One-step versus stepwise mechanism in protonated amino acid-promoted electron-transfer reduction of a quinone by electron donors and two-electron reduction by a dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide analogue. Interplay between electron transfer and hydrogen bonding

Semiquinone radical anion of 1-(p-tolylsulfinyl)-2,5-benzoquinone (TolSQ(*-)) forms a strong hydrogen bond with protonated histidine (TolSQ(*-)/His x 2 H(+)), which was successfully detected by electron spin resonance. Strong hydrogen bonding between TolSQ(*-) and His x 2 H(+) results in acceleration of electron transfer (ET) from ferrocenes [R2Fc, R = C5H5, C5H4(n-Bu), C5H4Me] to TolSQ, when the one-electron reduction potential of TolSQ is largely shifted to the positive direction in the presence of His x 2 H(+). The rates of His x 2 H(+)-promoted ET from R2Fc to TolSQ exhibit deuterium kinetic isotope effects due to partial dissociation of the N-H bond in His x 2 H(+) at the transition state, when His x 2 H(+) is replaced by the deuterated compound (His x 2 D(+)-d6). The observed deuterium kinetic isotope effect (kH/kD) decreases continuously with increasing the driving force of ET to approach kH/kD = 1.0. On the other hand, His x 2 H(+) also promotes a hydride reduction of TolSQ by an NADH analogue, 9,10-dihydro-10-methylacridine (AcrH2). The hydride reduction proceeds via the one-step hydride-transfer pathway. In such a case, a large deuterium kinetic isotope effect is observed in the rate of the hydride transfer, when AcrH2 is replaced by the dideuterated compound (AcrD2). In sharp contrast to this, no deuterium kinetic isotope effect is observed, when His x 2 H(+) is replaced by His x 2 D(+)-d6. On the other hand, direct protonation of TolSQ and 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) also results in efficient reductions of TolSQH(+) and PQH(+) by AcrH2, respectively. In this case, however, the hydride-transfer reactions occur via the ET pathway, that is, ET from AcrH2 to TolSQH(+) and PQH(+) occurs in preference to direct hydride transfer from AcrH2 to TolSQH(+) and PQH(+), respectively. The AcrH2(*+) produced by the ET oxidation of AcrH2 by TolSQH(+) and PQH(+) was directly detected by using a stopped-flow technique.     

Solvent effect on the photochemical properties of symmetrically substituted trans-3,3',5,5'-tetramethoxystilbene

Photochemical properties of trans-3,3',5,5'-tetramethoxystilbene (TMST) have been studied in various polar solvents. The Stokes shift of trans-TMST was found to be increased with increasing solvent polarity. The fluorescence lifetime of trans-TMST experienced a large solvent effect changing from 2.3 ns in cyclohexane to 16.6 ns in acetonitrile. These results indicate that the excited singlet state of trans-TMST has a charge-transfer (CT) character. On the basis of the obtained results, the interior polar environment of a water-soluble TMST dendrimer is discussed.     

Insights into adsorption of uncharged macrocyclic complexes into a Nafion Film: Adsorption characteristics and analysis of tetraphenylporphyrine zinc(II)

Tetraphenylporphine zinc(II) (ZnTPP) was found to be adsorbed from its CH2Cl2 solution into a Nafion (Nf) film. The characteristics of the adsorption of ZnTPP into the Nf film were studied using a visible absorption spectroscopic technique. The initial rate (v0, mol cm(-2) s(-1)) for uptake of ZnTPP was saturated with increasing ZnTPP concentration (c0, M) in the solution. This kinetic profile was analyzed in terms of a Michaelis-Menten model considering preequilibrium of ZnTPP adsorption between the solution and the outer layer of the Nf film, followed by diffusion to an inner bulk region, giving a maximum diffusion reflux of v(max) = (2.2 +/- 0.2) x 10(-13) mol cm(-2) s(-1). This is different from the kinetics for the Nf/phthalocyanine zinc(II) (ZnPc) film, which gives a linear plot of v(0) vs c(0). This can be explained by the relatively slow diffusion of ZnTPP in the film compared to that of ZnPc because of steric factors: ZnTPP contains bulky tetraphenyl moieties attached perpendicular to a porphyrin ring, whereas ZnPc has higher planarity. The isotherm for the adsorption of ZnTPP into the Nf film was analyzed using a Langmuir isotherm equation, yielding an equilibrium constant of (3.6 +/- 1.1) x 10(6) M(-1) and a saturated amount of adsorbed ZnTPP of (1.8 +/- 0.1) x 10(-9) mol cm(-2), suggesting monolayer adsorption of ZnTPP on the hydrophobic polymer network interfacial with hydrophilic transport channels without significant intermolecular overlap. This is in contrast to the multilayer adsorption mode suggested for the ZnPc adsorption. The tetraphenyl moieties could prevent the stacking of ZnTPP for multilayer adsorption.     

Light-induced conformational change and product release in DNA repair by (6-4) photolyase

Proteins of the cryptochrome/photolyase family share high sequence similarities, common folds, and the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor, but exhibit diverse physiological functions. Mammalian cryptochromes are essential regulatory components of the 24 h circadian clock, whereas (6-4) photolyases recognize and repair UV-induced DNA damage by using light energy absorbed by FAD. Despite increasing knowledge about physiological functions from genetic analyses, the molecular mechanisms and conformational dynamics involved in clock signaling and DNA repair remain poorly understood. The (6-4) photolyase, which has strikingly high similarity to human clock cryptochromes, is a prototypic biological system to study conformational dynamics of cryptochrome/photolyase family proteins. The entire light-dependent DNA repair process for (6-4) photolyase can be reproduced in a simple in vitro system. To decipher pivotal reactions of the common FAD cofactor, we accomplished time-resolved measurements of radical formation, diffusion, and protein conformational changes during light-dependent repair by full-length (6-4) photolyase on DNA carrying a single UV-induced damage. The (6-4) photolyase by itself showed significant volume changes after blue-light activation, indicating protein conformational changes distant from the flavin cofactor. A drastic diffusion change was observed only in the presence of both (6-4) photolyase and damaged DNA, and not for (6-4) photolyase alone or with undamaged DNA. Thus, we propose that this diffusion change reflects the rapid (50 μs time constant) dissociation of the protein from the repaired DNA product. Conformational changes with such fast turnover would likely enable DNA repair photolyases to access the entire genome in cells.     

Photoemission study on the valence band of a β-FeSi2 thin film using synchrotron radiation

Resonant and constant-initial state photoemission spectroscopies using synchrotron radiation were applied to investigate the valence-band electronic structure of a semi-conducting β-type iron-disilicide (β-FeSi(2)) thin film. The results clearly indicated that the component elements, iron (Fe) and silicon (Si), contribute differently to the valence band features; the Fe 3d orbitals mainly concentrate in the top region of the valence band while the Si 3s and 3p orbitals spread over the wide region of the valence band. The β-FeSi(2) thin film showed a typical p-type semi-conducting nature with a work function of 4.78 eV. The β-FeSi(2) film showed the Fe M(1)VV Auger lines around the kinetic energy of 88 eV. It would be expected from these observations that there exist strong interactions between iron and silicon atoms in the β-FeSi(2) film resulting in orbital mixing and band formation.     

Aromaticity Relocation in Perylene Derivatives upon Two‐Electron Oxidation To Form Anthracene and Phenanthrene

We prepared perylene dications 1 ²⁺ and 2 ²⁺ by using “capped” perylene derivatives, and for the first time, successfully obtained single crystals of a perylene dication 1 ²⁺ that enabled us to perform its structural analysis. We realized that the substituted aryl groups on perylene control the positions of positive charges, thus the remaining electronic system satisfies Clar's sextet rule toward the highest number of localized sextets. Experimental and theoretical evidence proved that Clar's aromatic π‐sextet rule could be applied even for the dicationic perylenes in a very simple way.     

Unidirectional crystallization of charged colloidal silica due to the diffusion of a base

Dilute aqueous dispersions of charged colloidal silica (particle volume fraction = approximately 0.03-0.04, particle diameter = 110 nm) exhibit unidirectional crystal growth due to the diffusion of a weak base, pyridine (Py). Similar diffusion-crystallization is enabled by a salt of a weak acid and a strong base, sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3). The resulting crystals consist of columnar (or cubic) crystal grains with a maximum height of a few centimeters and a maximum width of 1 cm. The crystal growth process is attributed to a combination of (i) the diffusion of Py or NaHCO3 accompanied by a charging reaction of the silica particles and (ii) the charge-induced crystallization of the silica colloids. Theoretical growth curves based on the reaction-diffusion model for the case of Py were in good agreement with the observed curves. We also report the immobilization of the resulting large crystals by using a polymer hydrogel matrix.     

Tuning the effective width of the optical stop band in colloidal photonic crystals

The optical stop band in colloidal crystals is characterized by the central frequency and bandwidth. Although the former is known to be highly tunable by changing the lattice constant, the latter is basically determined by the refractive index contrast between the particles and the background medium that is intrinsic to the materials. In this study, we show that the effective bandwidth in gelled colloidal crystals can also be tuned by controlling the fabrication conditions. Single-domain gelled colloidal crystals were prepared by photopolymerization under various photoirradiation conditions. It was observed that the width of the stop band in the transmission or reflectance spectrum could be expanded by simply adjusting the irradiation time.     

Determination of l‐tryptophan and l‐kynurenine derivatized with (R)‐4‐(3‐isothiocyanatopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole by LC‐MS/MS on a triazole‐bonded column and their quantification in human serum

The concentrations of l ‐tryptophan (Trp) and the metabolite l ‐kynurenine (KYN) can be used to evaluate the in‐vivo activity of indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan 2,3‐dioxygenase (TDO). As such, a novel method involving derivatization of l ‐Trp and l ‐KYN with (R)‐4‐(3‐isothiocyanatopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (DBD‐PyNCS) and separation by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection on a triazole‐bonded column (Cosmosil HILIC®) was developed to determine their concentrations. The optimized mobile phase, CH₃CN/10 mm ammonium formate in H₂O (pH 5.0) (90:10, v/v) eluted isocratically, resulted in satisfactory separation and MS/MS detection of the analytes. The detection limits of l ‐Trp and l ‐KYN were approximately 50 and 4.0 pm , respectively. The column temperature affected the retention behaviour of the Trp and KYN derivatives, with increased column temperatures leading to increased capacity factors; positive enthalpy changes were revealed by van't Hoff plot analyses. Using the proposed LC‐MS/MS method, l ‐Trp and l ‐KYN were successfully determined in 10 μL human serum using 1‐methyl‐l ‐Trp as an internal standard. The precision and recovery of l ‐Trp were in the ranges 2.85–9.29 and 95.8–113%, respectively, while those of l ‐KYN were 2.51–16.0 and 80.8–98.2%, respectively. The proposed LC‐MS/MS method will be useful for evaluating the in vivo activity of IDO or TDO. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.