VISIBLE LIGHT IRRADIATION OF HUMAN AND BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN-BILIRUBIN COMPLEX*

Abstract— The UV absorption and the fluorescence emission spectra of both bovine (BSA) and human (HSA) serum albumin underwent noticeable changes upon irradiation of their 1:1 complexes with bilirubin; both these phenomena are suggestive of the photosensitized modification of aromatic amino acid residues. Amino acid analysis showed that after relatively short irradiation times of both albumins, only histidyl and tryptophyl residues appeared to be affected to a significant extent. After 60min of irradiation, some decrease in the tyrosine content was also observed, especially for HSA.
Conformational studies, obtained by exposing unirradiated and irradiated BSA and HSA to denaturing agents, showed that the three-dimensional organization of the 15 min irradiated samples was slightly different from that of the native proteins. On the other hand, after 15 min of irradiation, the association constant of the bilirubin-albumin complexes decreased from 2.07 to 0.54×10⁸ M ^-1 for HSA and from 2.16 to 0.87×10⁷ M ^-1 for BSA.
These data indicate that the histidyl residues are relatively unimportant for maintaining the native tertiary structure of BSA and HSA, but they are critical for determining the binding capacity of the albumins. Our data also imply that the tertiary structure of the BSA molecule is more labile than that of HSA.     

THE QUANTUM EFFICIENCY FOR THE INTERPHOTOCONVERSION OF THE BLUE and PINK FORMS OF PURPLE MEMBRANE

When the cations bound to purple membrane are removed it turns blue, and when this blue membrane is irradiated its color changes to pink. Irradiation of pink membrane leads to the reformation of blue membrane. We have determined that the quantum efficiency for the formation of pink membrane from deionized blue membrane is 1.6 ± 0.6 ± 10 ⁴ at 0^oC, pH 5.0. We also found that the quantum efficiency for the back photoconversion, i.e. the formation of blue membrane from pink membrane, is 8.8 ± 1.6 ± 10^-3 at 0^oC, 55 times greater than that of the forward photoconversion reaction. The extinction coefficients of the pink membrane and blue membrane were determined to be 44 500 ± 670 cm^-1 M^-1 at 491 nm and 54 760 ± 830 cm^-1 M ^-1 at 603 nm, respectively, assuming light-adapted purple membrane is 63 000 cm^-1 M ^-1 at 568 nm. The quantum efficiency for forming pink membrane from blue membrane is much lower than that for forming the photointermediate of the blue membrane's photocycle. Their relationship is similar to that of light-adaptation and photocycle of the dark-adapted purple membrane.     

QUENCHING OF TRYPTOPHAN PHOSPHORESCENCE IN ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE FROM HORSE LIVER and ITS TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE

Abstract— The phosphorescence of alcohol dehydrogenase from horse liver (LADH) can be observed at room temperature. The quenching of this long-lived light emission, which comes from a tryptophan residue well buried within the interior of the enzyme structure, was measured. The rate constants for the quenching by the small oxygen molecule and by the I ^-1ion were found to be 1.4 → 10⁸ M ^-1 s^-1 and 10⁸ M ^-1 s^-1, respectively, at room temperature. The temperature dependence of the quenching yields an activation energy of about 14 kcal/mol. This activation energy and the meaning of the accompanying large pre-exponential factor in the Arrhenius equation, A = 10¹⁸ M ^-l s^-1, are discussed in terms of a model in which the quencher threads its way through the protein network.     

REEVALUATION OF THE SPECTRAL AND KINETIC PROPERTIES OF HO2 AND O2- FREE RADICALS

Abstract— The spectra and molar absorbances of the HO₂ and O₂^- free radicals have been redetermined in aqueous formate solutions by pulse and stopped-flow radiolysis as well as by ⁶⁰Co gamma-ray studies. The extinction coefficients at the corresponding maxima and 23°C are ²²⁵= 1400 ± 80 M ^-1 cm^-1 and ²²⁵= 2350 ± 120 M ^-1 cm^-1 respectively. Reevaluation of earlier published rate data in terms of the new extinction coefficients yielded the following rate constants for the spontaneous decay of HO₂ and O₂^-: K _Ho2+HO2= (8.60 ± 0.62) × 10⁵ M ^-1 s^-1; K _Ho2+O2-= (1.02 ± 0.49) × 10⁸ M ^-1 s^-1; K _Ho2+O2- < 0.35 M ^-1 s^-1. For the equilibrium HO₂→ O₂^-+ H⁺ the dissociation constant is K _Ho2= (2.05 ± 0.39) × 10^-5 M or p K _HO2= 4.69 ± 0.08. G (O₂^-) has been evaluated as a function of formate concentration.     

ENERGY CONVERSION IN THE DECAY OF TRIPLET LUMIFLAVIN IN THE PRESENCE OF FERRI- AND FERROCYANIDE

Abstract— Flash photolysis at 450 nm has been used to study the quenching of the excited triplet state of lumiflavin and the transient species formed in subsequent reactions in deaerated phosphate buffer (pH 6.9).
The effect of the presence of ferricyanide on the life time of triplet lumiflavin has been studied. The results suggest an energy transfer reaction without concurrent electron transfer reactions. The rate constant for the process was 2.8 times 10⁹ M ^-1 s^-1. The analogous reaction with ferrocyanide could not be observed because of the efficient electron transfer reaction (δG = -20.6 kcal mol^-1) leading to the formation of the semireduced lumiflavin and ferricyanide. The rate constant for this reaction was 3.3 times 10⁹ M ^-1 s^-1. The semireduced lumiflavin radical was found to disappear in a second order reaction with a rate constant of 1.7 times 10⁹ M ^-1 s^-1. It was found to react with ferricyanide with a rate constant of 0.7 times 10⁹ M ^-1 s^-1.
A model for the various photochemical and photophysical processes involved in the decay and quenching of the lumiflavin triplet state is suggested and discussed.     

BIOLOGICAL CHEMILUMINESCENCE

Abstract
The nucleobase 5-methylcytosine ( I ) is a minor component of eukaryotic DNA thought to be important in regulation of gene expression. The photochemical reactions of this nucleobase and its 2'-deoxyribonucleoside, 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine ( II ), in water have been studied. These reactions lead, respectively, to 3-amino-2-methylacrylamidine ( Ib ) and 3-(2- erythro - d -pentopyranos-1-yl) amino-2-methylacrylamidine ( IIb ) as the main photoproducts. The structure of the photoproducts was established by spectroscopic methods (¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV spectroscopy, electron impact and liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry); in the case of Ib , confirmatory evidence was obtained by chemical methods (photolysis of 5-methyl[2–¹³C]cytosine, hydrolysis of N -carbomethoxy-3-amino-2-methylacryl-amidine and reaction of Ib with 1,1'-carbonyldiimidazole to give I ). The quantum yield for formation of Ib was determined to be 1.8 × 10^-3at pH 7.5 while the quantum yield for formation of IIb has a lower value of 0.2 × 10^-3 at pH 7.5. These quantum yields depend strongly on pH and reach maximum values of 2.0 × 10^-3 at pH 7.0 ( Ib ) and 0.6 × 10^-3 at pH 5.0 ( IIb ). The mechanism of formation of Ib (or IIb ) is proposed to involve nucleophilic attack of water on the C-2 position of photoexcited I (or II ), followed by ring opening and decarboxylation of an intermediate carbamic acid.     

CROCETIN, A WATER SOLUBLE CAROTENOID MONITOR FOR SINGLET MOLECULAR OXYGEN

Abstract The water soluble carotenoid crocetin has been studied as a singlet molecular oxygen monitor in D₂O solution, pD 8.4. Crocetin reacts chemically with singlet molecular oxygen with a rate constant of 4 x 10⁸ M ^-1 s^-1. The rate constant for total quenching, chemical and physical, is 2.5 x 10⁹ M ^-1 s^-1. Crocetin shows evidence for a reversible reaction with singlet molecular oxygen, as demonstrated by a fairly rapid absorption recovery after bleaching.     

CHLORIDE ENHANCEMENT OF QUENCHING OF TRIPLET METHYLENE BLUE BY Fe(II)

Abstract— The influence of chloride ion on the rate of decay of triplet methylene blue in 0.01 M acid in the absence and presence of ferrous ions was investigated by means of laser flash-photolysis monitored by kinetic spectrophotometry. Chloride weakly accelerates decay of ³MBH^2± in aqueous solution in the absence of Fe(II). Quenching of ³MBH²⁺ by Fe(II) is more strongly catalyzed by Cl^- in both water and 50 v/v% aq. CH₃CN. The uncatalyzed quenching constant, k ₅, is of the order of 1 × 10⁶ M ^-1 s^-1 while in 4.8 M aqueous chloride ( μ – 7.2 M ) k ₅= (37.2 ± 1.8) × 10⁶ M ^-1 s^-1. A possible role of chloride is as a bridging species in quenching via electron transfer between ³MBH²⁺ and Fe(II).     

COMPLEX FORMATION BETWEEN ETHIDIUM BROMIDE AND THE NUCLEOTIDES AMP AND GMP

Abstract— The antimicrobial drug ethidium bromide (EB) has been found to form molecular complexes with nucleotides, the strongest being those with the purines AMP and GMP. For the EB-AMP and EB-GMP complexes (which we characterized) the values of the ground-state association constant have been found to be 100 and 103 M ^-1, respectively. The fluorescence of the drug is enhanced when complexed to AMP, GMP, and TMP by about 60, 30 and 10%, respectively, whereas it is quenched by about 20% when complexed to CMP. Fluorescence enhancement analysis has yielded the values of 1.1 × 10¹⁰ and 0.7 × 10¹⁰ M ^-1 s^-1 for the excited-state rate constant of complex formation with the former two nucleotides, respectively. About one out of two collisions between an excited EB molecule and an AMP or GMP molecule results in complex formation. The potential implications of these findings for the EB-DNA interaction are discussed.     

QUENCHING OF EXCITED TRIPLET LUMIFLAVIN BY LUMIFLAVIN RADICALS FORMED IN ITS T-T REACTION

Abstract— Reactions of the triplet state of lumiflavin (³LF) in water adjusted at pH 7.2 were reexamined by means of a Xe-flash photolysis and a laser photolysis. Measurements of the decay of ³LF were made on solutions of LF ranging in the concentration from 4 to 61 times 10^-6 mol/dm³. A one-electron reduced and a one-electron oxidized species of lumiflavin (LF^- and LF⁺) were produced in the first decay stage of ³LF with a high efficiency (0.6 ± 0.1) in a bimolecular triplet-triplet reaction. The product radicals (LFH^- and LF⁺) quench ³LF very efficiently (3 ± 0.8 × 10⁹ mol^-1dm³ s^-1) compared with LF in the ground state (> 2 × 10⁷ dm³ mol^-1).     

PULSE RADIOLYSIS STUDIES IN MODEL LIPID SYSTEMS: FORMATION AND BEHAVIOR OF PEROXY RADICALS IN FATTY ACIDS

Abstract— Radiolytic formation and peroxidation of fatty acid radicals have been investigated by pulse radiolysis techniques in oleate, linoleate, linolenate and arachidonate systems. A strong absorption band at 280 nm associated with conjugated radicals, R_conj, formed in polyunsaturated fatty acid moieties has been used as a probe for kinetic processes occurring at doubly allylic sites in the hydrocarbon chain. Formation of R_conj by O^- has been found to be more efficient than the less selective OH radical. Peroxidation of R_conj is shown to be somewhat slower, ( k _R+ O₂˜ 3 × 10⁸ M ^-1 s^-1), than O₂ reactions with radicals in oleate ( k _R+ O₂= 1 × 10⁹ M ^-1 s^-1). Peroxy radicals generated in these reactions disappear slowly by essentially second order processes (2 k RO₁˜ 10⁷ M ^-1 s^-1). The superoxide radical, O^-₂, shows little if any reactivity towards 0.01 M linolenate or arachidonate over periods of 20 s.     

AMPHIPHILIC COPOLYMERS AS MEDIA FOR LIGHT-INDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER-II. ELECTROSTATIC EFFECT ON THE BACK ELECTRON TRANSFER

Abstract— Photosensitized reduction of zwitterionic viologen (SPV) and methyl viologen (MV²⁺) was investigated using an amphiliphilic copolymer having phenanthryl and sulfonate groups (APh) as photosensitizer in aqueous solutions. In the presence of triethanolamine the accumulation of SPV * (photoproduct) was found to be faster than that of MV⁺. This attributed to the electrostatic repulsion between SPV. and anionic segments of APh. Such difference between SPV and MV²⁺ was minimized in the case of the related monomer model. Retardation of the back reaction for the APh-SPV system was also demonstrated by laser photolysis, k _b= 8.7 × 10⁷ M ^-1 s^-1 for the polymer system as compared to k _b= 2.8 × 10⁹ M ^-1 s^-1 for the monomer model system. Strong salt-effects on the yield of the photoreduction and the rate of back reaction confirm the strong electrostatic interaction between the photoproducts and polyanions. This remarkable electrostatic effect of the polyanions was simulated by electrochemical redox reactions by using a graphite electrode coated with APh.     

THE INFLUENCE OF MOLECULAR CONFORMATION ON THE STABILITY OF ULTRAVIOLET STABILIZERS TOWARD DIRECT AND DYE-SENSITIZED PHOTOIRRADIATION: THE CASE OF 2-(2'-HYDROXY-5'-METHYPHENYL)BENZOTRIAZOLE (TIN P)

Abstract— The mechanism for photodegradation of the ultraviolet photostabilizer 2-(2'-hydroxy-5'-methylphenyl)benzotriazole (TIN P) upon direct and dye-sensitized (singlet molecular oxygen [O₂(1Δ_g)]-mediated) irradiation was studied. From the experimental TIN P photodegradation rate data, and low temperature (77 K) fluorescence and phosphorescence quantum yields, one can conclude that the photodegradative process involves phosphorescent states of TIN P. The open conformer of TIN P quenches O₂(¹Δ_g) by physical scavenging with a rate constant (k_q) in dimethylsulfoxide of 2.8 times 10⁶ M ^-1 s^-1. The intramolecular hydrogen-bonded conformer does not appreciably interact with O₂(¹Δ_g). In the presence of a relatively high concentration of OH- (either 5 times 10^-2 M KOH in ethanol or water at pH 13), the ionic form of TIN P (with an ionized phenol group) physically and chemically quenches O₂(¹Δ_g). The reaction rate constant ( k _r) is 1 times 10 ⁸ M ^-1 s^-1, and the ratio k _q/ k _r is approximately three in alkaline aqueous media.     

LUMIFLAVIN-SENSITIZED PHOTOOXYGENATION OF INDOLE

Abstract— The lumiflavin-sensitized photooxygenation of indole in aqueous solutions has been investigated by means of steady light photolysis and flash photolysis. The semiquinone of lumiflavin and the half-oxidized radical of indole were formed by the reaction between triplet lumiflavin and indole (3.7 times 10⁹ M ^-1 s^-1). The semiquinone anion radical of lumiflavin reacted with oxygen to form superoxide radical. The triplet state of lumiflavin also reacted with oxygen forming singlet oxygen, ¹O₂. But the reaction between ¹O₂ and indole (7 times 10⁷ M^_l s^_1; estimated from steady light photolysis using Rose Bengal as a sensitizer) was far less efficient than the reaction between indole and triplet lumiflavin. The quantum yield of the lumiflavin-sensitized photooxygenation of dilute indole via radical processes was much higher than that via ¹O₂ processes, though appreciable ¹O₂ was formed.     

MECHANISM OF CONCENTRATION QUENCHING OF A XANTHENE DYE ENCAPSULATED IN PHOSPHOLIPID VESICLES

Encapsulating a xanthene dye in phospholipid vesicles produces vesicle solutions that contain dye at very high microscopic concentrations, but have a low overall optical density, thereby eliminating reabsorption. Using this system, we have studied the effects of concentration on the fluorescence lifetime of one such dye, sulforhodamine 101. We have observed that the lifetime decreases as a function of encapsulated dye concentration, which is indicative of collisional quenching. The lifetime decreases from 4.5 nsec for sulforhodamine in dilute aqueous solution to 0.69 ns at an encapsulated concentration of 33 m M . The bimolecular rate constant for this event is 2.6 10¹⁰ M ^-1 s^-1, consistent with a diffusion controlled event. However, the quenching constant calculated from changes in intensity is 2.2 10¹¹ M ^-1 s^-1. Thus, collisional quenching is not the predominant mechanism of quenching. The absorption spectra of dye in vesicles indicate an important contribution from static complex formation. Förster distance calculations indicate that energy transfer can also occur to a significant extent, with a predicted efficiency of transfer of 34% at a dye concentration of only 1 m M     

THE PHOTOOXIDATION OF DIETHYLHYDROXYLAMINE BY ROSE BENGAL IN MICELLAR AND NONMICELLAR AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

The photooxidation of N,N -diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA) by Rose Bengal (RB) has been investigated in micellar and nonmicellar aqueous solutions. We measured the quantum yield of oxygen consumption forming H₂O₂ and monitored two intermediates, the superoxide and diethylnitroxide radicals. When the pH was vaned, the quantum yield of oxidation remained constant for 6 < pH < 10.5, decreased in acidic pH, and increased considerably in NaOH solution; these changes could be attributed to the protonation and dissociation processes of the >N-OH moiety of DEHA. The formation of diethylnitroxide radical was enhanced by superoxide dismutase or strong alkaline solution. Around neutral pH, the oxidation proceeded mainly via electron transfer from DEHA to the RB triplet ( k _q = 10⁷ M ^-1 s^-1) with little ¹O₂ participation ( k_q < 10⁵ M ^-1 s^-1). However, when RB was incorporated into micelles in alkaline solution, the contribution of the singlet oxygen pathway increased at the expense of electron transfer, which was inhibited by the less polar micellar environment. Dark autoxidation of DEHA was accelerated by heavy metal impurities and increased very strongly in NaOH solution.     

INCREASED QUANTUM YIELD OF PHOTOREDUCTION OF DYES (A CATALYTIC EFFECT)

Abstract— While studying the photoreduction of some dyes (D) by reducing agents (R), it was observed that the quantum yield of the photoreduction increases considerably upon addition of a third substance (C), whereas it is very small when the dye is photoreduced by C alone (catalytic effect), (see Table 1).
The system thionine (D), allylthiourea (R), and azulene (C) was investigated in detail using both flash photolysis and continuous illumination. On photolysis, thionine is converted into its photo-reduced form, leucothionine. Azulene reacts with the basic form of the thionine triplet ³ TH ⁺ to produce the semithionine radical. In the system thionine and azulene, most of these radicals revert back to thionine. When ATU (˜ 10^2- M ) is added to thionine and azulene (3 × 10^-4 M ), the semithionine radicals are reduced to leucothionine; the quantum yield of this reduction is considerably higher than in the system thionine and allylthiourea. Flash experiments demonstrate that allylthiourea does not react with the semithionine radicals.
At very high ATU concentrations (≥ 10^-1 M ), however, the primary reaction is between thionine triplet and allylthiourea; under these conditions the quantum yield is not influenced by azulene (3 × 10^-4 M ).     

METHYL VIOLOGEN AGGREGATION

Abstract— Methyl viologen (paraquat, l,l'-dimethyl-4, 4'-bipyridinium dichloride) has been observed to start forming aggregates in methanol at 2.5 times 10^-3 M, and in aqueous solutions at about 10^-2 M depending on other experimental parameters. The number of molecules per aggregate is 2–3 for concentrations < 0.1 M.     

REACTIONS OF PHOTOCHEMICALLY FORMED TRANSIENTS FROM 2-NITROTOLUENE

Abstract— Kinetic data are reported for the thermal decay of colored transients formed by U.V. irradiation of aqueous solutions of 2-nitrotoluene. The transients display an acid-base equilibrium with a pK value of 3.7. The decay is catalyzed by acids and the following rate constants in liter sec^-l mole^-1 were evaluated for the base form of the transient reacting with an acid at 30.0°C: 3.5 × 10^-3 (H₂O), 2.6×10³ (CH₃COOH), 4.7×10⁴ (⁺NH₃CH₂COOH) and 4.2×10⁵(H+).     

TYPES I AND II SENSITIZED PHOTOOXIDATION OF AMINOACID BY PHTHALOCYANINES: A FLASH PHOTOCHEMICAL STUDY

Abstract— In connection with the use of red light-photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy, the redox reactivity of excited metallophthalocyanines (M = Al, Ga) was investigated by flash photolysis in order to establish whether photooxidations proceed by Foote's mechanisms I or II. Aminoacids (tryptophan, tyrosine) were seen to function as electron transfer quenchers of the excited phthalocyanines with rate constants 10⁷ k 10⁴ M ^-1 s^-1. This was not the case of purines or ATP. The ability of the excited phthalocyanines to sensitize photooxidations by mechanisms I and II is discussed in terms of evaluated rate constants.