QUANTUM EFFICIENCY FOR THE PHOTOCONVERSION OF BACTERIORHODOPSIN AT VERY LOW TEMPERATURES

Abstract— Quantum efficiencies for photoconversion of bacteriorhodopsin (trans-bR) to a bathochromic product (batho-bR^t) and its photoreversion in purple membrane at 77 and 9 K were investigated with low temperature spectrophotometry. The kinetics of the photoconversion and its photoreversion cannot be expressed by a single exponential curve. The photoconversions at 77 and 9 K showed the same slope in the early stage. The kinetics of the photoreversions were identical at the two temperatures. These results indicate that the quantum efficiencies for the conversion of trans-bR to batho-bR^t or for its photoreversion are identical at the two temperatures.
The fact that the photoreversion cannot be expressed by a single exponential curve suggests the existence of several conformational states of batho-bR^t due to the trimer structure of the purple membrane.     

AND/OR bimolecular recognition

cis-Decalin (2) and perylene (3) are co-enclathrated by a self-assembled M6L4-coordination cage (1) to give 1 superset(2.3) although each of them is not enclathrated. This phenomenon is termed as AND bimolecular recognition because enclathration occurs only if 2 and 3 coexist. Cage 1 also coenclathrates azulene (8) and 1,4-naphthoquinone (9) to give 1 superset(8.9). In this case, 1 superset(8)2 and 1 superset(9)2 are formed by treating 1 with 8 and 9 individually. This case is termed as OR bimolecular recognition because enclathration occurs if 8 or 9 exists. Accordingly, we have shown that the self-assembled cage 1 experiences both AND and OR bimolecular recognition.     

Oxygen triggering reversible modulation of Vibrio fischeri strain Y1 bioluminescence in vivo

Yellow-emitting Vibrio fischeri Y1 modulates its bioluminescence (BL) depending on the dissolved O2 concentration. On supplying O2 to the cells under anaerobiosis, the cells begin to emit striking yellow BL peaking around 535 nm. The enhanced yellow emission reverts reversibly to the original level after O2 is consumed. Moreover, the reversible rise and fall of the yellow emission occurs repeatedly in accord with the repeating cycles of aeration on and off. This indicates that an increase in the cellular amount of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) is not an immediate cause of the yellow emission enhancement. One suggested explanation is that the activity of YFP originating from its highly fluorescent property is altered by redox interaction with the respiratory components, including the soluble cytochrome c. Under the O2-limited conditions, the cellular YFP molecules, in part, seem to lose the fluorescent property possibly because of being reduced via redox interaction with some respiratory components in reduced form. On stimulating aerobic respiration with O2 supply, the reduced YFP seems to retrieve its fluorescent property via oxidation possibly with both O2, diffused across the cell membrane, and ferricytochrome c, generated during the respiratory turnover. The suggested redox interactions seem primarily to cause the reversible BL modulation.     

Grüneisen parameter coupling in heavy fermion systems

We discuss thermodynamic consequences of a Grüneisenparameter electron-phonon coupling in heavy fermion systems. Characteristic features of sound propagation, thermal expansion and ultrasonic attenuation are given. Model calculations for UPt₃ are presented.