel matrix, which remain bioactive over a very long period of time. In other kind of leaves such geranium, after chlorophyll decomposition the quenching center are formed at temperatures about 800 °C, whereas in buxus sempervirens leaves fluorescing aggregates remain in temperatures as high as 1,000 °C, when their are embedded in silica xerogel matrix. In general blue-shift fluorescence is observed in all cases indicating the PSII denaturizing and formation of fluorescing aggregates in relatively high temperatures.     

Combined mass spectrometric and chromatographic methods for in‐depth analysis of phenolic secondary metabolites in barley leaves

Structural analysis via HPLC‐ESI‐MSn, UPLC‐HESI‐MS/MS and NMR reported 152 phenolic secondary metabolites in spring barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L.). Flavonoids with various patterns of glycosylation and acylation, as well as hydroxycinnamic acid glycosides, esters and amides, were identified in methanolic extracts from leaves of nine varieties of barley originating from different regions of the world. Hordatines derivatives, flavones acylated directly on the aglycone, and hydroxyferulic acid derivatives deserve special attention. Preparative chromatography enabled characterization of a number of compounds at trace levels with the 6‐C‐[6″‐O‐glycosyl]‐glycosides and the 6‐C‐[2″,6″‐di‐O‐glycosides]‐glucoside structure of flavones. Derivatives of flavonols, quercetin and isorhamnetin were observed only in Syrian varieties. The ultra performance liquid chromatography profiles of UV‐absorbing secondary metabolites were used for chemotaxonomic comparison between nine varieties of barley from different climatic conditions. The hierarchical clustering of bred lines from the Fertile Crescent and European and American varieties indicates a great diversity of chemical phenotypes within barley species. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seaweed Chlorophyll on the Light‐electron Efficiency of DSSC

Four different seaweed extracts were employed as the dyes of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to investigate the light‐electron efficiency. The sensitizers, extracted from Nannochloropsis spp., Tetraselmis spp., Gracilaria spp., and Ulvales spp., showed their light‐electronic transfer ability in different light intensities. Among them, Ulvales output a higher light‐voltage, about 0.4 V. The output voltage increased when light intensity increased. Gracilaria extract produced a higher output voltage at 35 Lux, but its output voltage decreased over 500 Lux. The sensitizers extracted from these seaweeds had monochromatic incident photon‐to‐electron conversion efficiencies (IPCE) between 23‐61% in 220‐260 nm wavelengths. Among them, Ulvales output higher IPCE than Tetraselmis and Nannochloropsis. SEM analysis of DSSC surfaces revealed that the efficiency of seaweed DSSCs was governed by chlorophyll size. The chlorophyll particle size of Ulvales spp. was the largest. The chlorophyll particle size of Gracilaria spp. was the smallest and yielded the lowest IPCE.     

Partial crystallization in exotic phase stishovite of amorphous silica xerogels induced by incorporation of chlorophyll species

Using the Rietveld refinement, we analyze the structural evolution under thermal treatment of silica xerogel samples with incorporation of extract from frozen spinach leaves, prepared by sol?Cgel method with low molar ratio (R) of water to TEOS of R?=?1, and R?=?5. Partial crystallization of silica xerogel in the form of stishovite has been obtained at atmospheric pressure conditions and temperatures of 200?°C, they both, very lower than those specified by the phase diagram, in samples containing chlorophyll aggregates dispersed in amorphous silica. The results show that the incorporation of spinach extracts leave together with low water contents induce devitrification of the silica matrix in exotic phase stishovite.     

An Improved Method for the Preparation of Chlorophyll by Means of Column Chromatography with Sepharose CL-6B

Abstract

An improved method for the preparation of chlorophyll “a” and chlorophyll “b” from fresh spinach leaves by means of the column chromatography with Sepharose CL-6B has been developed. A good separation of the green pigments was attained on the column (φ25 × 163 mm) with a mixed solvent program of 2, 3, 10 and 20 % 2-propanol in hexane.     

Sulfur-Selective Desulfurization of Dibenzothiophene and Diesel Oil by Newly Isolated Rhodococcus erythropolis NCC-1

A dibenzothiophene （DBT）-desulfurizing bacteria strain was isolated from oil-contaminated soils and identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis NCC-1. Strain NCC-1 was found to convert DBT to hydroxybiphenyl （2-HBP） via the 4S pathway and also be able to use organic sulfur compounds other than DBT as a sole sulfur source. The strain could desulfurize 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene （4,6-DMDBT）, which is one of the most recalcitrant dibenzothiophene derivatives to hydrodesulfurization. When two type of oils, a model oil [n-hexadecane （n-C16） containing DBT] and a hydrodesulfurized diesel oil with various organic sulfur compounds, were treated with Rhodococcus erythropolis NCC-1 cells, the total sulfur content significantly decreased, from 150 to 20 mg/L for n-C16 and from 554 to 274 mg/L for diesel oil. The newly isolated strain NCC-1 is considered to have good potential for application in the biodesulfurization of fossil fuels.     

Spectral characterization of chlorophyll fluorescence in extract of barley leaves embedded in silica xerogel matrix

We have used the sol-gel method to prepare SiO₂ based matrix containing barley leaves extracts and studied the spectral characteristics of chlorophyll fluorescence of the glass under structural evolution promoted by heat treatment. One primary effect on the fluorescence for barley leaves embedded in glass is that PSII chlorophyll fluorescence transients are not present. We obtain a higher PSII thermostability for leaves embedded in xerogel matrix than in the green barley leaves. We observed for high temperatures that fluorescing aggregates are formed. The behavior of the PSII fluorescence under heat treatment will be used in subsequent works to study the microstructural evolution during the silica-gel-glass conversion and their optical properties.     

Coordination‐Driven Dimerization of Zinc Chlorophyll Derivatives Possessing a Dialkylamino Group

Zinc chlorophyll derivatives Zn‐1 – 3 possessing a tertiary amino group at the C3¹ position have been synthesized through reductive amination of methyl pyropheophorbide‐d obtained from naturally occurring chlorophyll‐a . In a dilute CH₂Cl₂ solution as well as in a dilute 10 %(v/v) CH₂Cl₂/hexane solution, Zn‐1 possessing a dimethylamino group at the C3¹ position showed red‐shifted UV/Vis absorption and intensified exciton‐coupling circular dichroism (CD) spectra at room temperature owing to its dimer formation via coordination to the central zinc by the 3¹‐N atom of the dimethylamino group. However, Zn‐2/3 bearing 3¹‐ethylmethylamino/diethylamino groups did not. The difference was dependent on the steric factor of the substituents in the tertiary amino group, where an increase of the carbon numbers on the N atom reduced the intermolecular N⋅⋅⋅Zn coordination. UV/Vis, CD, and ¹H NMR spectroscopic analyses including DOSY measurements revealed that Zn‐1 formed closed‐type dimers via an opened dimer by single‐to‐double axial coordination with an increase in concentration and a temperature decrease in CH₂Cl₂, while Zn‐2/3 gave open and flexible dimers in a concentrated CH₂Cl₂ solution at low temperature. The supramolecular closed dimer structures of Zn‐1 were estimated by molecular modelling calculations, which showed these structures were promising models for the chlorophyll dimer in a photosynthetic reaction center.