Unambiguous evidence for the participation of singlet oxygen ( 1 ) in photodynamic oxidation of amino acids

Abstract— A variety of experimental tests have been applied to the methylene-blue-sensitized photooxidation of amino acids to distinguish between singlet oxygen and non-singlet oxidation mechanisms. Conventional flash photolysis and laser photolysis were used to measure the rate constants for the quenching of excited triplet sensitizer and singlet oxygen by the amino acids histidine. tryptophan and methionine and the nucleotide guanosine-5′-monophosphate. In the case of histidine, the rate constants alone rule out an oxidation mechanism involving direct reaction with excited dye. With the other amino acids, and with guanosine monophosphate, the oxidation rates might be accounted for by either mechanism. The inhibition of the photo-oxidation of both tryptophan and methionine as well as histidine by the singlet-oxygen quenchers N₃^? and tetramethylethylene suggests that these reactions occur via a singlet-oxygen mechanism. A newly developed test of singlet oxygen reactions involving a comparison of photooxidation rates in normal and perdeuterated solvents has been used to establish that the photooxidation of tryptophan proceeds primarily by a singlet-oxygen mechanism. These experiments appear to constitute the first proof that singlet oxygen is involved in the photooxidation of the three amino acids tryptophan, methionine and histidine.     

Measurements of hyperon semileptonic decays at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron

The charged hyperon beam at the CERN Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) has been used to collect data on semileptonic decays ofΣ ^?,Ξ ^? andΛ. A magnetic channel selects 100 GeV/c negatively charged particles produced in the forward direction by interaction of the 200 GeV/c SPS proton beam on a BeO target. TheΣ ^? andΞ ^? hyperons are concurrently identified in a DISC ?erenkov counter, and their decay products are analysed by a magnetic spectrometer. Electron-hadron discrimination is achieved by the combined use of lead-glass and lead/scintillator counters, transition radiation detectors, and a ?erenkov counter. In this article we report results on the \(\Sigma ^ - \to \Lambda e^ - \bar v\) decay mode. Measurements of the Λ polarization and of the centre-of-mass distributions (baryon kinetic energy, electron-neutrino correlation, and Dalitz plot distributions) yield the vector to axialvector form factor ratiof ₁/g ₁=+0.034±0.080, in agreement with the value expected from the conserved vector current hypothesis (f ₁/g ₁=0). TheΣ ^?→Λe ^? v→ branching ratio measurement gives a value of (5.41±0.30)×10^?5. The effects of radiative corrections are not included in these results. They are discussed in the text. Results on the otherΞ ^?,Σ ^?, andΛ semileptonic decays are reported in separate articles.     

Synthesis and Photochromic Properties of Configurationally Varied Azobenzene Glycosides

Spatial orientation of carbohydrates is a meaningful parameter in carbohydrate recognition processes. To vary orientation of sugars with temporal and spatial resolution, photosensitive glycoconjugates with favorable photochromic properties appear to be opportune. Here, a series of azobenzene glycosides were synthesized, employing glycoside synthesis and Mills reaction, to allow “switching” of carbohydrate orientation by reversible E/Z isomerization of the azobenzene N=N double bond. Their photochromic properties were tested and effects of azobenzene substitution as well as the effect of anomeric configuration and the orientation of the sugars 2-hydroxy group were evaluated.     

Terminal Ligand and Packing Effects on Slow Relaxation in an Isostructural Set of [Dy(H2dapp)X2]+ Single Molecule Magnets**

We report three structurally related single ion Dy compounds using the pentadentate ligand 2,6-bis((E)-1-(2-(pyridin-2-yl)-hydrazineylidene)ethyl)pyridine (H₂dapp) [Dy(H₂dapp)(NO₃)₂]NO₃ ( 1 ), [Dy(H₂dapp)(OAc)₂]Cl ( 2 ) and [Dy(H₂dapp)(NO₃)₂]Cl_0.92(NO₃)_0.08 ( 3 ). The (H₂dapp) occupies a helical twisted pentagonal equatorial arrangement with two anionic ligands in the axial positions. Further influence on the electronic and magnetic structure is provided by a closely associated counterion interacting with the central N−H group of the (H₂dapp). The slow relaxation of the magnetisation shows that the anionic acetates give the greatest slowing down of the magnetisation reversal. Further influence on the relaxation properties of compounds 1 and 2 is the presence of short nitrate-nitrate intermolecular ligand contact opening further lattice relaxation pathways.     

Reglucosylation of the Benzoxazinoid DIMBOA with Inversion of Stereochemical Configuration is a Detoxification Strategy in Lepidopteran Herbivores

Benzoxazinoids are chemical defenses against herbivores and are produced by many members of the grass family. These compounds are stored as stable glucosides in plant cells and require the activity of glucosidases to release the corresponding toxic aglucones. In maize leaves, the most abundant benzoxazinoid is (2R)‐DIMBOA‐Glc, which is converted into the toxic DIMBOA upon herbivory. The ways in which three Spodoptera species metabolize this toxin were investigated. (2S)‐DIMBOA‐Glc, an epimer of the initial plant compound, was observed in the insect frass, and the associated glucosyltransferase activity was detected in the insect gut tissue. The epimeric glucoside produced by the insect was found to be no longer reactive towards plant glucosidases and thus cannot be converted into a toxin. Stereoselective reglucosylation thus represents a detoxification strategy in Spodoptera species that might help to explain their success as agricultural pests on benzoxazinoid‐containing crops.     

Reactions in Nitroimidazole Triggered by Low‐Energy (0–2 eV) Electrons: Methylation at N1‐H Completely Blocks Reactivity

Low‐energy electrons (LEEs) at energies of less than 2 eV effectively decompose 4‐nitroimidazole (4NI) by dissociative electron attachment (DEA). The reactions include simple bond cleavages but also complex reactions involving multiple bond cleavages and formation of new molecules. Both simple and complex reactions are associated with pronounced sharp features in the anionic yields, which are interpreted as vibrational Feshbach resonances acting as effective doorways for DEA. The remarkably rich chemistry of 4NI is completely blocked in 1‐methyl‐4‐nitroimidazole (Me4NI), that is, upon methylation of 4NI at the N1 site. These remarkable results have also implications for the development of nitroimidazole based radiosensitizers in tumor radiation therapy.