New Results on the Photochemistry of Biopterin and Neopterin in Aqueous Solution

New photochemical studies of the reactivity of biopterin (BPT) and neopterin (NPT) in acidic (pH = 5.5) and alkaline (pH = 10.5) aqueous solutions at 350 nm and room temperature were performed. The photochemical properties of BPT are of particular interest because the photolysis of this compound takes place in the white skin patches of patients affected by vitiligo. The photochemical reactions were followed by UV/VIS spectrophotometry, HPLC, electrochemical measurement of dissolved O₂ and enzymatic methods for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide anion (O₂^•−) determinations. When BPT or NPT are exposed to UVA radiation, a red intermediate, very likely 6-formyl-5,8-dihydropterin, is generated in an O₂-independent process. That product is rapidly oxidized on admission of O₂ to yield 6-formylpterin and H₂O₂. When the photolysis takes place in aerobic conditions, no additional pathways exist. On the other hand, in the absence of O₂, the intermediate generated is not stable and leads to the formation of many products. O₂^•− is also generated during photo-oxidation of BPT and NPT. The quantum yields of reactant consumption depends on the O₂ concentration: the higher the O₂ concentration, the lower the quantum yields. This behavior is discussed in connection with the excited state of the pterins.     

EFFECT OF WATER ON PHOTOCHEMICAL REDUCTION OF CONCENTRATED THIONINE SOLUTION BY VISIBLE LIGHT

Abstract— The photochemical reactions in concentrated thionine solution have been studied using continuous illumination. Thionine solution is photoreduced to leucothionine in an oxygen-free acidic medium. Electrochemical measurements of the photoreduction of thionine are reported. A possible reaction pathway for the energy transfer is proposed. It is found that polymeric forms of thionine and leucothionine are not involved in photoreduction. It is proposed that a complex must be formed prior to photochemical reduction. This complex species, having a lifetime of several seconds, is reduced to leucothionine, water being the reducing agent. Following this reduction, H₂O₂ is formed and the production of H₂O₂ is detected by differential pulse polarography.     

PRIMARY PHOTOCHEMICAL PRODUCTS OF DITHIOGLYCOLIC ACID IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Abstract— The photochemistry of dithioglycolic acid at 254 nm was investigated in deaerated aqueous solutions in the pH range 1.4–7.3. Initial yields of the primary photochemical products H₂S,–SH and aldehyde-(probably glyoxylic acid) were determined. The complex pH dependence of these simultaneously formed first stable products is interpreted in terms of the ground-state ionic equilibria, and in addition pH-dependent processes occurring in the excited state and labile intermediate sequence.
It is suggested that the photochemical mechanism involves two parallel pathways: one a hydrolytic splitting of S - S leading to H₂S formation (unaffected by the presence of O₂ or isopropanol), the other a free radical mechanism via C–S breakage, which is affected by the presence of O₂ or isopropanol.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL HYDROXYLATION OF 7,8-DIMETHYLALLOXAZINE (LUMICHROME)-A FLASH PHOTOLYSIS STUDY

Abstract— Flash photolysis experiments on the hydroxylation of lumichrome (L) in aqueous 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution in the presence of O₂ or Ni²⁺ as triplet quenchers and quantum yield measurements confirm the assignment of the photoreactive species to the protonated form of the excited singlet state. A mechamism concerning the photochemical step is proposed, accounting for the formation of protonated 9-hydroxy-5,10-dihydrolumichrome (LOH₃⁺). This primary stable photoproduct was characterized by spectral and kinetic data. The dark reactions originating from LOH₃⁺ were investigated, and data regarding the successive steps are presented. The reaction LOH₃⁺ L→ LO + LH₃⁺ is demonstrated to be a two-electron reduction. The rate constant for the reaction of LH₂⁺ with O₂ is much larger than that for the oxidation of LH₃⁺ by oxygen.     

KINETIC STUDIES OF SELF-SENSITIZED PHOTOOXYGENATION IN H2O AND D2O OF A WATER-SOLUBLE RUBRENE DERIVATIVE

Abstract A continuous argon laser has been used to study the self-sensitized photooxidation of potassium rubrene-2,3,8,9-tetracarboxylate in oxygen-saturated H₂O and D₂O. An analysis of the data obtained in concentrated solutions leads to an unexpected high value of the ratio of ¹O₂ lifetimes in D₂O and H₂O, ^T d ₂o/^T h ₂o =17 ± 1. Results obtained in diluted aqueous solutions are interpreted in terms of a re-encounter of ¹O₂ and ground state substrate molecules generated in the same triplet—triplet annihilation act.     

INTERACTIONS OF ASCORBATE AND CHELATED IRON IN A METHYLVIOLOGEN-MEDIATED MEHLER REACTION

Abstract— –In the light, isolated spinach thylakoids consumed O₂ in the presence of methylviologen, and ascorbate was found to interact with this reaction in various ways. Chelating-resin was used to remove metal impurities from the assay medium. Ascorbate diminished the H₂0₂ pool in resin-untreated solutions, while in resin-treated solutions ascorbate had no effect on H₂O₂ concentrations. A Fenton catalyst (Fe-EDTA) increased O₂ uptake in the presence of ascorbate and decreased the amount of O₂ recovered by catalase. Ascorbate tripled the rate of the methylviologen-mediated Mehler reaction, and the O₂ consumed was liberated to 50% of its original concentration by catalase. Superoxide dismutase reversed the effects of ascorbate on the Mehler reaction rates. These results indicate that ascorbate can stimulate Mehler reactions indirectly by promoting a Fenton-type reaction as well as stimulating Mehler reactions directly by reducing 2O₂^- to 2H₂O₂. The promotion of a Fenton-type reaction by ascorbate appears to be the cause of H₂O₂ depletion in resin-untreated solutions.     

PHOTOOXIDATION OF EPINEPHRINE SENSITIZED BY METHYLENE BLUE—EVIDENCE FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF SINGLET OXYGEN AND OF SUPEROXIDE

Abstract— The photooxidation of epinephrine, sensitized by methylene blue or by chlorophylls, excited with red light, involves the reduction of two molecules of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide per molecule of epinephrine oxidized to adrenochrome. The initial rates of these reactions are not affected by low concentrations of catalase. In 99 mol % D₂O, rates of methylene blue sensitized photooxidations are accelerated as much as 5.2 times over rates in ordinary water. Azide anion is a more effective inhibitor of this reaction in D₂O than in H₂O. Half maximal inhibitions are obtained by 1.3 mM azide in H₂O and by 0.1 mAf azide in D₂O. Isotope effects and azide sensitivities point to photooxidation of epinephrine in D₂O primarily by a singlet oxygen pathway; in H₂O, non-singlet oxygen pathways become more predominant. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) markedly inhibits rates of the photooxidations in H₂O and in D₂O; about 25% at 10^-9 M SOD, and 50% at 10^-6 M SOD in H₂O. In the photooxidation in H₂O, both by non-singlet and singlet oxygen mechanisms, the amount of superoxide produced is equivalent to the amount of O₂ consumed in the photooxidation of epinephrine; the superoxide thus formed participates in the oxidation of epinephrine.     

PROTONATION AND DEPROTONATION EQUILIBRIA OF LUMICHROME

Abstract— In order to investigate the possibility of the tautomerization of alloxazine to isolloxazine in its ground state, the parameters affecting the redistribution of charges in the lumichrome molecule were studied. The absorption and emission spectra of lumichrome as a function of pH in the range H₀ = - 6 to pH = 12 were recorded. At extreme pH conditions the spectra of lumichrome are similar to those of the isoalloxazine system. At high acid concentration ( H ₀ < - 3.0) the absorption spectrum of lumichrome protonated at N₁₀, is practically identical to that of lumiflavin. The fluorescence quantum yield of the two cations is negligible at room temperature.
At pH = 10.5 lumichrome is deprotonated at positions N₁ or N₃, The two monoanions have different excitation spectra. Except for slight differences in the extinction coefficients, the absorption of the anion deprotonated at N₃ is very similar to the lumichrome spectrum. The absorption spectra of the N₁ monoanion and of the di-anion are similar to the spectrum of lumiflavin except for a blue shift of about 20 nm. Furthermore, the emission spectrum of the N₁ -monoanion is identical to that of the isoalloxazine system. These results indicate that the charge distribution in the lumichrome molecule depends on the protonation and deprotonation of the nitrogen atoms at positions 10 and l. Both processes cause a redistribution of charges so that an isoalloxazine ring system is formed.     

A Comparative Kinetic and Mechanistic Study Between Tetrahydrozoline and Naphazoline Toward Photogenerated Reactive Oxygen Species

Kinetic and mechanistic aspects of the vitamin B2 (riboflavin [Rf])-sensitized photo-oxidation of the imidazoline derivates (IDs) naphazoline (NPZ) and tetrahydrozoline (THZ) were investigated in aqueous solution. The process appears as important on biomedical grounds, considering that the vitamin is endogenously present in humans, and IDs are active components of ocular medicaments of topical application. Under aerobic visible light irradiation, a complex picture of competitive interactions between sensitizer, substrates and dissolved oxygen takes place: the singlet and triplet (³Rf*) excited states of Rf are quenched by the IDs: with IDs concentrations ca.  5.0 m m and 0.02 m m Rf, ³Rf* is quenched by IDs, in a competitive fashion with dissolved ground state oxygen. Additionally, the reactive oxygen species: O₂(¹Δ_g), O₂^•−, HO^• and H₂O₂, generated from ³Rf* and Rf ^•−, were detected with the employment of time-resolved methods or specific scavengers. Oxygen uptake experiments indicate that, for NPZ, only H₂O₂ was involved in the photo-oxidation. In the case of THZ, O₂^•−, HO^• and H₂O₂ were detected, whereas only HO^• was unambiguously identified as THZ oxidative agents. Upon direct UV light irradiation NPZ and THZ generate O₂(¹Δ_g.), with quantum yields of 0.2 (literature value, employed as a reference) and 0.08, respectively, in acetonitrile.     

THE REACTION OF METHYLENE WITH HYDROGEN

Abstract— An investigation has been made of the reaction between methylene, formed by the photolysis of ketene, and hydrogen. Ethane, ethylene and methane are the major hydrocarbon products, and it has been shown that the formation of these products may be adequately described by the sequence of processes
CH₂CO + hv → CH₂+ CO (1)
CH₂+ H₂→ CH₃+H (2)
2CH₃→ C₂H₆ (3)
CH₃+ H₂+ CH₄+ H (4)
CH₂+ CH₂CO → C₂H₄+ CO (7)
In particular, the relative rates of ethane and methane formation are consistent with the known rate constants for reactions (3) and (4), and it is not therefore necessary to postulate the participation of an 'insertion' process
CH₂+ H₂→ CH₄ (6) to account for the formation of methane.
Decrease of the energy possessed by the methylene, either by increase of the wavelength of ketene photolysis, or by increase of gas pressure, is shown to result in an increase in the reactivity of the methylene towards ketene relative to its reactivity towards hydrogen (i.e. the ratio k₂/k₂ increases).     

ELIMINATION OF THE EFFECT OF CONTAMINATING CO2 IN THE 18O-LABELING OF THE CO2 PRODUCED IN BIOLUMINESCENT REACTIONS

Abstract— Although the mechanism of bioluminescent reactions in various species, such as fireflies, ostracod crustaceans ( Cypridina ), sea pansies ( Renilla ), and the deep-sea shrimp Oplophorus , are thought to involve dioxetanone intermediates, studies reported in the past from different laboratories have included widely different experimental results, most likely due to various factors including the effects of contaminating CO₂. With the improved technique employed in the present study, bioluminescent reactions of the firefly and Cypridina in ¹⁸O₂ gas resulted in an incorporation of over 75% of ¹⁸O into one oxygen of the product CO₂. with a reproducibility within a few per cent. When ¹³CO₂. instead of the product CO₂ of the bioluminescent reaction, was studied in an H₂¹⁸O medium, the exchange of one oxygen of ¹³CO₂ with H₂O was 64%. and the effect of contaminant CO₂ amounted to 1418% of the total CO₂. These results suggest that every molecule of CO₂ formed in the bioluminescent reactions of the firefly and Cypridina had intially contained 1 oxygen atom derived from O₂.     

HYDROGEN AND OXYGEN PHOTOPRODUCTION BY TITANATE POWDERS

Abstract— Uncoated powders of TiO₂ or SrTiO₃ did not produce H₂ or O₂ on UV irradiation of aqueous suspensions of the powders. TiO₂ powders coated with platinum or rhodium photoproduced H₂ on irradiation (effective wavelengths 334 and 366 nm) and the reaction was stimulated by catalytic quantities of methyl viologen. The turnover numbers for H₂ production relative to TiO₂ were very low suggesting that the powders were not acting catalytically. Hydrogen production was never stoichiometric with respect to TiO₂ and the kinetics of H₂ production were first order, not zero order as would be expected for catalytic photolysis of water. Oxygen was never detected and it appears that H₂ did not arise from water photolysis but rather from oxidation of reduced sites in TiO₂. A rhodium-coated SrTiO₃ powder prepared photochemically produced both H₂ and O₂ on irradiation but the turnover numbers were very low. A Rh-SrTiO₃ powder prepared thermally showed higher turnover numbers for H₂ photoproduction and may be acting catalytically. However, little O₂ was detected with this powder. When the turnover numbers for the different titanate powders were expressed with respect to the number of surface monolayer hydroxyl groups calculated from the surface area of the powders, some turnover numbers greater than one were obtained.     

LIGHT-DEPENDENT AND LIGHT-INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN GAS BY PHOTOSYNTHESIZING RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM MUTANT C

Abstract. Rhodospirillum rubrum mutant C grew photosynthetically in the light and produced copious amounts of H₂. During light-growth mutant C produced 7.9mmol of H₂ in medium with 9mmol of Na-pyruvate per mg protein. When parent strain R. rubrum S ₁ was grown similarly, these cells only produced a trace amount of H₂. Light-grown mutant C evolved H₂ by H₂-nitrogenase and formic hydrogenlyase. Although both hydrogenases were previously detected in R. rubrum S₁, the activities of the reactions in light-grown mutant C were higher and they operated under different conditions. In the parent strain S₁, the production of nitrogenase was strongly repressed during growth in medium enriched with organic nitrogen and the cells only reduced 0.06 pmol of acetylene per mg protein after 30 min in the light. Under similar conditions, nitrogenase activity measured by the acetylene reduction test in mutant C was 10-fold greater. In addition to nitrogenase, mutant C also produced large amounts of H₂ with formate as an intermediate when the cells were grown with Na-pyruvate. Formic hydrogenlyase in mutant C operated equally well in anaerobic light or dark conditions. The analogous formate oxidation reaction in parent strain S₁ only functioned in the dark. These data, compared with results with R. rubrum S₁ suggested that C was a regulatory mutant. Additional observations suggested that formic hydrogenlyase occurred constitutively in R. rubrum . Pyruvate formate-lyase, however, which produced formate for formic hydrogenlyase, was only detected in the cells after growth in media with Na-pyruvate. The reaction was not formed when R. rubrum was grown in the light in media with dl-malate as the sole carbon substrate.     

PHOTOLYSIS OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF POTASSIUM CIS-DIAQUOBIS (OXALATO) CHROMATE (III)

Abstract— The photolysis of aqueous solutions of cis -[Cr(C₂O₄)₂(H₂O)₂]- at 254 nm and pH 4 produced CO₂ and H₂ in nearly equal yields. The quantum yield of hydrogen, φ², increased by 9% and the yield of carbon dioxide, φ, by 65% as the pH was lowered from 4 to I. The total gas yield, φ_gas, decreased in the presence of added oxalate or chromium (II) ions and when the light intensity was lowered. The gas yield in D₂O was appreciably higher than in H₂O. The variation of φ_gas with pH (D) and with added oxalate ion was roughly parallel in the two liquid media. The gas yield increased in the series:
A tentative mechanism is suggested to explain the results.     

PROTECTION OF Ustilago violacea FROM TOLUIDINE BLUE PHOTOSENSITIZATION and HYDROGEN PEROXIDE INDUCED KILLING and MITOTIC RECOMBINATION BY CAROTENES

Abstract— The accumulation of (J-carotene in the ph/ph ⁺ y diploid strain of the smut fungus Ustilago violacea was associated with reduced killing and lower levels of induced mitotic recombination compared to the β-carotene lacking ph/ph⁺ w strain in response to both incandescent photosensitization and treatment with H₂0₂. The ph/ph⁺ y strain was only slightly more resistant to killing by exogenous toluidine blue (TB) photosensitization. The ph/ph⁺ y strain exhibited significantly greater levels of survival when exposed to incandescent radiation and 1.5 μ.M TB for 15 min, as well as 3.0. 0.3, 0.03, 0.003% H₂0₂ in the dark. The ph/ph⁺ y strain also exhibited lower levels of mitotic recombination after endogenous TB photosensitization and the latter two H₂0₂ treatments. Similar survival results were obtained for the carotene accumulating haploid strain l.C2y and the carotene lacking haploid strain l.C2iv in response to H₂0₂ exposure.     

EFFECTS OF QUENCHING AGENTS ON THE PHOTODYNAMICALLY-INDUCED CHEMOTACTIC RESPONSE OF THE COLORLESS FLAGELLATE Polytomella magna

Abstract In the presence of the photosensitizer riboflavin at high fluence rates a photoproduct, most probably H₂O₂, is formed which causes negative phototaxis in the colorless flagellate Polytomella magna . The aim of this study was to find out whether H₂O₂ is produced in a type I or II reaction. As has been shown, ¹O₂ quenchers either do not influence the photodynamic action of riboflavin (furfuryl ethanol, DPBF, l -histidine, crocetin) or show slight quenching effects only at very high concentrations ≧ 10⁻² M (DABCO, DMF, imidazole). D₂O is toxic to P. magna even in 1:1 and 1:2 mixtures with H₂O. On the other hand, the quenching effect of 1,4-benzoquinone, highly indicative for the type I pathway, is more than two orders of magnitude stronger than the one of the above mentioned ¹O₂ quenchers. The results suggest that H₂O₂ is produced in a type I reaction. Superoxide does not seem to be involved since superoxide dismutase does not diminish the photodynamic effect of riboflavin.     

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE INDUCED RESISTANCE TO BROAD-SPECTRUM NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT(300–400 nm) INACTIVATION IN Escherichia coli

Abstract— Strains of Escherichia coli carrying the four possible combinations of the alleles nur, nur⁺, uvrAb, and uvrA ⁺ were either untreated or pretreated with a sublethal dose of H₂0₂ prior to inactivation with NUV radiation. Pretreated cells exhibited a greater resistance to NUV than did untreated cells. Pretreatment with H₂O₂ did not induce resistance to FUV radiation. The induction of resistance to NUV inactivation by H₂O₂ pretreatment apparently leads to protection against the damage caused by NUV radiation. Although pretreatment of cells with H₂0₂ leads to resistance of such cells to inactivation by H₂O₂ and NUV, survival of H₂O₂ treated bacteriophage PI cml clr100 is not enhanced when assayed on H₂O₂ pretreated E. coli host cells.     

LIGHT-DRIVEN H2 PRODUCTION WITH PROFLAVIN AND HYDROGENASE: COMPARISON OF CYTOCHROME C3 AND METHYL VIOLOGEN AS e- MEDIATORS

We have studied the hydrogenase-catalyzed production of H, when either its natural electron mediator cytochrome c₃ (c₃) or the artificial mediator methyl viologen (MV) was reduced by illumination of proflavin (PF) in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA). The reduction rates of MV and c₃ were comparable at equivalent concentrations of PF, taking into account the four redox sites of c₃. However, when the concentration of c₃ exceeded that of PF, the reduction rate decreased. We explain this by light quenching. In the H₂-producing system, MV was more efficient than c₃ as electron mediator when the initial reaction rates were compared. However, under certain conditions with MV, the rate of H₂ production decreased rapidly with time of illumination, whereas with c₃ it consistently remained stable. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed.
Severe inactivation of hydrogenase was observed in the absence of the primary electron donor EDTA. It is concluded that this inactivation is caused by the excited state of PF     

MECHANISMS OF PHOTOELIMINATION REACTIONS OF ALKYL BENZOHYDROXAMATES

Abstract— Photolysis at 254 nm of alkyl benzohydroxamates [C, H, CONHOR: R = CH₃ H₂CH₃ CH(CH₃)₂, CH₂C₆H₅ CH(CH₃)C₂H₅ CH(CH₃)- n -C₆H₁₃] in acetonitrile or hydrocarbon solvents gives benzamide. These reactions can be sensitized by benzophenone (at ca. 350 nm) and are quenched by cis-piperylene. Racemization occurred when 2-octyl (+)-benzohydroxamate was irradiated in cyclohexane. These results are consistent with a mechanism involving a triplet biradical. Photolysis of phenyl benzohydroxamate [C₆H₅CONHOC₆H₅] and benzyl N -methylbenzohydroxamate [C₆H₅CON-(CH₃)OCH₂Q₆H₅] cannot be quenched with ris-piperylene and appear to be singlet reactions.     

INACTIVATION OF PHAGE BY NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

A series of phage with different genomes (both single-stranded and double-stranded RNA and DNA) was inactivated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in various combinations with far-ultraviolet (FUV) and near-ultraviolet (NUV) radiations. In every case but one (a lipid-coated phage), a sublethal H₂O₂ concentration greatly enhanced killing by NUV but not FUV. Moreover, this NUV/H₂O₂ synergism was oxygen independent and there was little if any host cell reactivation upon NUV plus H₂O₂ inactivation. These results suggest that these phage are inactivated by a common mechanism irrespective of nucleic acid composition, but that some phage genomes may be more vulnerable to NUV/H₂O₂ inactivation than others.