Flavin photochemistry in the analysis of electron transfer reactions: role of charged and hydrophobic residues at the carboxyl terminus of ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase in the interaction with its substrates

The enzyme Ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase participates in the reductive side of the photosynthetic chain transferring electrons from reduced Ferredoxin (Fd) (or Flavodoxin (Fld)) to NADP(+), a process that yields NADPH that can be used in many biosynthetic dark reactions. The involvement of specific amino acids in the interaction between the two proteins has been studied using site-directed mutagenesis. In the present study, the participation of charged (H299), polar (T302) or hydrophobic (V300) amino acid residues that are in the NADP(+)-binding domain of the reductase have been examined by analyzing its C-terminal region, which is located close to the active site. Stopped-flow and laser flash photolysis results of the reaction in which these mutant proteins participate show very little differences with respect to the wild-type protein. These results suggest that the NADPH-binding domain of the reductase has little effect on the processes of recognition and electron transfer to (and from) Fd or Fld, according to the recently reported crystallographic structure of the FNR/Fd complex.     

Atmospheric chemistry of CH3CHF2 (HFC-152a): kinetics, mechanisms, and products of Cl atom- and OH radical-initiated oxidation in the presence and absence of NO(x)

Smog chamber/Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopic techniques were used to study the atmospheric degradation of CH3CHF2. The kinetics and products of the Cl(2P(3/2)) (denoted Cl) atom- and the OH radical-initiated oxidation of CH3CHF2 in 700 Torr of air or N2; diluents at 295 +/- 2 K were studied using smog chamber/FTIR techniques. Relative rate methods were used to measure k(Cl + CH3CHF2) = (2.37 +/- 0.31) x 10(-13) and k(OH + CH3CHF2) = (3.08 +/- 0.62) x 10(-14) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). Reaction with Cl atoms gives CH3CF2 radicals in a yield of 99.2 +/- 0.1% and CH2CHF2 radicals in a yield of 0.8 +/- 0.1%. Reaction with OH radicals gives CH3CF2 radicals in a yield >75% and CH2CHF2 radicals in a yield <25%. Absolute rate data for the Cl reaction were measured using quantum-state selective LIF detection of Cl(2P(j)) atoms under pseudo-first-order conditions. The rate constant k(Cl + CH3CHF2) was determined to be (2.54 +/- 0.25) x 10(-13) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) by the LIF technique, in good agreement with the relative rate results. The removal rate of spin-orbit excited-state Cl(2P(1/2)) (denoted Cl) in collisions with CH3CHF2 was determined to be k(Cl + CH3CHF2) = (2.21 +/- 0.22) x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1). The atmospheric photooxidation products were examined in the presence and absence of NO(x). In the absence of NO(x)(), the Cl atom-initiated oxidation of CH3CHF2 in air leads to formation of COF2 in a molar yield of 97 +/- 5%. In the presence of NO(x), the observed oxidation products include COF2 and CH3COF. As [NO] increases, the yield of COF2 decreases while the yield of CH3COF increases, reflecting a competition for CH3CF2O radicals. The simplest explanation for the observed dependence of the CH3COF yield on [NO(x)] is that the atmospheric degradation of CH3CF2H proceeds via OH radical attack to give CH3CF2 radicals which add O2 to give CH3CF2O2 radicals. Reaction of CH3CF2O2 radicals with NO gives a substantial fraction of chemically activated alkoxy radicals, [CH3CF2O]. In 1 atm of air, approximately 30% of the alkoxy radicals produced in the CH3CF2O2 + NO reaction possess sufficient internal excitation to undergo "prompt" (rate >10(10) s(-1)) decomposition to give CH3 radicals and COF2. The remaining approximately 70% become thermalized, CH3CF2O, and undergo decomposition more slowly at a rate of approximately 2 x 10(3) s(-1). At high concentrations (>50 mTorr), NO(x) is an efficient scavenger for CH3CF2O radicals leading to the formation of CH3COF and FNO.     

Donor/acceptor interactions in systematically modified Ru(II)-Os(II) oligonucleotides

Donor/acceptor (D/A) interactions are studied in a series of doubly modified 19-mer DNA duplexes. An ethynyl-linked Ru(II) donor nucleoside is maintained at the 5' terminus of each duplex, while an ethynyl-linked Os(II) nucleoside, placed on the complementary strands, is systematically moved toward the other terminus in three base pair increments. The steady-state Ru(II)-based luminescence quenching decreases from 90% at the shortest separation of 16 A (3 base pairs) to approximately 11% at the largest separation of 61 A (18 base pairs). Time-resolved experiments show a similar trend for the Ru(II) excited-state lifetime, and the decrease in the averaged excited-state lifetime for each duplex is linearly correlated with the fraction quenched obtained by steady-state measurements. Analysis according to the F?rster dipole-dipole energy transfer mechanism shows a reasonable agreement. Deviation from idealized behavior is primarily attributed to uncertainty in the orientation factor, kappa(2). Analyzing D/A interactions in an analogous series of doubly modified oligonucleotides, where the ethynyl-linked Ru(II) center is replaced with a saturated two-carbon linked complex, yields an excellent correlation with the F?rster mechanism. As this simple change partially relaxes the rigid geometry of the donor chromophore, these results suggest that the deviation from idealized F?rster behavior observed for the duplexes containing the rigidly held Ru(II) center originates, at least partially, from ambiguities in the orientation factor. Surprisingly, analyzing both quenching data sets according to the Dexter mechanism also shows an excellent correlation. Although this can be interpreted as strong evidence for a Dexter triplet energy transfer mechanism, it does not imply that this electron exchange mechanism is operative in these D/A duplexes. Rather, it suggests that systems that transfer energy via the F?rster mechanism can under certain circumstances exhibit Dexter-like "behavior", thus illustrating the danger of imposing a single physical model to describe D/A interactions in such complex systems. While we conclude that the F?rster dipole-dipole energy transfer mechanism is the dominant pathway for D/A interactions in these modified oligonucleotides, a minor contribution from the Dexter electron exchange mechanism at short distances is likely. This complex behavior distinguishes DNA-bridged Ru(II)/Os(II) dyads from their corresponding low molecular-weight and covalently attached counterparts.     

UV absorption spectra,kinetics, and mechanisms of the self reaction of CF3O2 radicals in the gas phase at 295 K

The ultraviolet absorption spectrum and the self reaction kinetics of CF₃O₂ radicals have been studied in the gas phase at 298 K using the pulse radiolysis technique. Long pathlength Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to identify and quantify reaction products. Absorption cross sections were quantified over the wavelength range 215–270 nm. The measured cross section at 230 nm was; Errors represent statistical (2σ) together with our estimate of potential systematic errors. The absorption cross section data were then used to derive the observed self reaction rate constant for reaction (1), defined as ?d[CF₃O₂]/dt = 2k _obs[CF₃O₂]² k_lobs = (3.6 ± 0.9) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. The only carbon containing product observed by FTIR spectroscopy was CF₃OOOCF₃. Consideration of the loss of CF₃O₂ radicals to form the trioxide CF₃OOOCF₃ allows derivation of the true bimolecular rate constant for reaction (1); k₁ = (1.8 ± 0.5) × 10^?12 cm³ molecule^?1 s^?1. These results are discussed with respect to previous studies of the absorption spectra of peroxy radicals, the kinetics, and mechanisms of their self reaction. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The computation of floating functions and their use in force constant calculations

It is shown how standard computer programs for calculating the equilibrium geometry of a molecule may be adapted to yield floating functions. These functions satisfy the Hellmann–Feynman theorem and so lead to simple electrostatic interpretations of intramolecular forces and vibrations. The theory is illustrated by detailed calculations for the water molecule.     

Synthetic studies toward halichlorine: complex azaspirocycle formation with use of an NBS-promoted semipinacol reaction

The investigations of a synthetic route incorporating a NBS-promoted semipinacol rearrangement to the 6-azaspiro[4.5]decane fragment within halichlorine ( 1) are presented. A convergent approach was pursued, utilizing two chiral, enantiomerically enriched building blocks, 2-trimethylstannyl piperidene 10 and substituted cyclobutanone 19. Noteworthy synthetic operations in this study include the following: (a) a highly diastereoselective NBS-promoted semipinacol reaction that established four stereogenic centers in ketone 25 and (b) the use of a N- p-toluenesulfonyl-2-iodo-2-piperidene as a precursor to a basic organometallic reagent, which was critical to the success of the coupling of fragments 10 and 19.     

Kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of chlorine atoms with n-pentanal

The kinetics and mechanism of the reaction Cl + CH3(CH2)3CHO was investigated using absolute (PLP-LIF) and relative rate techniques in 8 Torr of argon or 800-950 Torr of N2 at 295 +/- 2 K. The absolute rate experiments gave k[Cl+CH3(CH2)3CHO] = (2.31 +/- 0.35) x 10(-10) in 8 Torr of argon, while relative rate experiments gave k[Cl+CH3(CH2)3CHO] = (2.24 +/- 0.20) x 10(-10) cm3 molecule(-1) s(-1) in 800-950 Torr of N2. Additional relative rate experiments gave k[Cl+CH3(CH2)3C(O)Cl] = (8.74 +/- 1.38) x 10(-11) cm3 molecule-1 s(-1) in 700 Torr of N2. Smog chamber Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques indicated that the acyl-forming channel accounts for 42 +/- 3% of the reaction. The results are discussed with respect to the literature data and the importance of long range (greater than or equal to two carbon atoms along the aliphatic chain) effects in determining the reactivity of organic molecules toward chlorine atoms.     

Experimental and computational investigation of gas-phase reaction of chlorine with n-propanol: observation of chloropropanol conformational isomerization at room temperature

FTIR smog chamber techniques were used to measure k(Cl+n-C3H7OH) = (1.74 +/- 0.15) x 10-10 and k(Cl+CH2ClCH2CH2OH) = (7.54 +/- 0.73) x 10-11 cm3 molecule-1 s-1 in 700 Torr of N2 at 296 K. The reaction of Cl with n-C3H7OH gives CH3CH2CHOH, CH3CHCH2OH, and CH2CH2CH2OH radicals in yields of 60 +/- 5, 25 +/- 8, and 15 +/- 3%, respectively. Neither CH3CH2CHClOH nor CH3CHClCH2OH is available commercially, and infrared spectra for the three chlorides CH3CH2CHClOH, CH3CHClCH2OH, and CH2ClCH2CH2OH were calibrated experimentally. MP2/6-31G(d,p) calculations were used to corroborate the experimental vibrational assignments. Analysis reveals that each geometric isomer possesses several structurally and spectroscopically distinct conformers arising from intramolecular hydrogen bonding and, in the case of CH3CH2CHClOH, negative hyperconjugation. These conformers interchange slowly enough to be distinguished within the room-temperature vibrational spectrum. The experimentally observed vibrational spectra are well described by a Boltzmann-weighted superposition of the conformer spectra. As is typical of alpha-halogenated alcohols, CH3CH2CHClOH readily decomposes heterogeneously to propanal and HCl.     

Characterizing 3-chloro-p-toluidine hydrochloride on rough-hulled rice and ethyl-cellulose-coated rice baits using high-performance liquid chromatography

Methods are developed to extract and quantitate the avicide 3-chloro-p-toluidine hydrochloride (CPT HCl) from rough-hulled rice and ethyl-cellulose-coated rice baits using high-performance liquid chromatography. The mobile phase used in the ethyl-cellulose-coated rice matrix method is an acetonitrile(ACN)-phosphate buffer (60:40) at pH 8, and the rough-hulled rice matrix method uses an CAN-phosphate (70:30) buffer at pH 2. Increased retention time is observed for CPT HCl at the higher pH. The two methods have been useful in characterizing different bait formulations in an ongoing pesticide formulation improvement program.