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 REACTION BETWEEN PROTEIN AND NUCLEIC ACIDS: PHOTOADDITION OF TRYPTOPHAN TO PYRIMIDINE BASES*1

Abstract— The photochemical interactions between tryptophan and nucleic acid bases were studied. When aqueous solutions of tryptophan were irradiated (Λ > 260 nm) at neutral pH in the presence of each of the nucleic acid bases, pyrimidine bases but not purine bases were altered. Air was found to decrease the rate of reaction. Two classes of photoproducts were isolated by thin layer and ion-exchange chromatography and partially characterized. One was the dihydro-pyrimidine forms of the base (see Reeve and Hopkins, 1979) and the other consisted of tryptophan-pyrimidine photoadducts. Four tryptophan-uracil and two tryptophan-thymine adducts each with a 1:1 molecular stochiometry were found. Spectroscopic measurements and a positive reaction with Ehrlich's reagent indicate that the indole nucleus remained intact, but that the pyrimidine base was reduced at the 5, 6 double bond. The absence of a positive ninhydrin reaction and the effect of pH on the quantum yield of the photoadduct formation indicated that the ionized a-amino acid group of tryptophan was involved in photoadduct formation. Indole derivatives lacking an a-amino group were also found to form photoadducts with pyrimidine bases. The experimental results are consistent with a reaction mechanism involving tryptophan excitation to the first excited singlet state as the initial event. Radical scavenging experiments indicate that tryptophan free radicals, formed by electron dissociation from the excited state, react with the ground state pyrimidine.     

THE PHOTOLYSIS OF TRYPTOPHAN IN THE PRESENCE OF OXYGEN

Abstract— Quantum yields for the destruction of tryptophan by a single 500 J flash in aqueous solution have been determined over the pH range 1–13 in both air-equilibrated and nitrogen-saturated conditions. When these quantum yields are compared with the quantum yields for radical formation and photoejection of electrons, it is found that there is good agreement only for the nitrogen-saturated case. In air-equilibrated solutions of tryptophan, there is a large disparity between the measured degradation quantum yields and those for photoejection of electrons and radical formation. Oxygen, therefore, is playing a major role in the photochemical decomposition and it is proposed that the major reaction which occurs, under normal atmospheric conditions, is the reaction of the lowest triplet excited state of tryptophan with oxygen.
Preliminary photolysis-product distributions against pH are discussed, and indicate that a total of nine major products are formed in the presence of oxygen.     

THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF p-AMINOBENZOIC ACID

We have studied the photoreactions occurring when p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), a component of some sunscreens, is irradiated in aqueous solution. These studies were carried out in the presence and absence of oxygen, using light of lambda = 254 nm as well as light of wavelengths greater than 290 nm. In deoxygenated solution between pH 7.5 and 11.0, we found two photoproducts that were identified as 4-(4'-aminophenyl)aminobenzoic acid (I) and 4-(2'-amino-5'-carboxyphenyl)aminobenzoic acid (V); we used 1H and 13C NMR, electron impact mass spectrometry and synthesis by an independent route to identify each of these compounds. Rapid discoloration of the photolyzed sample was observed when PABA was irradiated in aerated solution. Although a number of products were detected under these conditions, the three most abundant stable compounds have been isolated and identified as 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-aminophenol and 4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)aminobenzoic acid (IV). The latter compound was shown to result from rapid photo-induced oxidation of I in the presence of oxygen. Even in the presence of trace amounts of oxygen, the yield of I was significantly reduced in favor of IV. Studies of the thermal oxidation of I, coupled with evidence gathered from studies of the photochemistry of incompletely deoxygenated PABA solutions, indicate that 4-(2,5-cyclohexadien-4-one)iminobenzoic acid (III) is an intermediate on the pathway between I and IV. Qualitatively, we found that the photochemical reactions resulting from irradiation of PABA solutions with lambda = 254 nm light and light with lambda greater than 290 nm were the same. The quantum yields for formation of I and V are highly pH dependent, both being less than 10(-4) at pH 7 and rising steadily to values greater than 10(-3) at pH 11. The detailed pH dependence suggests that the deprotonated PABA radical cation may be an important intermediate entering into the reactions forming I and IV.     

INTERACTION BETWEEN TYROSINE AND DIVALENT SULFUR IN FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING AND IN THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF RIBONUCLEASE

Abstract— –Ribonuclease is inactivated in aqueous solution by u.v. light through different mechanisms according to whether divalent sulfur or aromatic amino acids are the primary light absorbers. At 284 nm, absorbed mainly by tyrosine, the presence of O₂ inhibits photoinactivation and H₂S formation, but does less so at 254 or 313 nm. Based on data with model substances containing disulfide groups a mechanism is indicated in which excited tyrosine is quenched through electron transfer to adjacent divalent sulfur within the protein. Disulfide compounds are shown to be very efficient quenchers of tyrosine fluorescence.     

A STUDY OF THE METHYLENE BLUE-SENSITIZED OXIDATION OF AMINO ACIDS

Abstract— A study has been made of the effects of eight amino acids and a group of compounds related to tryptophan upon the photofading of methylene blue under anaerobic conditions and upon the excited species generated by flash photolysis of the dye. These effects are discussed in relation to the ease of sensitized photooxidation of the amino acids by methylene blue, in order to test the hydrogen-abstraction mechanism proposed for this reaction.
In general, amino acids susceptible to sensitized oxidation also act as reducing agents in the photoreduction of methylene blue, while the insensitive compounds do not reduce the light-excited dye molecule. Methionine, histidine and tyrosine are exceptions, but this is probably due to our choice of pH for the photofading experiments.
The flash-photolysis experiments give no clear-cut evidence for a reaction between amino acid and dye triplet excited state leading to an enhanced yield of the semi-reduced radical, thought to be an intermediate of the photofading reaction. The lifetime of the semi-oxidized radical is reduced by many of the amino acids, and this may be the reactive intermediate in their oxidation.     

PHOTO-CIDNP OF THE AMINO ACIDS

A photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarisation (photo-CIDNP) study is presented of the amino acids that are polarisable with a flavin dye. These include derivatives of tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, methylated lysines and methionine. The influence of pH, concentration and chemical modification on the magnitude of the CIDNP effect has been studied to obtain mechanistic information about the radical pair formation. The pH and concentration dependence of tyrosine and tryptophan polarisation could be accounted for quantitatively. The CIDNP evidence indicates that hydrogen-atom abstraction is important in generating radical pairs in the case of histidine and tyrosine, while electron transfer prevails in the case of tryptophan, the methylated lysines and methionine.     

酪氨酸与色氨酸间电子转移——氧化还原活性及电子跃迁能的从头算研究

在HF/6-31G和GASSCF/6-31G水平上对色氨酸和酪氨酸间的电子转移进行了理论 研究。用类导体屏蔽模型考察体系的溶剂效应。通过对给、受体几何构型的优化, 计算了孤立的给、受体之间电子转移反应的内重组能和反应能差。分别用 Koopmans定理和CASSCF/6-31G方法计算了色氨酸和酪氨酸的电离能。计算了此两种 氨基酸从基态到最低激发态的跃迁能。理论计算结果很好地解释了N_3~·高选择性 地氧化色氨酸残基,并诱发电子从酪氨酸残基向色氨酸残基转移的实验现象。     

THE IMPORTANCE OF COMPLEX FORMATION IN THE SENSITIZATION OF Eu(III) EMISSION BY OROTIC ACID

Abstract— Orotic acid (I) and 3-methylorotic acid (II) are the only orotic acid derivitives which efficiently sensitire emission from Eu(III) in D₂O solution. This emission is only weakly sensitized by I-methylorotic acid (III), 1,3-dimethylorotic acid (IV), the methyl and isopropyl esters of orotic acid (V) 6-acetyluracil (VI) and not sensitized at all by the bases uracil. thymine and their nucleosides. Substituent groups on either the carboxyl group or the N-l position of the ring thus prevent efficient energy transfer from the excited orotic acid to Eu(III). These structural requirements for efficient energy transfer are the same as the structural requirements for formation of a stable. bidentate. ground state complex between Eu(III) and orotic acid (VII) (Sarpotdar and Burr, 1978).
We, therefore, propose that sensitization of Eu(III) emission by orotic acid at pH 5 is an example of energy transfer within the bidentate complex of Eu(III) and orotic acid. We also propose that the complexed orotic acid is itself excited by eollisional energy transfer from free triplet excited orotic acid (since the concentration of complex measured to be present. 5–7%, is too low to account for the efficiency of the sensitization). We also propose that emission from the excited complexed Eu(III) can be either from the complexed ion or from free Eu(III)* resulting from dissociation of the complex during the lifetime of the excited ion.
The efficiency of Eu(III) sensitized emission is shown to depend on the concentrations of Eu(III). orotic acid and pH with relationships kinetically consistent with the above hypothesis.     

Electron transfer between guanosine radicals and amino acids in aqueous solution. II. Reduction of guanosine radicals by tryptophan

The efficiency of the chemical pathway of DNA repair is studied by time-resolved chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP) using the model system containing guanosyl base radicals, and tryptophan as the electron donor. Radicals were generated photochemically by pulsed laser irradiation of a solution containing the photosensitizer 2,2'-dipyridyl, guanosine-5'-monophosphate, and N-acetyl tryptophan. Depending on the pH of the aqueous solution, four protonation states of the guanosyl radical are formed via electron or hydrogen atom transfer to the triplet excited dye. The rate constants of electron transfer from the amino acid to the guanosyl radical were determined by quantitative analysis of the CIDNP kinetics, which is very sensitive to the efficiency of radical reactions in the bulk, and rate constants vary from (1.0 +/- 0.3) x 10(9) M(-1) s(-1) for the cation and dication radicals of the nucleotide to (1.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(7) M(-1) s(-1) for the radical in its anionic form. They were found to be higher than the corresponding values for electron transfer in the case of N-acetyl tyrosine as the reducing agent.     

EXCITED STATES IN PHOTODIMERIZATION OF AQUEOUS TYROSINE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Abstract— The photoionization of tyrosine in aqueous solution in the liquid state was studied at room temperature by analyzing the kinetics of formation of bityrosine upon irradiation of tyrosine, and the external heavy-atom effect on the formation of bityrosine. The relative number of bityrosine molecules was determined by measuring the fluorescence intensity at 400 nm. A kinetic model for the formation of bityrosine was formulated on the assumption that the rate constants were first-order for production of radicals and for recombination with ejected electrons. The applicability of this model to the present case was confirmed by the experimental data. On the basis of the model, we found that the electronic process of photoionization of tyrosine at room temperature is different in acidic and alkaline media. In acidic media a tyrosine molecule absorbs one light quantum and photoionizes through a singlet excited state, while in alkaline media a tyrosinate ion photoionizes after absorption of two light quanta. The intermediate product that absorbs the second photon is in a triplet excited state.     

A laser flash photolysis and pulse radiolysis study of primary photochemical processes of flumequine

The 355 nm laser flash photolysis of argon-saturated pH 8 phosphate buffer solutions of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic flumequine produces a transient triplet state with a maximum absorbance at 575 nm where the molar absorptivity is 14,000 M(-1) cm(-1). The quantum yield of triplet formation is 0.9. The transient triplet state is quenched by various Type-1 photodynamic substrates such as tryptophan (TrpH), tyrosine, N-acetylcysteine and 2-deoxyguanosine leading to the formation of the semireduced flumequine species. This semireduced form has been readily identified by pulse radiolysis of argon-saturated pH 8 buffered aqueous solutions by reaction of the hydrated electrons and the CO2*- radicals with flumequine. The absorption maximum of the transient semireduced species is found at 570 nm with a molar absorptivity of 2,500 M(-1) cm(-1). In argon-saturated buffered solutions, the semireduced flumequine species formed by the reaction of the flumequine triplet with TrpH stoichiometrically reduces ferricytochrome C (Cyt Fe3+) under steady state irradiation with ultraviolet-A light. In the presence of oxygen, O2*- is formed but the photoreduction of Cyt Fe3+ by O2*- competes with an oxidizing pathway which involves photo-oxidation products of TrpH.     

FLUOROMETRIC STUDY OF TRYPTOPHAN PHOTOLYSIS

Abstract— Measurements of fluorescence spectra and fluorescence intensity for tryptophan solutions at different pH show an effective decarboxylation and deamination of tryptophan molecules under UV irradiation. The nonexponential dose-relationship of decrease in total fluorescence of tryptophan solutions is due to the formation of the products retaining indole ring in the course of these reactions. Dose-relationships and quantum yields of indole ring photolysis, deamination and decarboxylation are determined for tryptophan at 254 nm irradiation. Indole ring destruction accounts for about 60% of the total photolysis of tryptophan. Decarboxylation of tryptophan is two times more effective than its deamination. In the absence of oxygen quantum yield of indole photolysis in tryptophan and in the products of decarboxylation and deamination is reduced by a factor of two and by approximately an order of magnitude, respectively. Tryptophan photolysis products which, when excited at 365 nm. fluoresce in the visible region are formed from an intermediate product of indole ring destruction.     

Electron transfer between guanosine radical and amino acids in aqueous solution. 1. Reduction of guanosine radical by tyrosine

As a model of chemical DNA repair, the reductive electron transfer from the aromatic amino acid tyrosine to the radical of the purine base guanosine monophosphate (GMP) was studied by time-resolved chemically induced dynamic nuclear polarization (CIDNP). The guanosyl radicals were photochemically generated in the quenching reaction of the triplet excited dye 2,2'-dipyridyl. Depending on the pH of the aqueous solution, four different guanosyl radicals were observed. The identification of the radicals was possible because of the high sensitivity of CIDNP to distinguish them through their ability or disability of participating in the degenerate electron hopping reaction with the diamagnetic molecules of guanosine monophosphate in the ground state. The CIDNP kinetics in this three-component system containing the dye, GMP, and N-acetyl tyrosine is strongly dependent on the efficiency of the electron-transfer reaction from tyrosine to the nucleotide radical. Quantitative analysis of the CIDNP kinetics obtained at different concentrations of the amino acid, together with the comparison with the CIDNP kinetics of the two-component systems (dipyridyl/tyrosine and dipyridyl/GMP) allowed for the determination of the rate constant ke of the reductive electron-transfer reaction for five pairs of reactants, with different protonation states depending on the pH: GH++*/TyrOH (pH 1.3), G+*/TyrOH (pH 2.9), G(-H)*/TyrOH (pH 7.5), G(-H)*/TyrO- (pH 11.3), and G(-2H)-*/TyrO- (pH 13.3). The rate constant ke varies from (7.1 +/- 3.0) x 10(8) M-1 s-1 (pH 1.3, 2.9) to less than 6 x 10(6) M-1 s-1 (pH 13.3).     

ELECTRON TRANSFER FROM THE EXCITED STATE OF TYROSINE TO COMPOUNDS CONTAINING DISULFIDE LINKAGES

Abstract— The flash photolysis of aqueous solutions of tyrosine has been studied in the presence of various concentrations of the cyclic disulfide sodium lipoate (thioctic acid, Na⁺ salt). In addition to the formation of phenoxyl radicals and hydrated electrons (and possibly H atoms) from the photoionization of tyrosine, the characteristic spectrum of the radical anion RSSR^- of lipoate was also observed in neutral as well as in alkaline solutions. From the dependence of these yields upon the concentration of lipoate, it was found that a long–lived triplet excited state of tyrosine, rather than the singlet excited state, is involved in these reactions. The negative radical ions RSSR^- are formed by two distinct pathways: (a) Na⁺–lipoate reacts with the solvated electrons which are ejected from the tyrosine triplets ³Tyr → RO.+ e ^-_aq+ H⁺ followed by e ^-_aq+ RSSR → RSSR^-, and (b) by direct interaction of lipoate with triplet excited tyrosine, resulting in the transfer of a negative charge from tyrosine to the disulfide linkage. At high lipoate concentrations, the singlet excited state of lipoate is quenched, k ₄= 1.6 × 10¹⁰ M ^-1 sec^-1, but this reaction does not lead to the formation of RSSR^- radical ions.     

Photophysical properties of ricin

The molar absorption coefficient of ricin in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 279 nm was measured as (93,900+/-3300) L mol(-1) cm(-1). The concentration of ricin was determined using amino acid analysis. The absorption spectrum of ricin was interpreted in terms of 69% contribution from absorption by tryptophan residues and 31% contribution from absorption by tyrosine residues. The total dipole strength of the ricin band at 280 nm was determined to be (147+/-8) D2 and was consistent with the combined dipole strengths of 10 tryptophan ([11.7+/-1.0] D2) and 23 tyrosine ([1.4+/-0.2] D2) residues. The structure of ricin was used to determine the coupling of the tryptophan residues in ricin. The maximum interaction energy was found to be 424 cm(-1)/epsilon while the average interaction between any two pairs of tryptophan residues was approximately 18 cm(-1)/epsilon. In this study, epsilon is the dielectric constant inside the protein. The fluorescence from ricin, excited at 280 nm, was dominated by fluorescence from tryptophan residues suggesting the presence of energy transfer from tyrosine to tryptophan residues. The absorbance and fluorescence of ricin increased slightly when ricin was denatured in a high concentration of guanidine. Irreversible thermal unfolding of ricin occurred between 65 degrees C and 70 degrees C. (D=3.3364*10(-30) Cm, not SI unit, convenient unit for the magnitude of the electric dipole moment of molecules.).     

Determination of melatonin and monoamines in rat pineal using reversed-phase ion-interaction chromatography with fluorescence detection

A method is reported for the ion-interaction, reversed-phase separation of 24 compounds (chiefly monoamines) arising from the metabolism of tyrosine and tryptophan. These compounds were separated as two groups. The first group comprised 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylene glycol, tyrosine, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl glycol, 5-hydroxytryptophan, norepinephrine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, epinephrine, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, homovanillic acid, 5-hydroxytryptophol, dopamine, tryptophan. N-acetylserotonin, N-acetyltryptophan, 5-methoxytryptophan and serotonin. The mobile phase consisted of a 6.8:93.2 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile and an aqueous solution containing 0.16 M ammonium phosphate, 0.06 M citric acid, 0.15 mM disodium EDTA, 10 mM dibutylamine and 6 mM sodium 1-octanesulphonate at pH 4.50. The second group of compounds comprised 6-hydroxymelatonin, 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, 5-methoxytryptamine, tryptamine, 5-methoxytryptophol, melatonin and tryptophol. The mobile phase consisted of a 16:84 (v/v) mixture of acetonitrile and an aqueous solution containing 0.05 M ammonium phosphate, 0.05 M citric acid, 0.15 mM disodium EDTA, 25 mM dibutylamine and 5 mM sodium 1-octanesulphonate at pH 5.30. Detection was by fluorescence measurement (lambda ex = 280 nm, lambda em = 340 nm). The proposed method exhibited linear calibration over the biochemically significant concentration range, with detection limits in the 10-200 pg range. Excellent precision for peak areas and retention times was observed, even over a period of 24 h. The applicability of amperometric detection (at 0.72V) is also demonstrated. The method is applied to the determination of monoamines in individual rat pineals. Low nanogram levels of tyrosine, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid, tryptophan, serotonin and 6-hydroxymelatonin, and picogram levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophol, 5-methoxyindole-3-acetic acid, indole 3-acetic acid, 5-methoxytryptophol and melatonin were indicated in most of the samples.     

Formation of Tryptophan Radicals in Irradiated Aqueous Solutions of Hexachloroplatinate(IV): A Flash Photolysis Study

The oxidation of tryptophan photosensitized by PtCl6(2-) has been investigated in aqueous solutions at different pH using nanosecond laser flash photolysis. Cationic and neutral radicals of tryptophan were detected at pH 2.8 and 8.5, respectively. The generation of the radical was attributed to oxidation by Cl2- that was formed from the homolytic bond cleavage in the excited state of PtCl6(2-). The bimolecular rate constant derived from the kinetics analysis, 2.8 +/- 0.2 x 10(9) M-1 s-1, is in good agreement with the value obtained in earlier pulse radiolysis studies. Both the cationic and neutral radicals decayed by second-order kinetics, consistent with the dimerization process.     

STUDIES ON THE PROTEIN CONFORMATION OF PHYTOCHROME

Abstract— The extinction coefficients for large rye phytochrome were found to be: Fluorescence and circular dichroism spectra of large- and small-molecular-weight rye phytochrome give no evidence for a protein conformational change on phototransformation of phytochrome. The large molecule has a fluorescence emission peak at 331 nm when excited at 290 nm, and an excitation peak for this emission at 288 nm. The circular dichroism spectra indicate that large rye phytochrome has about 17–20% a-helix content, 30%β-structure and 50% random coil, and that the small rye phytochrome has about 10–13%α-helix content. The ultraviolet difference spectra for large and small rye phytochrome are similar and differ from the difference spectrum of the small oat phytochrome in the relative size of the 296–298 nm peak. The difference spectra may reflect changes in chromophore absorbance and in the environment of amino acid residues near the chromophore, particularly of tyrosine, and perhaps of tryptophan and cysteine.     

THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF 14 C-5-BROMO-2''-DEOXYURIDYLYL-(3''→5'')-THYMIDINE DETERMINATION OF QUANTUM YIELDS AS A FUNCTION OF pH

Abstract— Quantum yields for the formation of the major photoproduct of 2-¹⁴C-5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridylyl-(3'→5')-thymidine (BrdUpT) have been determined by irradiation of the 2-¹⁴C-BrU-labeled dinucleotide at pH 2.3, 5.9, 7.05, 8.0 and 10.25 with U.V. light at 280nm. At acidic and neutral pH the quantum yield was 0.0063; the value decreased markedly above pH 8.0 to 0.0025 at pH 10.25. Some evidence of the formation of additional photoproducts at high and low pH was found. Some aspects of the mechanism of the reaction are discussed.
Consideration of p K_a values calculated for singlet and triplet excited states indicates that the decrease in the quantum yield of main photoproduct at high pH is due to dissociation of the excited bromodeoxyuridine moiety. It is suggested that the formation of BrdUpT photoproduct and the debromination of bromouracil-labeled DN A occur via different excited states.