Quenching of the excited states of 8-methoxypsoralen by synthetic Eumelanin

The interaction of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) with synthetic eumelanin was investigated using static and time-resolved fluoresence and pulsed photoacoustic calorimetry. Spectroscopic data indicate the absence of interaction in the ground state, whereas the singlet excited state of 8-MOP is quenched by the pigment; the average fluorescence lifetimes are independent of the melanin concentration, thus indicating a static mechanism. Photoacoustic data show that the quenching process involves an increased intersystem crossing probability, which is almost unaffected by the presence of oxygen, as expected for a molecule essentially acting as a type I photosensitizing agent.     

Norm-one projections onto subspaces ofl p

Summary We give an intrinsic characterization of norm-one complemented subspaces of finite codimension in l _p (1<p< ,p 2).Work prepared under the auspices of M.P.I. (Ministero della Pubblica Istruzione) and G.N.A.F.A. of C.N.R. (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche).     

1,2,3-Triazolodiazepines. I. Preparation and benzodiazepine receptor binding of 1-benzyl- and 1-phenethyl-1,2,3-triazolo-[4,5-b][1,4]diazepines

Several new 1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b][1,4]diazepines were prepared starting from 1-benzyl-1 and 1-phenethyl-4,5-diamino-1,2,3-triazole 2 (Scheme 1), by condensation reactions with β-diketones (Scheme 2), β-ketoesters (Scheme 3), and diethyl malonates (Scheme 4). In the first case we obtained compounds 3 and 4 with basic properties, while the ester function condensations gave cyclic amide derivatives 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 with acid properties. Some N-methyl derivatives 11, 14 and 15 were obtained from the cyclic amide compounds. Most of compounds were tested for their ability to displace [³H]flunitrazepam from bovine brain membranes but no compound showed benzodiazepine receptor binding affinity.     

Papain-induced Oligomerization of α-Amino Acid Esters

Oligomers of leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, and tyrosine were prepared enzymatically (using papain) from the respective methyl esters, with yields ranging from 51–96%. The effect of pH, buffer and salt concentration, and addition of alcohol on the oligomerization of leucine methyl ester was examined. The limits and potentialities of the enzymatic reaction as a method for obtaining monodisperse oligomers are discussed.     

Conformation of microcontact-printed proteins by atomic force microscopy molecular sizing

We investigated the structural changes occurring in proteins patterned via microcontact printing. This was done by molecular sizing using atomic force microscopy to observe the structure of printed individual metalloprotein molecules in the unlabeled and untreated states. We observed that the size of the printed proteins were more than 2-fold smaller than the native shape, which indicates that some deformations take place upon the contact-assisted adsorption on silanized silicon dioxide. This can be attributed to simultaneously occurring effects, and particularly to the sandwiching between surfaces of very different hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties during contact lithography.     

Photophysical properties of pyrene in interaction with the surface of melanin particles

Melanins perform their biological activity (photoprotection and light enhanced chemical reactivity) under the form of porous aggregates on which ions and neutral molecules can be adsorbed. For this reason, the photochemistry of natural and synthetic melanins must be investigated in the framework of the physico-chemical theory of the heterogeneous reactions and a detailed knowledge of the surface properties, is therefore, necessary. In this work, some surface characteristics of melanin particles have been investigated taking advantage of the photophysical behaviour of pyrene, a dye widely used in studies of the interface properties of micelles and colloidal semiconductors. Our fluorescence study has allowed to obtain valuable informations regarding the micro-environmental polarity of the melanin surface (that influences the vibronic structure of the emission spectra), the excimer formation, the lifetimes of the emissions and the kinetics of quenching by Cu2+.     

THE INTERACTION OF MELANIN WITH 8-METHOXYPSORALEN: EFFECT ON RADIATIVE and NONRADIATIVE TRANSITIONS. A FLUORESCENCE and PULSED PHOTOACOUSTIC STUDY

Abstract –The interaction of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) with synthetic eumelanin was investigated using static and time-resolved fluorescence and pulsed photoacoustic calorimetry. Due to the strong overlap of the absorption bands of melanin and 8-MOP, a method is presented to account for the systematic errors introduced by the optical filter effect exerted by each absorbing species in the fluorescence and the photoacoustic measurements. As a preliminary step to the understanding of the nonradiative behavior of the psoralen-melanin complexes, the photoacoustic parameters of 8-MOP in various solvents were determined. Spectroscopic data indicate the absence of interaction at the ground-state level, whereas the singlet excited state of 8-MOP is quenched by the pigment; the average fluorescence lifetimes are independent of the melanin concentration, thus indicating a static quenching mechanism. The photoacoustic data show that the quenching process involves an increased intersystem crossing probability, which is almost unaffected by the presence of oxygen, as expected for a molecule essentially acting as a type I photosensitizing agent.     

Proteomic profiling of pancreatic ductal carcinoma cell lines treated with trichostatin-A

A pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line (Paca44) was treated with trichostatin-A (TSA), a potent inhibitor of histone deacetylases, in order to evaluate the effect of this drug on protein expression. Master maps of control and treated Paca44 cells were generated by analysis with the PDQuest software. The comparison between such maps showed up- and downregulation of 51 polypeptide chains, out of a total of 700 spots detected by a medium-sensitivity stain, micellar Coomassie Brilliant Blue. Fingerprinting by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF)-mass spectrometry analysis enabled the identification of 22 of these spots. Among these proteins, of particular interest are the two downregulated proteins nucleophosmin and translationally controlled tumor protein, as well as the upregulated proteins programmed cell death protein 5 (also designated as TFAR19) and stathmin (oncoprotein 18). The modulation of these four proteins is consistent with our observation that TSA is able to inhibit cell growth of Paca44 by causing cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase and apoptotic cell death.     

Raman microspectrometric investigation of wall paintings in S. Giovanni Evangelista Abbey in Parma: a comparison between two artists of the 16th century

Micro-Raman spectroscopy, combined with gas chromatography and ultra-violet fluorescence photography, was used to study some wall paintings in the S. Giovanni Evangelista Abbey in Parma, Italy. The restoration of some painted chapels enabled a comparison between two painters of the 16th century: Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola, 1503-1540) and Michelangelo Anselmi (1492?-1556?). Micro-Raman spectroscopy determined the palette used by the artists, leading to the identification of different white, yellow, red, brown, green, blue and black pigments. Some pigments are evidence of later restorations. Gas chromatography combined with mass spectroscopy revealed the presence of organic binding media and enabled to distinguish between fresco and secco paintings.