PROPERTIES OF THE RETINAL BINDING SITE IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN. USE OF RETINOL AND RETINYL MOIETIES AS FLUORESCENT PROBES

Abstract— The fluorescence spectra of various reduced bacteriorhodopsin chromophore species indicate energy transfer from aromatic amino acid side chains of the protein to the retinyl moiety. Binding studies with retinol reveal that energy transfer occurs only when the retinyl moiety is bound in the chromophoric site of the protein. Retroretinol is a fluorescent probe for the binding site.     

SPECTROSCOPY OF POLYENES—IV. ABSORPTION AND EMISSION SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF POLYENE ALCOHOLS RELATED TO RETINOL AS HOMOLOGUES

A number of polyene alcohols related to retinol as homologues have been examined for their spectral and photophysical properties. The absorption spectra of the polyene alcohols with short polyene chainlength show an intense band system with its maximum at 3000–4000 cm^-1 above that of the main band system. The intensity of this higher-energy band system decreases sharply as the polyene chainlength is increased. All the polyene alcohols fluoresce strongly or moderately strongly at 77 K, the intrinsic fluorescence lifetimes being significantly longer than those expected from the oscillator strengths of the main, low-energy absorption band system. Fluorescence (relatively weak) is also observed at room temperature in the cases of polyene alcohols of long chainlength. A discussion is presented regarding the possible assignments of the various observed absorption band systems, state order and nature of the lowest excited singlet state, and aggregate formation (in 3-methylpentane at 77 K) and its effect on spectral and photodynamical behavior.     

铝醚络合物的27Al和1H NMR研究

本实验确证了铝醚络合物AlCl_3·Et_2O在醚中~(27)Al的化学位移为100.9ppm, 半峰宽为125Hz, 而不是文献值50ppm, 160Hz~[2,4]。证实了三氯化铝在乙醚中不是以二聚体Al_2Cl_6形式存在, 而是以AlCl_3·Et_2O形式存在。铝醚络合物在己烷中~(27)Al的化学位移为102.5ppm, 半峰宽251Hz。次甲基氢的~(1)H化学位移为4.20ppm。实验表明铝醚络合物与自由醚间存在快速交换过程。     

LOW RESOLUTION OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY OF RETINYL POLYENES: LOW LYING ELECTRONIC LEVELS AND SPECTRAL BROADNESS*

Abstract— Optical absorption and emission spectra of retinal, axerophtene, anhydrovitamin A, and 2,10-dimethylundecapentaene in rigid glass matrixes at 77°K are presented. An interpretation of the observed spectra which provides a rationalization on the basis of electronic structure for the diffuse nature of the retinal spectrum is discussed. For the undecapentaene a weakly absorbing ¹ A _g state was found 3250 cm^-1 lower in energy than the level responsible for the strong visible absorption.     

SPECTROSCOPY OF POLYENES–III. ABSORPTION AND EMISSION SPECTRAL INVESTIGATION OF POLYENE SCHIFF BASES AND PROTONATED SCHIFF BASES RELATED TO VISUAL PIGMENTS

Abstract— A number of n -butylamine Schiff bases of polyenals related to retinals as homologues and analogues, and their protonated forms, have been studied for absorption and emission spectral properties. The polyene Schiff bases exhibit the same general features in their absorption spectra as those of the parallel polyenals except that the ^lB_u←¹A_g and π*← n singlet transitions are at substantially higher energy in the Schiff bases (the shift being larger for the π *← n transition). The Schiff bases with short polyene chainlength ( n = 2, 3 where n is the number of double bonds including C=N) do not fluoresce or phosphoresce in 3-methylpentane in the temperature range 298–77 K. The Schiff bases with intermediate chainlength ( n = 4, 5) show fluorescence at 77 K with intensity strongly dependent on the nature of solvent. The Schiff bases with relatively long chainlength ( n = 5–7) show strong or moderately strong fluorescence at 77 K and very weak fluorescence at 298 K ( n = 7) with intrinsic radiative lifetimes much longer than those estimated from the oscillator strength of the low-energy, strong absorption band (¹B_u←¹ A_g ). A discussion on the possible state order and nature of the fluorescing state of the various polyene Schiff base systems is presented.     

THE PHOTOPHYSICAL CONSTANTS OF SEVERAL FLUORESCENT DYES PERTAINING TO ULTRASENSITIVE FLUORESCENCE SPECTROSCOPY

Abstract— The successful implementation of ultrasensitive fluorescence spectroscopy of biological and chemical species depends upon certain photophysical parameters associated with the fluorescent dye used in the investigation. These parameters include the fluorescence quantum efficiency, photodestruction quantum efficiency, absorption cross section and fluorescence lifetime. These photophysical constants were measured for several fluorescent dyes that are used for the tagging of biological species. Three different solvents, ethanol, water and a cationic surfactant used above its critical micelle concentration, were studied. The effective photon yield (ratio of the fluorescence quantum yield to the photodestruction quantum efficiency) for the dyes is nearly 100 times greater in ethanol than it is in water because of the superior photostabilities of these dyes in ethanol solvents. The implications of these parameters for the design of an ultrasensitive fluorescence experiment are discussed.     

STUDIES ON TETRAPYRROLS PIGMENTS—I. ABSORPTION AND FLUORESCENCE OF BILIVERDIN DIMETHYL ESTERS OF THE IX SERIES

Abstract— Each of the four isomeric biliverdin dimethyl esters of the IX series give a fluorescent spectrum at ambient temperature, the intensity of which increases considerably when these biliverdins are complexed with zinc. A systematic study of the influence of protic and aprotic solvents failed to yield significant results. In methanol. variations in the pH greatly affect the emission absorption spectra of zinc complexes of biliverdins.     

PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF FLAVINS. II. PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ALLOXAZINES AND ISOALLOXAZINES

Abstract. Pulsed laser photolysis at 347nm has been used to study the transient spectroscopy of alloxazine, lumichrome, lumiflavin, and riboflavin in acidic (pH 2.2) aqueous solution and in ethanol. Intersystem crossing quantum yields (φ_ISC) were determined by a modification of the comparative laser excitation method which utilizes the variation of the triplet yield with intensity in conjunction with a kinetic model for the various photophysical and photochemical processes occurring during the pulse. Fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes are also reported. Correction for quenching of the excited singlet state by H⁺ ions shows that, in neutral aqueous solution, intersystem crossing for flavins is an efficient process (φ_ISC˜ 0.7) which, in conjunction with fluorescence, accounts for the fate of all absorbed photons. For alloxazine (φ_ISC˜ 0.45) and lumichrome (φ_ISC˜ 0.7) the results are more difficult to interpret owing to interconversion between alloxazine and isoalloxazine structures in the singlet excited state. For all four compounds, the quantum yield of products derived from the singlet excited state is estimated as ˜0.04. There is evidence of biphotonic product formation at high laser energies. In ethanol, where φ_ISC for lumichrome is about twice that of lumiflavin, internal conversion between the excited singlet and ground states appears to be a significant process. Complete triplet-triplet absorption spectra in the region 260–750nm are reported. For lumichrome at pH 2.2 there is spectral evidence for isomeric triplet states which appear to be in equilibrium.     

REACTION OF RETINOL AND RETINAL WITH SINGLET OXYGEN

Abstract— The rate constants for the reactions of all- trans retinol and retinal with singlet oxygen were measured in a variety of solvents of different polarities. The rate constants increased with increasing solvent dielectric constant, which suggests that a charge transfer mechanism plays a part in the reaction. Further, the rate constant of reaction of singlet oxygen with retinal is greater than that with retinol. Since retinal has a lower ionization potential than retinol, these relative rates also support the hypothesis of charge transfer involvement in the reaction.     

PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHOTOBIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF DIPORPHYRIN ETHERS

Spectral properties of several diporphyrin ethers were assessed in different solvents and after accumulation by leukemia L1210 cells in vitro. To facilitate studies in a variety of solvents, both tetramethylesters of the diporphyrin ethers and free acids were employed. For comparison, studies on the corresponding porphyrin monomers were also carried out. The joining of two porphyrins by an ether linkage had several consequences. We observed a blue shift in the Soret band of the ethers, but not of the corresponding simple porphyrins, in protic solvents. This phenomenon is likely related to ether aggregation under conditions which promote H-bonding. The presence of an ether linkage was associated with enhanced fluorescence at 630-640 nm and decreased fluorescence lifetimes and yields, especially in protic solvents. The ether linkage was unaffected by intracellular enzymes, but porphyrin esters were readily hydrolyzed upon accumulation by L1210 cells. The joining of two hematoporphyrin molecules by an ether linkage promoted dye accumulation by L1210 cells. In contrast, accumulation of mesoporphyrin and protoporphyrin was thereby retarded.     

PHOTOPHYSICAL PARAMETERS OF CHLOROPHYLLS a AND b·FLUORESCENCE AND LASER-INDUCED OPTOACOUSTIC MEASUREMENTS

Abstract— The quantum yields of internal conversion (energy loss) of the photoexcited chlorophylls a and b in ethanol at 24°C have been determined by measuring the quantum yields of the competing radiative (fluorescence) and non-radiative (intersystem crossing) deactivation processes (which lead to energy storing species) by means of emission and laser-induced optoacoustic spectroscopy, respectively. The values for internal conversion of chlorophyll a are 10% and 14% in the presence and absence of molecular oxygen, respectively. The corresponding yields for chlorophyll b are negligibly small. The internal conversion in chlorophyll a is attributed to vibronic coupling with the substituents of the porphin system, since internal conversion was found to be substantially reduced for unsubstituted Mg-porphin in ethanol and for chlorophyll a when dissolved in a viscous medium.     

INTERPHOTORECEPTOR RETINOID-BINDING PROTEIN AND α-TOCOPHEROL PRESERVE THE ISOMERIC AND OXIDATION STATE OF RETINOL

Retinol decomposes rapidly into a number of products, including its aldehyde form, retinal, when introduced into buffer in phospholipid vesicles or ethanol. Interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein at low concentrations is found to protect retinol from isomerization and oxidation. The addition of alpha-tocopherol to either liposomes or an ethanolic-buffer solution also prevents decomposition. Neither of these agents interferes with the successful regeneration of pigment with 9-cis retinal in rod outer segment preparations or the restoration of sensitivity by retinoids in isolated rod photoreceptors.     

TRANSIENT PHENOMENA IN THE PULSE RADIOLYSIS OF RETINYL POLYENES—7. RADICAL ANIONS OF VITAMIN A AND ITS DERIVATIVES

Abstract— Upon e^--pulse irradiation in nonprotic solvents, all- trans retinol (ROH) and retinylmethyl ether (ROMe) form transient species (τ= 0.5–7μs, λ_max=575–590 nm) identifiable as radical anions. Similar species are also formed upon laser pulse photoexcitation of these retinyl derivatives in the presence of N,N-dimethylaniline in acetonitrile. In contrast, electron transfer or attachment to all- trans retinyl acetate (ROAc) and palmitate (ROPa) results in 'instantaneous' loss of carboxylate anions from electron adducts giving the retinylmethyl radical (R-, λ_max= 395 nm, τ_k > 100 μ,s); the radical anions in these cases are too short-lived to be detected by nanosecond pulse radiolysis. The lifetimes of radical anions of ROH and ROMe are very sensitive to water and alcohols (e.g. k_q = 10⁷ M ^-1 s^-1 with methanol as quencher for ROH^- in tetrahydrofuran). Based on these findings, the spectral dissimilarity of the one-electron reduction products from ROH and ROAc in alcohols and aqueous micelles becomes explainable in terms of fast formation of protonated radical anions (RH(OH), τ_1/2, > 100 μs, λ_max=370–375 nm) in the case of ROH and of retinylmethyl radical via loss of AcO^- from radical anion in the case of ROAc. In tetrahydrofuran, the complexation of ROH^- with cations such as Na⁺ and Bu₄N⁺ affects the relative importance of its major decay modes, namely, protonation and dehydroxylation, the latter process being significantly enhanced by the presence of Na⁺.     

THE PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF RIBOFLAVIN—VI. THE PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ISOALLOXAZINES

Abstract— Many of the photophysical properties of riboflavin and several other N-10 substituted isoal-loxazines have been measured and these include: quantum yields of fluorescence at 77 K and 298 K, φ, quantum yields of phosphorescence at 77 K, φ_P, lifetimes of the triplet state by electron spin resonance and phosphorescence at 77 K, φp,. and the quantum yield of intersystem crossing. φ_isc. For riboflavin in an alcoholic matrix at 77 K the limiting values were: φ _J = 0.32, φ_P= 0.007, φp = 0.20s and φ_isc= 0.7. At 298 K, φ _f for riboflavin in water and alcohol were 0.25 and 0.32, respectively. The results for the photophysical processes are compared with several photochemical processes known to involve the triplet state of riboflavin in aqueous solution. It is concluded that the φ _isc decreases from 0.7 in alcohol to 0.6 in water at 298 K.     

PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND CONFORMATIONAL EQUILIBRIUM OF trans-6-STYRYLQUINOXALINE

The wavelength dependent fluorescence spectra and bi-exponential fluorescence decays of trans-6-styrylquinoxaline (6-StQx) indicate that two conformers exist in equilibrium in solution. When comparing the conformationally restricted analogues (5Me-6-StQx and 7Me-6-StQx) with 6-StQx, the short-wavelength absorbing conformer of 6-StQx can be assigned to conformer(A) and the long-wavelength absorbing component to conformer(B). The temperature effects on the fluorescence lifetime indicate that the short-lived conformer(A) is the more stable conformer in non-polar solvents, while the long-lived conformer(B) is the stable component in polar solvents. The results of semiempir-ical AMI and CNDO/S CI calculations on both the ground and excited states are consistent with the conclusions drawn from the spectral data.     

TWENTY-TWO CARBON HOMOLOGUE OF 11-CIS RETINAL. PHOTOPHYSICAL AND PHOTOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Abstract— Results concerning absorption-emission spectra and fluorescence quantum yields at 77 and 298K. triplet absorption spectra, and quantum yields of intersystem crossing and photoisomerization at 298 K, are presented for 11- cis β-apo-14'-carotenal (C₂₂-Ald), the immediate higher homologue of 11- cis retinal. The absorption spectra are characterized by two band-systems with maxima at 390–400 and 270–280 nm, respectively. Upon cooling from 298 to 77 K, the intensities of these two band-systems undergo changes in opposite directions indicating 12-s- cis: 12- s-trans conformational changes. No intermediate band-system analogous to the one located at 270–310 nm in cis retinals is observed for 11- cis C₂₂-Ald. In nonpolar hydrocarbon solvents (e. g. cyclohexane) at room temperature, quantum yields of fluorescence (0.01), intersystem crossing (0.6) and photoisomerization (0.4) are all quite pronounced. The photophysical and photochemical properties of 11- cis C₂₂-Ald are discussed in the light of similarities and dissimilarities with those of all- trans C₂₂-Ald and 11- cis retinal under comparable conditions.     

SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF POLYMER-BOUND HEXANUCLEAR MOLYBDENUM CLUSTERS

Abstract

The coordination of [Mo₆Cl₈ ⁱ(SO₃CF₃)₆ ^a]^2? (1) and [Mo₆Cl₈ ⁱCl₄ ^a(EtOH)₂ ^a] (2) to poly(evinylpyridine) (PVP) produces crosslinked materials. Formation of these materials occurs by displacement of axial ligands ((a) in Fig. 1) SO₃CF₃ ^? or EtOH on the clusters by the vinylpyridine moieties. The availability of six coordination sites in 1 and two coordination sites in 2 offers control over the degree of crosslinking and solubility of the materials. Similarly, varying the ratio of cluster coordination sites (C) to polymer-pendant pyridine ligands (P) yields materials with a wide range of solubilities and glass transition temperatures (T_g). Materials with C:P ratios of 1:100 are highly soluble in CH₂Cl₂ and MeOH, with T_g values slightly higher than that of pure PVP. Unswellable materials with no discernible T_g are obtained with C:P ratios of 1:5 and lower, indicating a high degree of crosslinks. Transient emission spectroscopy reveals that polymer-bound cluster 1 lacks the luminescent properties characteristic of many [Mo₆Cl₈]⁴⁺ based clusters. Conversely, polymer-bound cluster 2 displays intense luminescence and retains the unusually long-lived excited-state observed for the free clusters in solution. The emission lifetime of PVP-bound 2 fits a biexponential decay, with τl₁ = 90 μs (60 %) and τ₂ = 8 μs (40 %), while [Mo₆Cl₈ ⁱCl₆ ^a]^2? has a uniexponential decay of τ = 156 μs in CH₂Cl₂ solution.