PTERIN- AND FLAVIN-LIKE FLUORESCENCE ASSOCIATED WITH ISOLATED FLAGELLA OF Euglena gracilis

Fluorescence excitation- and emission spectra indicate the presence of pterin(s) and flavin(s) in isolated flagella of the phytoflagellate Euglena gracilis. These compounds appear to bind at least in part non-covalently to the molecular framework of the paraflagellar body, which is the presumed photoreceptor organelle and which is attached to the isolated flagella. A compound with pterin-like fluorescence excitation and emission spectrum could he extracted with methanol from isolated flagella and could he recovered on thin-layer silica gels. Besides the previously assumed photoreceptor function of flavins, our results suggest also a role for pterins in the photosensory transduction chain of Euglena gracilis.     

PHOTORECEPTOR PROTEINS AND PIGMENTS IN THE PARAFLAGELLAR BODY OF THE FLAGELLATE Euglena gracilis

Abstract— –The presumed photoreceptor for phototaxis, the paraflagellar body, in the flagellate Euglena gracilis , was isolated still attached to the flagellum. After solubilization, fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) analysis yielded four major protein fractions with the chromophoric groups still attached. Fluorescence spectra showed that three fractions had excitation peaks at 380 nm and emission peaks around 450 nm indicative of pterins, while the fourth chromoprotein had a fluorescence emission at 520 nm and an excitation peak at 450 nm, indicative of a flavin. The separated proteins were analyzed by gel electrophoresis: the pterin binding proteins have apparent molecular masses between 27 000 and 31 600 and the flavin binding protein has an apparent molecular mass of 33 500.     

FLUORESCENCE OF Euglena gracilis PHOTORECEPTOR PIGMENT: AN in vivo MICROSPECTROFLUOROMETRIC STUDY

Abstract— The spectroscopic characterization of the photoreceptor pigment is one of the main questions in the study of the photosensory transduction chains in photomotile microorganisms. One of the possible techniques that can be used is in vivo microspectrofluorometry. By means of a tunable dye-laser microspectrofiuorometer developed by us, we have investigated some of the spectroscopic properties of the photoreceptor pigment of the green flagellate Euglena gracilis. The in vivo fluorescence excitation spectrum has been determined and the fluorescence quantum yield has been measured. The results show that flavins are indeed present in the paraflagellar body of E. gracilis and that their fluorescence quantum yield is much lower than that of a free flavin. An estimate of the order of magnitude of the rate constants for primary molecular reactions is tentatively given.     

The Photoreceptor for Phototaxis in the Photosynthetic Flagellate Euglena gracilis

The unicellular flagellate Euglena gracilis shows positive phototaxis at low fluence rates (≤10 W m ²) and negative phototaxis at high fluence rates (≥100 W m ²). Currently, retinal or flavins/pterins are discussed as chromo-phores of the photoreceptor. When grown in the presence of 4 mM nicotine, a retinal inhibitor, for several generations, the cells still showed both responses, indicating that retinal is unlikely to be the chromophoric group of the photoreceptor responsible for phototaxis. The native flavin(s) can be substituted by growing the cells in roseo-flavin dissolved in the medium. The absorption spectrum of roseoflavin extends well beyond the action spectrum for phototaxis (up to 600 nm). Excitation at wavelengths >550 nm does not cause phototactic orientation in control cells but causes both positive and negative phototaxis in roseoflavin-grown cells, indicating an uptake and assembly of the chromophore in the photoreceptor complex. The white mutant strain 1224-5/1f, induced by streptomycin treatment, lacks flavins as indicated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The phototaxis-deficient pheno-type cannot be complemented by the addition of external riboflavin. Fluorescence spectra of intact paraxonemal bodies (PAB) indicate that both pterins and flavins are involved in photoperception and that the excitation energy is efficiently funneled from the pterins to the flavins. This energy transfer is disrupted by solubilization of the PAB. In intact PAB flavins are not accessible to reducing or oxidizing substances, indicating that they are located inside the structure, while pterins are accessible, so that their localization can be assumed to be on the surface. The results described above are discussed with regard to the potential involvement of flavins and pterins as well as retinal in photoperception.     

ACTION SPECTRA FOR PHOTOACCUMULATION OF GREEN AND COLORLESS EUGLENA: EVIDENCE FOR IDENTIFICATION OF RECEPTOR PIGMENTS

Abstract —Phototaxis action spectra have been determined in three different types of Euglena gracilis ; green and dark-bleached cells containing the stigma and streptomycin-treated white mutant with an absorptionless stigma. In all three types of microorganisms the flavin containing paraflagellar body is present. The shape of the action spectrum is the same for the three types of cells and proportional to the absorption spectrum of flavoproteins. It has been shown that the structure of the action spectrum does not depend on the presence of screening organelles, on which, instead, depends the direction of the response to the light stimulus. It is concluded that the flavin chromophores present in the photoreceptor are the pigments responsible for phototaxis in Euglena gracilis.     

FLUORESCENCE PROPERTIES OF ISOTROPICALLY AND ANISOTROPICALLY EMBEDDED FLAVINS

Abstract— On the basis of corrected fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, flavin photo-processes in anisotropically vesicle-bound flavins have been studied. By means of aliphatic C₁₈H₃₇-chains at positions 3, 7 and 10, the flavin nucleus can be variously anchored within the membrane/water interface (amphiflavin), thereby mimicking the various positions and microenvironments of the isoalloxazine ring in flavoproteins. From polarization spectra, the angles between the different electronic transition moments of isotropically dissolved or membrane-bound flavins have been obtained. Polarization and angle spectra of isotropically and various anisotropically embedded flavins exhibit strong differences, reflecting the specific interaction with the matrices. Based on a slightly modified theory, originally developed by Perrin and Weber, using the concentration dependence of fluorescence polarization, it is found that the radiative flavin-flavin interaction (selfcontact) on the membrane is by a factor of 25 to 54 smaller than in isotropic solution. This is taken as further justification to study anisotropic flavin chemistry on the basis of flavin-loaded vesicles.     

PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A RIBOFLAVIN-BINDING PROTEIN FROM FLAGELLA OF Euglena grcrcilis

Abstract —Phototaxis of the flagellate Euglena gracilis has been thought to be mediated by flavin photoreceptor molecules localized in the paraflagellar body (PFB). From isolated flagella of Euglena a riboflavin (RF)-binding protein was solubilized and purified using nonionic detergents, high ionic strength, affinity Chromatography and standard column separations. Sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis showed an apparent molecular weight of 68 kDa for the binding protein. Its hydrophobicity was confirmed by Triton X-114 phase partitioning. Binding affinity for tritiated RF was high in the oxidized state (K_D= 4 n M ) as well as under reducing conditions in the presence of dithionite (K_d= 6 n M ). Affinities towards flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide were lower. Based on binding data and on estimates of the purified 68 kDa polypeptide, approximately lo⁶ flavin-binding sites were determined per one flagellum. Evidence is discussed that the flavin-binding protein is part of the entire flagellar membrane and does not reside in the PFB. If not the photoreceptor, the flagellar RF-binding protein may have a functional role in the biochemical chain leading from the reception of the phototactic stimulus to the motile response.     

Quantification of riboflavin,flavin mononucleotide,and flavin adenine dinucleotide in mammalian model cells by CE with LED‐induced fluorescence detection

Cultured mammalian cells essential are model systems in basic biology research, production platforms of proteins for medical use, and testbeds in synthetic biology. Flavin cofactors, in particular flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), are critical for cellular redox reactions and sense light in naturally occurring photoreceptors and optogenetic tools. Here, we quantified flavin contents of commonly used mammalian cell lines. We first compared three procedures for extraction of free and noncovalently protein‐bound flavins and verified extraction using fluorescence spectroscopy. For separation, two CE methods with different BGEs were established, and detection was performed by LED‐induced fluorescence with limit of detections (LODs 0.5–3.8 nM). We found that riboflavin (RF), FMN, and FAD contents varied significantly between cell lines. RF (3.1–14 amol/cell) and FAD (2.2–17.0 amol/cell) were the predominant flavins, while FMN (0.46–3.4 amol/cell) was found at markedly lower levels. Observed flavin contents agree with those previously extracted from mammalian tissues, yet reduced forms of RF were detected that were not described previously. Quantification of flavins in mammalian cell lines will allow a better understanding of cellular redox reactions and optogenetic tools.     

INTERACTION OF DIHYDROOROTATE DEHYDROGENASE WITH LIGHT*

Abstract— Several flavoproteins are known to undergo photoactivated reduction by EDTA. However, the effects of visible light on the non-heme iron containing flavoproteins have not been characterized previously. Dihydroorotate dehydrogenase was studied as an example of this class of enzymes. Interaction with visible light was found to be complex. Under low intensity photoirradiation of long duration the anaerobic enzyme was partially reduced to a form having increased absorbance at 630 nm. Similar absorbance changes have been correlated with semiquinone species. However, the irradiated enzyme exhibited irreversible changes in catalytic function. Activity with NADH was greatly reduced and a portion of the flavin coenzyme content was labilized. Fluorescence intensity of the enzyme was markedly increased by exposure to light, confirming partial degradation of a catalytic site. Isothermal irradiation with light of high intensity in the range 330–600 nm caused the enzyme to be reduced rapidly. Spectroscopic changes were observed which persisted after reoxidation of flavins. Intense new absorbance maxima between 310 and 330 nm together with a large decrase in absorbance at 450 nm were noted. Under controlled conditions approximately half of the total flavin and practically all of the bound FAD were labilized. NADH oxidase activity and NADH linked reduction of orotate were selectively lost. The correlation between FAD labilization and loss of activity strengthens the hypothesis that FAD represents the site of activity with NADH. Activity with NADH was partially restored by incubation of the irradiated enzyme with FAD or FMN.     

UV-INDUCED DAMAGE OF PHOTORECEPTOR PROTEINS IN THE PARAFLAGELLAR BODY OF Euglena gracilis

Abstract— The paraflagellar body (PFB), the putative photoreceptor for phototaxis in the flagellate Euglena gracilis , was isolated still attached to the flagellum. After solubilization the proteins were separated and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. To discriminate the PFB-specific proteins from the flagella proteins, flagella without PFB were analyzed, isolated from the flagellate Astasia longa (a chlorophyll-free relative of E. gracilis ), which has no PFB and lacks phototaxis. The absorption spectra of solubilized PFB samples showed a maximum at 415 nm, two shoulders around 380 and 410 nm and two additional small peaks at 515 and 540 nm not present in the control sample without PFB. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis showed eight PFB-specific proteins with molecular masses in the range of 25000–45000 and isoelectric points in the range of pH 3.5–7. Ultraviolet radiation strongly affects some of these PFB-specific proteins, but also flagella proteins are damaged by UV treatment. There is also a drastic decrease in the PFB-specific absorption maxima after UV irradiation.     

Flavinyl peptides. I. Synthesis of flavinyl-aromatic amino acids

The syntheses of flavinyl peptides, in which L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine, or L-phenylalanine are attached via peptide linkage to the isoalloxazine system with ω-carboxyalkyl groups in position 3 or 10, are described. Lumiflavin was carboxymethylated by known methods to yield N-3-carboxymethyllumiflavin. Oxidation of 10-ω-hydroxyhexyl-, 10-ω-hydroxypentyl-, 10-ω-hydroxybutyl-, and 10-formylmethylflavins gave the corresponding 10-ω-carboxyalkylflavins. The 10-ω-carboxyethylflavin was obtained by condensation of 2-amino-4,5-dimethyl-N-ω-carboxyethylaniline with alloxan. Activations of the carboxyl group of the flavins were achieved with N,N′-carbonyldiimidazole and p-nitrophenyltrifluoroacetate to form the corresponding acyl imidazoles and p-nitrophenyl esters. 10-Carboxymethylflavin was hydrogenated to form 10-carboxymethyldihydroflavin and activated by carbodiimide. Reaction of the carboxy-activated flavins with the appropriate amino acid methyl esters, followed by air oxidation in the case of dihydroflavin, gave the corresponding flavinyl peptides. Interaction of the flavin with aromatic amino acids results in a broadening of the visible flavin absorption towards the green, without the appearance of discrete new maxima, and in quenching of the flavin fluorescence. The fluorescence efficiency increases with increasing numbers of methylene groups in the flavin side chain. The nonlinear dependency of fluorescence quenching versus number of methylene groups indicates that different types of intramolecular interactions are involved.     

DYNAMICS OF EXCITED FLAVOPROTEINS—PICOSECOND LASER PHOTOLYSIS STUDIES

Abstract— Molecular mechanism of fluorescence quenching of flavins in flavodoxin from Desulfovibrio vulgaris , strain Miyazaki, and riboflavin binding protein from egg white has been investigated by means of picosecond laser photolysis technique. In the case of flavodoxin, a transient absorption band characteristic of the non-fluorescent exciplex formed by electron transfer from indole to excited flavins in model systems has been observed around 600 nm at the delay time of 33 ps from exciting ps pulse pulse width, 25 ps). In the case of riboflavin binding protein, the transient absorption spectra were different from those of flavin-indole exciplex and rather similar to the spectra of the model system of flavin-phenol. These results suggest that tryptophan residue exists near the isoalloxazine nucleus in flavodoxin, and in riboflavin binding protein, tyrosine residue exists near the flavin. Direct measurements of the ultrafast process of the electron transfer in flavoproteins as developed here could provide useful information for elucidating protein dynamics, associated with redox reaction, in the picosecond time region.     

Excited-State Dynamics of Fully Reduced Flavins and Flavoenzymes Studied at Subpicosecond Time Resolution

The photophysics of the fully reduced states of a number of flavins (flavin mononucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide and 3-N-methyllumiflavin) and flavoenzymes (glucose oxidase from Aspergillus niger and the flavodehydrogenase component isolated from flavocytochrome b₂) was studied using subpicosecond laser excitation at Λ. = 312 nm. The prompt transient absorption spectra (measured from 400 to 850 nm) were all closely similar in the case of the free flavins in aqueous solution. The decay of the transient absorbance obeyed biexponential kinetics with a fast component of lifetime ranging from 4 to 130 ps and a slower phase with a lifetime above 1 ns. The spectral structure changed appreciably during the rapid decay phase. In contrast, in the case of the enzymes only a very slight decay was apparent over the probed time interval (1 ns) and the shape of the spectrum remained unchanged. It is proposed that the two transient spectra appearing in the free flavins correspond to two conformations differing by their degree of nonplanarity, whereas in the flavoenzymes only one conformation is possible.     

Characterization and Diagnosis of Cancer by Native Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Human Urine

Urine is one of the diagnostically important bio fluids, as it has different metabolites in it, where many of them are native fluorophores. Native fluorescence characteristics of human urine samples were studied using excitation–emission matrices (EEMs) over a range of excitation and emission wavelengths, and emission spectra at 405 nm excitation, to discriminate patients with cancer from the normal subjects. The fluorescence spectra of urine samples of cancer patients exhibit considerable spectral differences in both EEMs and emission spectra with respect to normal subjects. Different ratios were calculated using the fluorescence intensity values of the emission spectra and they were used as input variables for a multiple linear discriminant analysis across different groups. The discriminant analysis classifies 94.7% of the original grouped cases and 94.1% of the cross‐validated grouped cases correctly. Based on the fluorescence emission characteristics of urine and statistical analysis, it may be concluded that the fluorophores nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavins may be considered as metabolomic markers of cancer.     

MICROSPECTROFLUOROMETRIC APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF FREE/BOUND NAD(P)H RATIO AS METABOLIC INDICATOR IN VARIOUS CELL TYPES

Under excitation at 365 nm, the cell fluorescence is mainly due to bound and free NAD(P)H, plus a small contribution from flavins. Resolution is first attempted in the simplest case. i.e. the increase spectrum (δI_f) due to microinjection of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) into EL2 ascites cells. Above 510 nm, δI_F is identical to the spectrum of free NADH. Below 510 nm. the presence of a second component is suggested, i.e. the intensity of the free NADH spectrum is lower than the measured δI_F level. The difference between δI_f and the free NADH spectrum (maximum at 475 nm) yields a spectrum suggestive of bound NADH with maximum at 450 nm. Thus, with free and bound NADH, the entire δI_F can be reconstructed, with some assumptions as to the relative quantum yields of the two components. This seems to leave no place for a flavin component. The questions raised by the lack of such a component are answered using a new microspectrofluorometer, which aiiows correlated monitoring of NAD(P)H and flavins with excitations at 365 and 436 nm, respectively. As detected by excitation at 436 nm, injections of G6P, malate, ADP, and treatments with azide, cyanide or partial anaerobiosis, all indeed show a redox change of flavins, in the sense of decreased emission. It is understandable, however, that such a change which is not very large even using 436 nm excitation should remain undetected when flavins are excited at 365 nm, i.e. using the tail of their excitation spectrum. In contrast to the increased δI_F spectrum recorded in response to injected substrate, the initial spectrum (I_f) of the cell prior to a metabolic perturbation reveals a third component, even with 365 nm excitation. The position and reactivity of this component shows flavin-like properties. The structural resolution attainable makes it possible to obtain the evaluation of free vs. bound NAD(P)H and flavin fluorochromes in the mitochondrial and cytosolic compartments of the intact cell.     

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer between polyphenolic compounds and riboflavin indicates a possible accessory photoreceptor function for some polyphenolic compounds

The photoreceptive extreme tip of the wheat coleoptile exhibits intense green-yellow fluorescence under UV light, suggesting the presence of UV-absorbing materials. Fluorescence spectra of the intact coleoptile tip and tip homogenate showed the presence of the known photoreceptor pigments flavin and carotene, and a preponderance of phenolic compounds. Absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra of various phenolic compounds showed close overlap with the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the wheat coleoptile tip homogenate. Fluorescence spectra of several phenolic compounds showed close overlap with the absorption bands of flavin, carotene and pterine, suggesting possible energy transduction from phenols to these photoreceptors. Excitation of gentisic acid and ferulic acid with 340 nm light in the presence of flavin showed enhancement of flavin fluorescence in a concentration- and viscosity-dependent fashion, indicating fluorescence resonance energy transfer between them and riboflavin. Furthermore, several phenolic compounds tested generated superoxide anion on excitation at 340 nm, suggesting that superoxide-dependent signal cascades could operate in a polyphenol-mediated pathway. Phenolic compounds thus may act as accessory photoreceptors bringing about excitation energy transfer to the reactive photoreceptor molecules, or they may take over the function of the normal photoreceptor in genetic mutations lacking the system, or both processes may occur. The responses of plants to UV-B and UV-A light in mutants may be explained in terms of various phenolics acting as energy transducers in photoreceptor functioning.     

Fluorescence quenching of flavins by reductive agents

The fluorescence behaviour of the flavins riboflavin, flavin mononucleotide (FMN), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), and lumiflavin in aqueous solution at pH 8 in the presence of the reducing agents β-mercaptoethanol (β-ME), dithiothreitol (DTT), and sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) is studied under aerobic conditions. The fluorescence quantum yields and fluorescence lifetimes are determined as a function of the reducing agent concentration. For all three reducing agents diffusion controlled dynamic fluorescence quenching is observed which is thought to be due to photo-induced reductive electron transfer. For DTT additionally static fluorescence quenching occurs.     

In vivo absorption spectra of the two stable states of the Euglena photoreceptor photocycle

Euglena gracilis possesses a simple but sophisticated light detecting system, consisting of an eyespot formed by carotenoids globules and a photoreceptor. The photoreceptor of Euglena is characterized by optical bistability, with two stable states. In order to provide important and discriminating information on the series of structural changes that Euglena photoreceptive protein(s) undergoes inside the photoreceptor in response to light, we measured the in vivo absorption spectra of the two stable states A and B of photoreceptor photocycle. Data were collected using two different devices, i.e. a microspectrophotometer and a digital microscope. Our results show that the photocycle and the absorption spectra of the photoreceptor possess strong spectroscopic similarities with a rhodopsin-like protein. Moreover, the analysis of the absorption spectra of the two stable states of the photoreceptor and the absorption spectrum of the eyespot suggests an intriguing hypothesis for the orientation of microalgae toward light.     

Thiourea-enhanced flavin photooxidation of benzyl alcohol

Upon irradiation, flavin oxidises 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol to the corresponding aldehyde using aerial O(2) as the terminal oxidant. We have observed that this reaction is significantly accelerated by the presence of thiourea. A series of thiourea-functionalised flavins has been prepared from flavin isothiocyanates and their photocatalytic efficiencies have been monitored by NMR. The alcohol photooxidation proceeds rapidly and cleanly with high turnover numbers of up to 580, exceeding previously reported performances. A likely mechanistic rationale for the more than 30-fold acceleration of the photo-redox reaction by thiourea has been derived from spectroscopic, electrochemical, and kinetic studies. Thus, thiourea acts as an electron-transfer mediator for the initial photooxidation of 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol by the excited flavins. This mechanism has similarities to electron-relay mechanisms in flavoenzymes, for which cysteine sulfenic acid intermediates are proposed. The observation that thiourea mediates flavin photo-redox processes is valuable for the design of more sophisticated photocatalysts based on Nature's best redox chromophore.     

Activation free energy of Zn（Ⅱ）,Co（Ⅱ） binding to metallo-β-lactamase ImiS

In an effort to understand the recombination of a B2 metallo-β-lactamase（MβL）,the binding of metals to apo-ImiS was studied by isothermal titration calorimetry and fluorescence spectra.The binding of Zn（Ⅱ）,Co（Ⅱ） to apo-lmiS resulted in activation free energies △G_≠~θ values of 93.719 and 92.948 kJ mol~（-1）,respectively,and increasing of fluorescence intensity at maxima emission of 340 nm.