Chloroplast Biogenesis 77: Two Novel Monovinyl and Divinyl Light-Dark Greening Groups of Plants and Their Relationship to the Chlorophyll a Biosynthetic Heterogeneity of Green Plants

Abstract— On the basis of the steady-state accumulation of divinyl (DV) or monovinyl (MV) protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) a in darkness (D) or in the light (L), green plants have been classified into three different greening groups namely dark divinyl-light divinyl (DDV-LDV), dark monovinyl-light divinyl (DMV-LDV) and dark monovinyl-light monovinyl (DMV-LMV) (Ionannides et al., Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 22, 211-220,1994). Interruption of the L phase of the photoperiod by a brief period of darkness (LD condition) revealed a predominance of different chlorophyll (Chl) a biosynthetic routes, depending upon the greening group affiliation of the plant species. For example, in DMV-LDV and DMV-LMV plants, the predominant Chl a biosynthetic routes under the LD condition appear to be the MV Chi a biosynthetic route and/or a mixed DV-MV Chi a biosynthetic route that bifurcates at the level of DV Pchlide a. On the basis of DV and MV Pchlide a accumulation rates after re-darkening, this greening group is designated as a light-dark MV (LDMV) subgroup. In DDV-LDV plants, the predominant LD Chi a biosynthetic routes appear to be the DV Chi a biosynthetic route and/or a mixed DV-MV Chi a biosynthetic route that bifurcates at the level of DV Chlide a. This greening group is designated as a light-dark DV (LDDV) subgroup. It is proposed that upon inhibiting the conversion of Pchlide a to Chi a by interruption of the L phase of the photoperiod by a brief period of D, the rates of DV and MV Pchlide a regeneration may reflect the carryover rates of DV and MV Pchlide a biosynthesis in L instead of reflecting a differential use of DV and MV carboxylic biosynthetic rates in D. It is also shown that in LDMV plants, MV Chlide a and MV Chi a are formed without the participation of [4-vinyl] Chlide a reductase. On the basis of recently published evidence, it is also argued that Pchlide oxidoreductase-A (POR-A) may be active in LDDV plants, while POR-B may predominate in LDMV plant species. The evolutionary significance of the LDDV and LDMV greening subgroups is discussed.     

Low coordinate germanium and tin compounds (ArO)2ME and (ArO)2MM′Ln M=Ge, Sn; E=S, Se, –NSiMe3 M′=Cr, W, Fe, Pt [Ar=2,4,6-tris((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl-]

The reactions of the divalent species (ArO)₂M (Ar=2,4,6-[(CH₃)₂NCH₂]₃C₆H₂; M=Ge, Sn) with either Me₃SiN₃, elemental S₈, Se or transition metal complexes M′(CO)_n+1 (M′=Fe, n=4; M′=Cr, W; n=5) (Ph₃P)₂Pt·C₂H₄ have resulted in the isolation of either the new stable formal metallanimines (ArO)₂M=N–SiMe₃, germanethione, -selone (ArO)₂Ge=E (E=S, Se) (the expected formations of the stannanethione and -selone were not observed), or the (ArO)₂M=M′(CO)_n, (ArO)₂M=Pt(PPh₃)₂ complexes, respectively. The direct oxidation of the (ArO)₂M species with various oxidizing agents led to the formation of the corresponding metalloxanes [(ArO)₂M–O–]₂. All of the chalcogenido- and transition metal–metal 14 complexes have been physicochemically and chemically characterized. The reactions of the (ArO)₂Ge=E (E=S, Se) compounds with 3,5-di-tert-butyl-1,2-benzoquinone produced, by extrusion of sulfur or selenium, the dioxametalloles corresponding to the formal addition of the divalent species (ArO)₂M to the benzoquinone. A substitution reaction of chalcogen (S/Se) has been observed permitting to go from germaneselone to germanethione.     

Synthesis of π‐conjugated oligomer that can form metallo polymers

An oligo(p‐phenylene vinylene) that contains terpyridine ligands has been synthesized. Upon addition of metal ions, a π‐conjugated metallo polymer is formed in which the well‐defined character of oligomers and the material properties of polymers are combined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4020–4023, 2002     

The solution photochemistry of αβ-unsaturated sulphones

1-Phenyl-2-(benzenesulphonyl)-ethylene and 1-phenyl-2-(benzenesulphonyl)-prop-1-ene have been shown to undergo $\text{Z}$,$\text{E}$-photoisomerisation, whereas 2-benzenesulphonylindene readily forms [_π2 + _π2] photoadducts with 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene, cyclopentene, and cyclohexene.     

Proposed Mechanism for the Antitrypanosomal Activity of Quercetin and Myricetin Isolated from Hypericum afrum Lam.: Phytochemistry,In Vitro Testing and Modeling Studies

The in vitro activity of L. donovani (promastigotes, axenic amastigotes and intracellular amastigotes in THP1 cells) and T. brucei, from the fractions obtained from the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial part of Hypericum afrum and the isolated compounds, has been evaluated. The chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts showed significant antitrypanosomal activity towards T. brucei, with IC₅₀ values of 12.35, 13.53 and 12.93 µg/mL and with IC₉₀ values of 14.94, 19.31 and 18.67 µg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical investigation of the fractions led to the isolation and identification of quercetin (1), myricitrin (2), biapigenin (3), myricetin (4), hyperoside (5), myricetin-3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside (6) and myricetin-3’-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7). Myricetin-3’-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (7) has been isolated for the first time from this genus. The chemical structures were elucidated by using comprehensive one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D and 2D NMR) spectroscopic data, as well as high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI–MS). These compounds have also been evaluated for their antiprotozoal activity. Quercetin (1) and myricetin (4) showed noteworthy activity against T. brucei, with IC₅₀ and IC₉₀ values of 7.52 and 5.71 µM, and 9.76 and 7.97 µM, respectively. The T. brucei hexokinase (TbHK1) enzyme was further explored as a potential target of quercetin and myricetin, using molecular modeling studies. This proposed mechanism assists in the exploration of new candidates for novel antitrypanosomal drugs.     

Solubility of Solid 2-Methyl-1,3-butadiene (Isoprene) in Liquid Argon and Nitrogen at the Standard Boiling Points of the Solvents

The solubility of solid 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene) in liquid argon at a temperature of 87.3 K and in liquid nitrogen at 77.4 K has been measured by the filtration method. The hydrocarbon contents in solutions were determined using gas chromatography. GC–MS was used to identify impurities in the solute. The experimental value of the mole fraction solubility of solid isoprene in liquid argon at 87.3 K is (1.41 ± 0.27) × 10^–6 and (1.56 ± 0.36) × 10^–7 in liquid nitrogen at 77.4 K. The Preston–Prausnitz method was used for calculation of the solubilities of solid hydrocarbon in liquid argon in the temperature range 84.0–110.0 K and in liquid nitrogen from 64.0 to 90.0 K. The solvent–solute interaction parameters l ₁₂ were also calculated. At 90.0 K liquid argon is a better solvent for isoprene than is liquid nitrogen. The experimental values of the solubilities of isoprene in liquid argon and nitrogen were compared with results obtained for selected unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons.     

Water Activities, Osmotic and Activity Coefficients and Some Correlation of Aqueous Mixtures of Alkaline-Earth and Ammonium Nitrates, NH4NO3-Y(NO3)2-H2O with Y ≡ Ba2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ at T = 25 °C

The thermodynamic properties of the mixed aqueous electrolyte of ammonium and alkaline earth metal nitrates have been studied using the hygrometric method at 25?°C. The water activities of these {yNH₄NO₃+(1?y)Y(NO₃)₂}(aq) systems with Y ≡ Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ were measured at total molalities ranging from 0.10 mol?kg^?1 to saturation for different NH₄NO₃ ionic-strength fractions of y=0.20, 0.50 and 0.80. These data allow the calculation of osmotic coefficients. From these measurements, the ionic mixing parameters are determined and used to calculate the solute activity coefficients in the mixtures at different ionic-strength fractions. The results of these ternary solution measurements are compared with those for binary solutions of the alkaline earth nitrates of magnesium, calcium and barium with ammonium nitrates. The behavior of the aqueous electrolyte solutions containing mixtures of barium or calcium or magnesium with ammonium nitrates are correlated and show that ionic interactions are more important for the system containing Mg²⁺ than for Ca²⁺ or Ba²⁺. The trends are mainly due to the effects of the ionic size, polarizability and the hydration of the ions in these solutions.     

Studies on 16-Membered Azothia- and Azoxythiacrown Ethers as Ion Carriers in Ion Selective Membranes

16-Membered azothia- and azoxythiacrown ethers have been studied as ion carriers in ion-selective membranes. Their selectivities towards alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal cations were evaluated. The complex formation constants for these compounds with chosen cations have been determined using segmented sandwich membranes method.     

Electrically driven microseparation methods for pesticides and metabolites: III. Capillary electrochromatography with novel silica-based stationary phases having a surface-bound surfactant moiety

A silica-based stationary phase with surface bound silylpropyl trialkylammonium functions was introduced and evaluated in the capillary electrochromatography of alkylbenzenes and pesticides. This stationary phase is referred to as octadecyldimethyl(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ammonium-silica (ODAS) and has quaternary amine functions that generate an anodic electroosmotic flow (EOF) and octadecyl functions that are responsible for solute retention by a reversed-phase chromatography mechanism. The ODAS stationary phase was characterized over a wide range of elution conditions in term of EOF and retention behavior of alkylbenzene homologous series. The ODAS stationary phase proved useful in the separation of pesticides as well as in the on-column preconcentration of dilute pesticide samples, thus permitting the detection of solution at 7 x 10(-7) M using a UV detector.