Site, rate, and mechanism of photoprotective quenching in cyanobacteria

In cyanobacteria, activation of the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) by intense blue-green light triggers photoprotective thermal dissipation of excess absorbed energy leading to a decrease (quenching) of fluorescence of the light harvesting phycobilisomes and, concomitantly, of the energy arriving to the reaction centers. Using spectrally resolved picosecond fluorescence, we have studied cells of wild-type Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and of mutants without and with extra OCP (ΔOCP and OverOCP) both in the unquenched and quenched state. With the use of target analysis, we managed to spectrally resolve seven different pigment pools in the phycobilisomes and photosystems I and II, and to determine the rates of excitation energy transfer between them. In addition, the fraction of quenched phycobilisomes and the rates of charge separation and quenching were resolved. Under our illumination conditions, ～72% of the phycobilisomes in OverOCP appeared to be substantially quenched. For wild-type cells, this number was only ～29%. It is revealed that upon OCP activation, a bilin chromophore in the core of the phycobilisome, here called APC(Q)(660), with fluorescence maximum at 660 nm becomes an effective quencher that prevents more than 80% of the excitations in the phycobilisome to reach Photosystems I and II. The quenching rate of its excited state is extremely fast, that is, at least (～240 ± 60 fs)(-1). It is concluded that the quenching is most likely caused by charge transfer between APC(Q)(660) and the OCP carotenoid hECN in its activated form.     

SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF PHYCOBILISOMES AND PHYCOBILIPROTEINS FROM THE BLUE-GREEN ALGA-NOSTOC SP.*

Abstract— An improved method for phycobilisome isolation from a blue-green alga Nostoc sp. was developed using 1% Triton X-100. The phycobilisome preparations showed little fragmentation and had structures similar in size to those observed in thin sections of the organism. Phycobiliproteins isolated from phycobilisomes and examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, had subunits with the following molecular weights: phycoerythrin (PE), 20,000 and 16,900; phycocyanin (PC), 14,700 and 16,300; and allophycocyanin (APC), 14,000. Isoelectric focusing of each phycobiliprotein resulted in major bands isoelectric at the following pH values: PE, 4.43, 4.45; PC 4.32; APC, 4.38. Absorption spectra at -196°c showed maxima at 551 and 566 nm for PE; 598 and 631 nm for PC; and 590, 600, 629 and 650 nm for APC. Concentrated vs dilute difference spectra of phycobiliproteins showed increased absorption at 574 nm (PE), 630 nm (PC) and 651 nm (APC) suggesting that spectral changes resulted from aggregation. Fluorescence analysis of each phycobiliprotein and of intact phycobilisome preparations showed that energy absorbed by phycoerythrin is transferred to allophycocyanin, possibly by a resonance transfer mechanism. These observations support a model where allophycocyanin forms the base of the phycobilisome which is attached to the photosynthetic membrane. The next layer is assumed to be phycocyanin, which in turn is followed by a phycoerythrin layer that is the outermost layer (on the stroma side) of the phycobilisome.     

LIGHT-INDUCED ABSORBANCE CHANGES IN CHLOROPLASTS AT -196°C*

Abstract— Absorbance changes induced by irradiating chloroplasts at — 196°C were measured in the region of 525–575 nm with a single-beam spectrophotometer. Irradiation at low temperature caused a bleaching at 556 nm due to oxidation of cytochrome b₅₅₉ but little or no change of cytochrome f. There occurred in addition a loss of absorbance at 547 nm and an increase at 543 nm. The bleaching at 547 nrn (and possibly the increase at 543 nm) could be induced chemically with dithionite or borohydride but not ascorbate. Subchloroplast particles with only Photosystem I activity showed no light-induced absorbance changes, while particles containing combined Photosystem I and Photosystem II activities showed the same changes as whole chloroplasts. Scenedesmus mutant No. 11 cells showed no absorbance changes while mutant No. 8 and wild-type cells showed the normal changes. It is concluded that the photooxidation of cytochrome b₅₅₉ and the photoreduction causing the bleaching at 547 nm are both mediated by Photosystem II.     

Absorbance Changes by Aromatic Amino Acid Side Chains in Early Rhodopsin Photointermediates

Abstract— Absorbance changes were monitored from 250 to 650 nm during the first microsecond after photolysis of detergent suspensions of bovine rhodopsin at 20°C. Global analysis of the resulting data produced difference spectra for bathorhodopsin, BSI and lumirhodopsin which give the change in absorbance of the aromatic amino acid side chains in these photointermediates relative to rhodopsin. These spectra show that the significant bleaching of absorbance near 280 nm, which has been seen previously for the lumirhodopsin, metarhodopsin I and metarhodopsin II intermediates, extends to times as early as bathorhodopsin. Because no corresponding absorbance increase is observed in the 250-275 nm region, the earliest bleaching of the 280 nm absorbance in rhodopsin is attributed to disruption of a hyperchromic interaction affecting Trp²⁶⁵. Partial decay of this 280 nm bleaching as bathorhodopsin converts to BSI takes place maximally near 290 nm, where Trp²⁶⁵ has been shown to absorb, and could be due to the ring of the retinylidene chromophore resuming a position at the BSI stage that reestablishes the hyperchromic interaction with Trp²⁶⁵. A subsequent change in the 250-300 nm region, which has no counterpart in the visible chromophore bands, indicates the possible presence of a protein-localized process as lumirhodopsin is formed.     

FLUORESCENCE RELAXATION KINETICS AND QUANTUM YIELD FROM THE ISOLATED PHYCOBILIPROTEINS OF THE BLUE-GREEN ALGA NOSTOC SP. MEASURED AS A FUNCTION OF SINGLE PICOSECOND PULSE INTENSITY, I

Abstract— Phycobilisomes from the blue-green alga Nostoc sp. are known to contain the phycobiliproteins: c-phycoerythrin (c-PE), c-phycocyanin (c-PC) and four forms of allophycocyanin (APC I, II, III, and B). We have made a detailed study of the effects of the intensity of a single 6 ps excitation pulse on the decay kinetics and the yield of fluorescence in the individual isolated phycobiliproteins at pH 7 and 23°C. The risetime of the fluorescence of c-PE, c-PC and APC was > 12 ps. We found that the decay of the fluorescence was exponential at intensities of 10¹⁴ photons/cm² in all the phycobiliproteins; the lifetimes being 1552 ± 31ps for c-PE, 2111 ± 83ps for c-PC, 1932 ± 165ps for APC I, 1870 ± 90ps for APC II, 1816 ± 88ps for APC III, (1869 ± 62ps for the averaged APC's I, II, and III), and 2667 ± 233 ps for APC B. We also found that the fluorescence decay became non-exponential in c-PE at excitation intensities < 10¹⁴ photons/cm², but was exponential for all the other phycobiliproteins even at a pulse intensity of 10¹⁵ photons/cm². The relaxation times of c-PE and c-PC decreased with excitation intensity above 10¹⁴ photons/cm². For c-PE and c-PC the relative fluorescence vs excitation intensity was readily described by a relationship derived for a model in which exciton–exciton annihilation occurs. In APC the fluorescence yield and relaxation time were only slightly dependent on the excitation intensity. The results are interpreted to indicate the occurrence of singlet–singlet annihilation intramolecularly among the several phycobilin chromophores within the individual phycobiliprotein molecules in solution. The s to f transfer time is less than 12ps in c-PC.     

SOLVENT-INDUCED PHOTOREVERSIBLE REACTIONS OF C-PHYCOCYANIN FROM SYNECHOCOCCUS SP.

Abstract— C-phycocyanin from Synechococcus sp. ( Anacystis nidulans ) shows photoreversible absorption changes when dissolved in buffer containing 75% ethylene glycol (vol/vol). Irradiation with red light (638 nm) causes a 7.5% decrease in absorbance around the absorption maximum (620 m), while the absorbance around 500 nm increases. Subsequent irradiation with green light (500 nm) partially reverses this change. Final photoreversibility at around 620 nm amounts to ca. 2.5% of the maximum absorbance. These reactions are ascribed to two interconvertible species PC_r and PC_g, the former with a higher absorbance in the red. the latter in the green. The rate of dark reversion from PC_g to PC_r is strongly enhanced by ferricyanide. It is proposed that with this reagent, dark reversion occurs via an oxidized form of PC_g. Furthermore, ferricyanide in the presence of ethylene glycol is capable of reversibly oxidizing part of the chromophores of C-phycocyanin, presumably to a radical. In the absence of ethylene glycol, however, ferricyanide causes total irreversible bleaching of the pigment in the dark. The induced photoreversibility of C-phycocyanin is ascribed to the perturbing action on the protein structure by ethylene glycol in high concentrations. This solvent proved the most suitable perturbant of several compounds tested.     

NEW SPECTRAL COMPONENTS IN HIGH RESOLUTION ABSORPTION SPECTRA OF GREEN BACTERIAL REACTION CENTER COMPLEXES AT 5K*

Abstract—absorption spcctra of reaction center Complexes I and II from Chlorobium limicola f. thiosul-fatophilum were taken from 760 and 860 nm at 5 K. Fourth and eighth derivatives of the spectra were calculated from the digital data. Light-minus-dark difference spectra were taken, also at 5 K, with 590 nm actinic light. A shoulder not visible at 77 K appears on the long wavelength side of the 834 nm peak in Complex I. In Complex II, which is derived by guanidine HCI treatment of I, the shoulder is much more pronounced; derivative peaks appear at 834 and 838 nm. In the difference spectra, there are troughs at 832 and 838 nm. The latter trough is the first instance in green bacteria of a wavelength coincidence between a light-induced bleaching and a peak in (derivative) absorbance. There is also a nearly symmetrical pair of features, a trough at 814 nm and a peak at 818 nm, that appear to represent a light-induced bathochromic shift of the absorbance at 816 nm, a peak which occurs in both complexes as well as the photochemically inert bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchl a) protein. Other features in the absorption spcctra of both Complexes occur at virtually the same wavelengths as the peaks in purified Bchl a-protein trimer. We conclude that a large fraction of the Bchl a in Complex II is in a conformation similar to that of a single subunit of Bchl a-protein.     

A Kinetic Study of the Reaction Between Glutathione and Iron(III) in the pH Range from 1 to 3

Anaerobic reactions of iron(III) with glutathione (GSH) have been studied kinetically using stopped-flow spectrophotometry. One mixing reduced GSH with iron(III) a very rapid increase in absorbance with a broad peak centred at 620 nm was recorded. The rapid formation of the blue complex was followed by a decomposition step at a slower rate, yielding a colourless product. GSH reduces iron(III) readily in aqueous solution to yield the iron(II) GSH complex.     

Ligninases fromChrysonilia sitophila (TFB-27441 strain)

Ligninase found in the extracellular medium of cultures ofChrysonilia sitophila was purifieded by ion exchange chromatography. Sodium dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis allowed the determination of 68,000, 48,300, and 48,000 daltons for the molecular weights of ligninase I, II, and III, respectively. The absorption spectrum of the enzymes indicated the presence of a heme prosthetic group. The absorption maximum of the native enzyme II at 400 nm decreased in the presence of one equivalent of hydrogen peroxide. With an additional equivalent of phenol the maximum at 400 nm shifted to 417 nm. This spectrum is similar to horseradish peroxidase compound II. The pyridine hemochromogen absorption spectrum and iron content indicated that ligninases I, II, and III contained a Fe/heme ratio values of 0.8, 1.3, and 1.2 by a molecule of protein, respectively. These enzymes oxidize lignin efficiently, followed by the fluorescence technique and by the photon emission method.     

Spectrophotometric Determination of Palladium(II) with n-Hydroxy-N,N-Diphenylbenzamidine and 1 -(2-Pyridylazo)-2-Naphthol

A spectrophotometric method to determine palladium(II) at trace levels is based on the extraction of palladium(II) as a binary complex with N-hydroxy-N,N′-diphenylbenzamidine (HDPBA) in chloroform at pH 5.0 ± 0.2. The complex shows maximum absorbance at 400 nm with molar absorptivity 6.4 × 10³ L mol^?1 cm^?1. The sensitivity of the Pd(II)-HDPBA complex was enhanced by the addition of l-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN). The green coloured complex shows maximum absorbance at 620 nm with molar absorptivity 1.58 × 10⁴ L mol^?1 cm^?1. Sandell's sensitivity and the detection limit of the method are 0.0067 μg cm^?2and 0.1 μg Pd(II) mL^?1, respectively. Most common metal ions associated with palladium metal do not interfere. The effects of various analytical parameters on the extraction of the metal are discussed.     

Difference spectrophotemetric assay of mixtures of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride with guaifensesin or fextromethorphan hydrobromide in olid cough formulations

A difference spectrophotometric method is described for the selective assay of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride(I) in the presence of guaifenesin(II) or dextromethorphan hydrobromide(III) without prior separation. The method is based on the spectral change upon oxidation of phenylpropanolamine to benzaldehyde by sodium metaperiodate. The difference absorption spectrum is obtained by measuring oxidized against unoxidized phenylpropanolamine. This spectrum exhibits a maximum of 251.5 nm, a minimum at 275 nm and an isosbestic point at 272.5 nm. Absorbance is linear with concentration for 25–100 μg ml^?1 phenylpropanolamine at 251.5 nm. No changes in the spectra of compounds II and III were observed when these compounds were treated with metaperiodate. Guaifenesin and dextromethorphan are assayed by measuring an aliquot of the sample solution against methanol at 281.5 nm and 286 nm, respectively. Phenylpropanolamine does not interfere at these wavelengths. Calibrations are linear over the range 25–125 μg ml^?1 for II and III. Overall recoveries (±SD, n = 5) from simulated tablets were 99.8 ± 2.6% for I and 100.5 ± 0.5% for II; from simulated capsules, the recoveries were 99.2 ± 0.4% for I and 99.6 ± 0.2% for III. The assay was succesfully applied to commercial tablets and capsules containing these compounds.     

Analytical application of arsenazo III to the spectrophotometric determination of palladium: Preliminary investigation of the complex formation in the arsenazo III-Pd (II)--H2O system

The reaction of arsenazo III with palladium(II) was investigated. Complex species of types M₂L and ML are formed at pH 2–4; the complex M₂L shows a very sharp maximum at 630 nm while the ML species shows maximum absorption at 620 nm. The molar absorptivities of the complexes are 4.2(±0.1) · 10⁴ and 1.6(±0.2) · 10⁴ respectively. The complex ML conforms to Beer's law at 620 nm in the range 10–250 μg Pd(II)/50 ml. The sensitivity of the reaction of Pd(II) with arsenazo III is about the same as that of a new reagent, palladiazo, but the latter is more selective for Pd(II). Serious interferences might be caused by UO₂²⁺, U⁴⁺, Th⁴⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Co²⁺, Y³⁺ and the rare-earth elements.     

PHYCOBILIPROTEINS: COMPARISON OF SOLUTION AND SINGLE CRYSTAL FLUORESCENCE FOR C-PHYCOCYANIN AND B-PHYCOERYTHRIN*

Abstract— Trimeric and hexameric solution forms of C-phycocyanin (CPC) from the cyanophyte Agme-nellum quadruplicatum have been isolated and their spectral properties compared to those obtained from single crystals. Although the absorbance peak of a suspension of small C-phycocyanin crystals is red-shifted only 7 nm relative to the solution forms, the single crystal fluorescence is red-shifted 60 nm relative to the solution forms. The crystal fluorescence spectrum exhibits a single peak at LD_max= 708 nm when excited at 514.5 or 530.9 nm and two peaks (LD_max= 661 and 708 nm) when excitation occurs at 568.2 nm. Fluorescence depolarization measurements indicate that extensive energy transfer could occur for both solution and crystal forms with the latter being dependent upon the relative orientation of the crystal with respect to the excitation dipole. Similar results were obtained with B-phycoerythrin (BPE) from the red alga Porphyridium cruentum where the single crystal fluorescence is red-shifted =50nm relative to the solution spectra with two peaks (LD_max= 583 and 617 nm) observed whose relative intensities are dependent on the excitation wavelength (LD_max– 514.5 and 530.9 nm). Single crystal fluorescent lifetimes exhibited considerable shortening relative to that observed for the solution forms. The implications of these results are discussed with respect to the possible relationships of the crystalline structures to the assembly forms present within phycobilisomes.     

Colorimetric Microdetermination of some Corticosteroid Drugs Using Indophenol as Chromophoric Reagent

Abstract

A simple, rapid and sensitive method for the determination of betamethasone (I), dexamethasone (II) and hydrocortisone (III), either in the pure form or in pharmaceutical formulations is described. The method is based on the development of a brown product with indophenoi in basic aqueous-ethanolic (50% v/v) medium. The optimum reaction conditions for the charge transfer complex formed were assessed. The absorbance measurements were made at 820, 816 and 822 nm for I, II and III respectively. The calibration graph was linear in the range 1-26, 1-32 and 1-35 μg/ml of I, II and III with slopes of 0.028, 0.021 and 0.024, respectively. For more accurate analysis, Ringbom optimum concentration ranges were 2.5-23.0, 3.0-28.5 and 3.0-33.0 μg/ml for I, II and III, respectively. The precision of the procedure was checked by calculating the relative standard deviation of ten replicate determinations on a sample containing 20 μg/ml for each drug and was found to be 1.67, 1.39 and 1.85% for I, II and III, respectively. Many common excepience and common drugs present in their dosage forms do not interfere, and the tolerable levels were evaluated. Results of analysis of pure drugs and their dosage forms by the proposed method are in good agreement with those of the British Pharmacopoeia 1993 procedure.     

Studies of the Energy Transfer among Allophycocyanin from Phycobilisomes of Polysiphonia urceolata by Time-Resolved Fluorescence Isotropic and Anisotropic Spectroscopy

Abstract— The excitation energy transfer processes in the allophycocyanin (APC) monomer and trimer from phycobilisomes of Polysiphonia urceolata were studied using picosecond time-resolved fluorescence isotropic and anisotropic spectroscopy. Based on our experimental results, conclusions could be drawn as follows: (1) After the processes of exciton localization are finished, the localized excitation energy on any chromophore can be transferred to the other chromophores due to the weak couplings between them, and the processes among three p₈₄-phycocyaninbilin (PCB) chromophores in the center of the ring shape of the APC trimer are more important than those of between a₈₄- and p₈₄-PCB chromophores in the same monomer. (2) The decay time constants of 95 ± 5 ps and 40 ± 5 ps components, observed by us in this work, were assigned to the excitation energy transfer or redistribution between α₈₄- and β₈₄-PCB chromophores in the same monomer of the APC trimer and among three β₈₄-PCB chromophores in the center of the ring shape of the APC trimer, respectively. Specifically, the assignment of the decay constants for the 40 ± 5 ps component was different from those of previous results. (3) Based on the model of Debreczeny, and using the fluorescence residual anisotropy r(∞) with a probing wavelength of 650 nm, the angles between the C₃ symmetry axis and transition dipoles of α₈₄- and -PCB chromophores were found to be φ_a84= 67° and φ_β84= 148°, respectively, which are in agreement with the prediction of the X-ray crystal structure of APC. (4) The results show that anisotropy decays, observed with the APC trimer, did exhibit a strongly probing wavelength dependence that did not show up in the monomer.     

Complexation of iron(III) by pimelyldihydroxamic acid

Pimelyldihydroxamic acid forms strong complexes with iron(III) in aqueous solution at pH 2–9. Plots of n? and proton liberation against pH show plateaux regions at values of 1.5 and 3.0, respectively, over the pH range 4.0–8.0 supporting a formulation of Fe₂L₃ (logβ = 41.06). The orage-red complex exhibits maximum absorbance at 420 nm, and a well-defined peak at 0.6 V vs. SCE in differential pulse polarography.     

Selective spectrophotometric determination of uranium

Uranium(VI) (10–100 μg) is extracted with 2% dibenzoylmethane in benzene at pH 6–7 while other cations are masked with CDTA (maximum of 8 μg/100 ml). Shaking with 6 M hydrochloric acid reintroduces uranium(VI) into the aqueous phase, where after evaporation and complexation with Arsenazo III in 0.02 M hydrochloric acid the final measurement of absorbance at 650 nm is performed. Iron(III), copper(II), aluminum, and zinc do not interfere even if present in amounts of 15–19 mmol.     

EXCITATION ENERGY MIGRATION IN PHYCOBILISOMES: COMPARISON OF EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND THEORETICAL PREDICTIONS

Abstract— Quantum yield and fluorescence polarization determinations on phycobilisomes and their constituent phycobiliproteins show that phycobilisomes are energetically effective macromolecular structures. Energy migration within the phycobilisome to allophycocyanin, the longest wavelength absorbing and emitting phycobiliprotein, was indicated by the predominant allophycocyanin fluorescence emission which was independent of the phycobiliprotein being excited. The high efficiency of the energy migration inside the phycobilisome was reflected by the low polarized fluorescence. Excitation of phycobilisomes in the region of major absorption (500–650 nm) resulted in degrees of fluorescence polarization between +0.02 and –0.02, whereas in isolated phycobiliproteins the values were 2 to 12 times greater. Furthermore, 94–98° of the excitation energy of phycoerythrin was transferred to phycocyanin and allophycocyanin as determined from comparisons of fluorescence spectra of intact and dissociated phycobilisomes. The fluorescence quantum yields of phycobilisomes were about 0.60–0.68, very similar to that of pure allophycocyanin in solution (0.68). Phycobilisomes isolated from Fremyella diplosiphon and Nostoc sp. (blue-gree algae) have respective quantum yields of 0.68 and 0. 65, and those isolated from Porphyridium cruentum (red alga), about 0.60. In Fremyella diplosiphon and Nostoc sp., which showed a striking adaptation to different wavelengths, the phycobilisome quantum yields only varied from 0.68 to 0.67 and from 0.65 to 0. 60, respectively. The mean transfer time, calculated on the basis of experimental results, was about 280 ± 40 ps for transfer of excitation from the phycoerythrin to the phycocyanin layer in phycobilisomes. This time corresponds to the mean number of jumps, about 28, of the excitation in the phycoerythrin layer before it is captured by phycocyanin. These values are in reasonable agreement with the values of 250 ± 30 ps and 25 jumps, calculated on the basis of a phycobilisome model (of Porphyridium cruentum) and Pearlstein's theory of energy migration devised for a three-dimensional photosynthetic unit. It was also shown that Paillotin's theory of energy migration predicts similar values for mean transfer time and mean number of jumps, if one assumes that phycocyanin is a perfect sink for phycoerythrin excitation.     

Photo-detrapping of solvated electrons in an ionic liquid

We studied the dynamics of photo-detrapped solvated electrons in the ionic liquid trimethyl-N-propylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TMPA-TFSI) using laser flash photolysis. The solvated electrons were produced by the electron photodetachment from iodide via a 248 nm KrF excimer laser. The solvated electron decayed by first-order kinetics with a lifetime of about 240 ns. The spectrum of the solvated electron in the ionic liquid TMPA-TFSI is very broad with a peak around 1100 nm. After the 248 nm pulse, a 532 nm pulse was used to subsequently detrap the solvated electrons. After the detrapping pulse, quasi-permanent bleaching was observed. The relative magnitude of the bleaching in the solvated electron absorbance was measured from 500 to 1000 nm. The amount of bleaching depends on the probe wavelength. The fraction of bleached absorbance was larger at 500 nm than that at 1000 nm, suggesting that there are at least two species that absorb 532 nm light. We discuss the present results from viewpoint of the heterogeneity of ionic liquids.     

Effect of visible light on normal and P23H-3 transgenic rat retinas: characterization of a novel retinoic acid derivative present in the P23H-3 retina

Transgenic rats with the P23H mutation in rhodopsin exhibit increased susceptibility to light damage, compared with normal animals. It is known that light-induced retinal damage requires repetitive bleaching of rhodopsin and that photoreceptor cell loss is by apoptosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) leading to photoreceptor cell death are still unknown. Photoproducts, such as all-trans retinal or other retinoid metabolites, released by the extensive bleaching of rhodopsin could lead to activation of degenerative processes, especially in animals genetically predisposed to retinal degenerations. Using wild-type and transgenic rats carrying the P23H opsin mutation, we evaluated the effects of acute intense visible light on retinoid content, type and distribution in ocular tissues. Rats were exposed to green light (480-590 nm) for 0, 5, 10, 30 and 120 min. Following light treatment, rats were sacrificed and neural retinas were dissected free of the retinal pigment epithelium. Retinoids were extracted from retinal tissues and then subjected to HPLC and mass spectral analysis. We found that the light exposure affected relative levels of retinoids in the neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium of wild-type and P23H rat eyes similarly. In the P23H rat retina but not the wild-type rat retina, we found a retinoic acid-like compound with an absorbance maximum of 357 nm and a mass of 304 daltons. Production of this retinoic acid-like compound in transgenic rats is influenced by the age of the animals and the duration of light exposure. It is possible that this unique retinoid may be involved in the process of light-induced retinal degeneration.