PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Photochemical Processes”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources

Dual Radical/Polar Pudovik Reaction: Application Field of New Activation Methods.

The Pudovik reaction (addition of organophosphorus compounds containing a labile P-H bond with alkenes and alkynes) can progess via a radical or (and) ionic mechanism. A comparative and systematic study including various reagents and different activation methods (heating, photochemical or ultrasonic irradiation, and dry medium supported reactions) is presented. Photolysis is the most efficient method for the radical processes, but in a few examples, ultrasonic irradiation can be more appropriate since the reaction time is shorter and ultrasound did not induce side-reactions (in particular Z/E isomerization). Dry medium process on basic solid support is the best anionic activation (yield, time, selectivity, purification facilities). Ultrasound, by its mechanical effects, can contribute to increase yield compared to the classical thermal method under these basic conditions. All the activation methods are efficient whatever the unsaturated substrates for the phosphine reactivity, whereas the appropriate activation method is exclusively determined by the nature of the unsaturated system for the thiophosphine (or phosphine oxide) reactivity.

Journal Article↗

Probing the photochemical mechanism in photoactive yellow protein.

Selectively bridged model compounds related to the chromophore in photoactive yellow protein have been synthesized where the single bond adjacent to the benzene ring (bond 1) and where both bond 1 and the adjacent double bond (bond 2) are bridged. They were compared to the nonbridged reference compound regarding their photophysical properties using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence at various temperatures. Quantum chemical calculations were additionally performed and showed that several conformers are populated in the ground state. The neutral model compounds show that the nonradiative deactivation channel is linked to both single- and double-bond twisting. The relative importance of single-bond twisting is increased for the corresponding deprotonated hydroxy compounds with an enhanced donor character. The simultaneous photochemical activity of both single and double bonds explains the ease of photochemical isomerization in the confined environment of the natural PYP protein and also of the primary step in the vision process in rhodopsin.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Engineering Reactions in Crystalline Solids: Radical Pairs in Crystals of Dialkyl 1,3-Acetonedicarboxylates.

Crystalline dialkyl 1,3-acetonedicarboxylates give dialkyl succinates in high chemical yields by combination of alpha-carbonyl radical pairs produced by photochemical decarbonylation. It is proposed that the solid-state reaction depends on the exothermicity of two consecutive bond cleavage processes. It is also suggested that the efficiency of radical formation in the solid state is determined by the effect of substituents on bond dissociation energies and radical-stabilization abilities.

Journal Article↗

A quantitative structure-function relationship for the Photosystem II reaction center: supermolecular behavior in natural photosynthesis.

Light-induced charge separation is the primary photochemical event of photosynthesis. Efficient charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centers requires the balancing of electron and excitation energy transfer processes, and in Photosystem II (PSII), these processes are particularly closely entangled. Calculations that treat the cofactors of the PSII reaction center as a supermolecular complex allow energy and electron transfer reactions to be described in a unified way. This calculational approach is shown to be in good agreement with experimentally observed energy and electron transfer dynamics. This supermolecular view also correctly predicts the effect of changing the redox potentials of cofactors by site-directed mutagenesis, thus providing a unified and quantitative structure-function relationship for the PSII reaction center.

Bacteria↗

Isolation and partial characterization of a novel psoralen-tyrosine photoconjugate from a photoreaction of psoralen with a natural protein.

The photoreaction of psoralens with DNA is a well-characterized reaction. However, the photoreactions of psoralens with proteins is not very well understood. Our objective was to isolate an amino acid-psoralen photochemical adduct. We photoreacted 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) with T7 RNA polymerase, a protein that carries out the fundamental biological process of transcription. Amino acid composition analysis of the photoreacted polymerase revealed that tyrosines quantitatively reacted with 8-MOP. From the acid hydrolysates of the photoconjugated T7 RNA polymerase, an 8-MOP-tyr adduct was partially purified by HPLC. The purified 8-MOP-tyr adduct and related parent compounds were analyzed by UV-visible absorption, fluorescence and mass spectroscopy. Excitation/absorption spectra suggested that the pyrone of the original 8-MOP was modified in the isolated photoadduct, and that the adduct probably contained a benzofuran. Chemical ionization mass spectrometry was consistent with the photoaddition of tyr to 8-MOP with a conservation of the overall mass (+/-1 atomic mass units). As far as we know, this work represents the first instance of isolation and partial characterization of an amino acid-psoralen photoadduct.

Bacteriophage T7↗

Molecular evidence for cleavage of intradimer phosphodiester linkage as a novel step in excision repair of cyclobutyl pyrimidine photodimers in cultured human cells.

A re-analysis of the metabolic fate of ultraviolet light (u.v.)-induced cyclobutyl pyrimidine dimers in the DNA of dermal fibroblasts from patients with different genetic forms of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP), a rare cancer-prone skin disorder, has provided new insight into the mode of dimer repair in normal human cells. When DNA isolated from post-u.v. incubated cultures was subjected to enzymic photoreactivation (PR) to probe dimer authenticity, single-strand scissions were produced in the damaged DNA of incubated XP group A and D cells, but not in DNA from XP group C cells or normal controls. Since enzymic PR treatment ruptures only the cyclobutane ring, these results suggested that in dimer excision-defective XP group A and D strains, the intradimer phosphodiester bond may have been cleaved without site restoration. Such a cleavage event had not previously been detected; the possibility that this reaction may be an early step in the normal excision-repair process is supported by the observed release of free thymidine (dThd) and its monophosphate (TMP), but not of thymine, upon photochemical reversal of the dimer-containing excision fragments isolated from post-u.v. incubated normal cells. The combined number of dThd and TMP molecules released was equal to approximately equal to 80% of the number of dimers photoreversed; for such release to occur, the dimer must both be at one end of an excised fragment and contain an internal phosphodiester break. Taken together, these data lead us to propose a novel model for dimer repair in human cells in which hydrolysis of the intradimer phosphodiester linkage precedes the concerted action of a generalized 'bulky lesion-repair complex' involving conventional strand incision/lesion excision/repair resynthesis/strand ligation reactions.

Cells, Cultured↗

Ozone emitted during copying process--a potential cause of pathological oxidative stress and potential oxidative damage in the bodies of operators.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the impact of copying on the indoor air quality, and to investigate whether ozone emitted during such a process induces pathological oxidative stress and potential oxidative damage in the bodies of operators. METHODS: 67 copying operators (CO) and 67 healthy volunteers (HV) were enrolled in a random control study, in which levels of lipoperoxide (LPO) in plasma and erythrocytes, and levels of vitamin C (VC), vitamin E (VE) and beta-carotene (beta-CAR) in plasma as well as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in erythrocytes were determined by spectrophotometric methods. RESULTS: Compared with the HV group, the average values of LPO in plasma and erythrocytes in the CO group were significantly increased (P<0.0001), while those of VC, VE and beta-CAR in plasma as well as those of SOD, CAT and GPX in erythrocytes in the CO group were significantly decreased (P<0.0001). Pearson product-moment correlation analysis showed that with increase of ozone level in copying sites and duration of exposure to ozone, the values of LPO in plasma and erythrocytes in the bodies of operators were gradually increased,while those of VC, VE, beta-CAR, SOD, CAT and GPX were decreased in the same manner. Odds ratio (OR) of risk of biochemical parameters reflecting potential oxidative damage of the copying operators ranged from 4.440 to 13.516, and 95% CI of OR was from 2.113 to 34.061. Reliability coefficient (alpha) of the biochemical parameters used to reflect the potential oxidative damage of the operators was 0.8156, standardized item alpha=0.9929, P<0.0001. CONCLUSION: Findings in the present study suggest that there exist a series of free radical chain reactions and pathological oxidative stress induced by high dose ozone in the operators, thereby causing potential oxidative and lipoperoxidative damages in their bodies.

Adult↗

[Modification of functional groups of the streptokinase molecule during photooxidation].

Photochemical oxidation with methylene blue as photosensitizer results in the destruction of one histidine residue in the streptokinase molecule. This process is characterized by the rate constant corresponding to the modification of free L-histidine and results in partial inactivation of the protein. The rate of protein photo oxidation and photoinactivation is pH-dependent. As can be judged from the results of CD spectroscopy and gel chromatography, in weakly acidic (but not in weakly alkaline) media the reaction results in conformation changes of the streptokinase globule which affect the state of the protein tryptophanyl residue. It was found that the imidazole group destroyed during the photooxidation reaction is not essential either for the specific activity of streptokinase or for the formation of is stable complex with human plasminogen. The specificity of modification of the streptokinase histidine residue during the photooxidation reaction is discussed.

Chromatography, Gel↗

Changes in antibacterial activity of triclosan and sulfa drugs due to photochemical transformations.

Sulfa drugs and triclosan represent two classes of antibacterials that have been found in natural waters and for which photodegradation is anticipated to be a significant loss process. Parent antibacterial compounds and the products of photolysis reactions were compared for three sulfa drugs and triclosan to determine the extent to which photolysis affects their antibacterial potency on Escherichia coli DH5alpha. Sulfathiazole (median effective concentration [EC50] = 20.0 microM), sulfamethoxazole (EC50 = 12.3 microM), and sulfachloropyridazine (EC50 = 6.9 microM) inhibited bacterial growth but did not affect respiratory activity. Photolysis products of these sulfa drugs did not retain any measurable ability to inhibit growth. Triclosan inhibited both the growth (EC50 = 0.24 microM) and respiratory activity of E. coli DH5alpha. Triclosan photolysis products also exhibited no measurable effect on growth or respiratory activity. These experiments indicate that the products of triclosan and sulfa drug photolysis are unlikely to possess antibacterial activity in natural waters. The rapid screening method used for these two classes of compounds will be useful for helping to identify photolabile antibacterial compounds, for which photoproducts could require further investigation.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy.

Two-photon fluorescence microscopy is one of the most important recent inventions in biological imaging. This technology enables noninvasive study of biological specimens in three dimensions with submicrometer resolution. Two-photon excitation of fluorophores results from the simultaneous absorption of two photons. This excitation process has a number of unique advantages, such as reduced specimen photodamage and enhanced penetration depth. It also produces higher-contrast images and is a novel method to trigger localized photochemical reactions. Two-photon microscopy continues to find an increasing number of applications in biology and medicine.

Animals↗

Light-induced absorption changes in photosystem I at low temperatures.

Light-induced absorption changes associated with the primary photochemical reaction and dark relaxation in Photosystem I were measured at various low temperatures. A possible temperature-dependent long-range electron tunneling process was suggested to account for the unique temperature dependence of the dark decay process. The kinetics of the light-induced absorption changes are in good agreement with the light-induced EPR changes reported earlier (Ke, B., Sugahara, K., Shaw, E.R., Hansen, R. E., Hamilton, W. D. and Beinert, H. (1974) Biochim, Biophys. Acta 368, 401--408) for the same Photosystem I subchloroplast fragment at comparable temperatures. All absorption changes between 400 and 725 nm at 86degreesK have identical kinetics. The light-minus-dark difference spectrum is very similar to that of P-700 at room temperature, with an additional prominent positive change at 690 nm. Possible contributions by P-430 to the blue and red spectral changes were discussed. It was demonstrated that the intensity of the measuring beam has a drastic effect on the light-induced absorption changes of Photosystem I at low temperatures. Various pretreatments of the Photosystem I fragments such as those that photochemically (or chemically) oxidize the primary donor or photoreduce the primary acceptor abolish the subsequent photochemical reaction. Continuous illumination of the Photosystem I fragments before and during freezing has the same effect. In the temperature range of --20 to --60degreesC, an unusual counter absorption change as well as a counter EPR change were observed.

2,6-Dichloroindophenol↗

Direct comparison of infrared and ultraviolet wavelength matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry of proteins.

In an effort to gain an understanding of the processes governing matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), we made a direct comparison of ultraviolet (UV)- and infrared (IR)-MALDI linear time-of-flight mass spectra of proteins obtained from the same samples and matrices (on the same sample surface), using two different lasers, each having short duration (< 10-ns) pulses, i.e., a tunable wavelength Nd:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) pumped optical parametric oscillator laser operating at 2.94 microns and a Nd:YAG laser operating at 355 nm. We observed that (1) the IR-MALDI and UV-MALDI spectra of a given protein from the same matrix were strikingly similar; (2) protein ions produced by IR-MALDI experienced less fragmentation than those produced by UV-MALDI; and (3) photochemical adducts produced during UV-MALDI were absent in IR-MALDI. These results lead us to speculate on the mechanisms for the ionization process in UV- and IR-MALDI. Because photons with a wavelength of approximately 3 microns are unlikely to effect electronic excitation of the matrix at the irradiance used for MALDI we propose that ionization in IR-MALDI occurs as a natural consequence of the solid-to-gas phase transition induced by the IR irradiation, and involves proton transfer reactions in the intermediate phase between solid and gas. The strikingly similar UV- and IR-MALDI mass spectra leads us to the additional proposal that ionization in UV-MALDI may also be a natural consequence of the phase transition and that electronic excitation may not play a primary role in the ionization process.

Animals↗

Photochemical competence of assembled photosystem II core complex in cyanobacterial plasma membrane.

Cyanobacterial cells have two autonomous internal membrane systems, plasma membrane and thylakoid membrane. In these oxygenic photosynthetic organisms the assembly of the large membrane protein complex photosystem II (PSII) is an intricate process that requires the recruitment of numerous protein subunits and cofactors involved in excitation and electron transfer processes. Precise control of this assembly process is necessary because electron transfer reactions in partially assembled PSII can lead to oxidative damage and degradation of the protein complex. In this communication we demonstrate that the activation of PSII electron transfer reactions in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 takes place sequentially. In this organism partially assembled PSII complexes can be detected in the plasma membrane. We have determined that such PSII complexes can undergo light-induced charge separation and contain a functional electron acceptor side but not an assembled donor side. In contrast, PSII complexes in thylakoid membrane are fully assembled and capable of multiple turnovers. We conclude that PSII reaction center cores assembled in the plasma membrane are photochemically competent and can catalyze single turnovers. We propose that upon transfer of such PSII core complexes to the thylakoid membrane, additional proteins are incorporated followed by binding and activation of various donor side cofactors. Such a stepwise process protects cyanobacterial cells from potentially harmful consequences of performing water oxidation in a partially assembled PSII complex before it reaches its final destination in the thylakoid membrane.

Cell Membrane↗

Studies of the N-terminal region of a parathyroid hormone-related peptide (1-36) analog: receptor subtype-selective agonists, antagonists, and photochemical cross-linking agents.

The N-terminal regions of PTH and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP) are involved in receptor-mediated signaling and subtype selectivity. To better understand the molecular basis for these processes, we first prepared a series of [I5,W23,Y36]-PTHrP(1-36)NH2 analogs having stepwise deletions of residues 1-4 and characterized them with the human (h)PTH-1 and hPTH-2 receptor subtypes stably transfected in LLC-PK1 cells. Deletions beyond residue 2 caused progressive and severe losses in cAMP-signaling efficacy without dramatically diminishing receptor-binding affinity; consistent with this, [I5,W23]-PTHrP(5-36) was a potent antagonist for both PTH receptor subtypes. We then prepared and characterized photolabile analogs of [I5,W23,Y36]-PTHrP(1-36)NH2 that were singly modified with parabenzoyl-L-phenylalanine (Bpa) along the first six residues. These full-length analogs exhibited receptor subtype-selective agonism, antagonism, and photochemical cross-linking profiles. In particular, the [Bpa2]- and [Bpa4]-substituted analogs selectively antagonized and preferentially cross-linked to the PTH-1 receptor and PTH-2 receptor, respectively. These results demonstrate that the 1-5 region of [I5,W23]-PTHrP(1-36) is critical for activating the PTH-1 and PTH-2 receptors and suggest that the individual residues in this region play distinct roles in modulating the activation states of the two receptors. The cross-linking of both agonist and antagonist ligands to these PTH receptors lays the groundwork for identifying critical signaling determinants in the ligand binding pocket of the receptor.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

Dendronized Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, Assembly at Interfaces, and Manipulation.

Dendrimers are presently one of the most intensely studied classes of compounds because of their unusual structure. They can be described as a jungle of entangled branches traversed by winding trails which lead to sweet fruits and bright blossoms. On these trails one can reach the thicket's interior as well as find a way out. Expressed less lyrically, this thicket stands for regularly branched, densely packed structures, and the trails represent voids and channels not filled by bent back branches but by solvent. The fruit and blossoms are photochemically, electrochemically, or synthetically addressable units, catalytically active sites, etc., and the back and forth on the trails stands for transport processes. In a mathematical sense dendrimers are enveloped by an interface, which defines what is either in or out. This interface is shaped like a sphere if the trails are filled to bursting. Otherwise dendrimers are more flattened like amoeba, especially if in contact with a surface. The high density of the functional groups, the expansion of these compounds to a range of several nanometers, the existence of usable "surface" and transport possibilities in and with them have made dendrimers interesting candidates for many applications. This review describes how dendrimer construction and polymer synthesis were combined and used to move from fully or flattened spherical shapes to cylindrical ones. The shape-inducing influence of dendritic substituents can be driven to create nanoobjects with a cylindrical shape, which not only considerably widens the range of applications for the dendrimer class but also opens up new perspectives for supramolecular and polymer chemistry. Because of the sheer size of the described objects and complexity of shape-related properties, research in this area must necessarily be interdisciplinary. This article tries to mirror this by giving special attention not only to synthesis but also the characterization and behavior of these compounds in bulk and at interfaces. Furthermore, potential application fields are described.

Journal Article↗

Environmental risk assessment of hydrofluoroethers (HFEs).

Hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) are being used as third generation replacements to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) because of their nearly zero stratospheric ozone depletion and relatively low global warming potential. HFEs have been developed under commercial uses as cleaning solvents (incl., HFE-7500, C7F15OC2H5; HFE-7200, C4F9OC2H5; HFE-7100, C4F9CH3; HFE-7000, n-C3F7OCH3), blowing agents (incl., HFE-245mc, CF3CF2OCH3; HFC-356mec, CF3CHFCF2OCH3), refrigerants (incl., HFE-143a, CF3OCH3; HFE-134, CHF2OCHF2; HFE-245mc, CF3CF2OCH3), and dry etching agents in semiconductor manufacturing, (incl., HFE-227me, CF3OCHFCF3). From the environmental, ecological, and health points of view, it is important to understand their environmental risks for these HFEs from a diversity of commercial applications and industrial processes. This paper aims to introduce these HFEs with respect to physiochemical properties, commercial uses, and environmental hazards (i.e. global warming, photochemical potential, fire and explosion hazard, and environmental partition). Further, it addresses the updated data on the human toxicity, occupational exposure and potential health risk of commercial HFEs. It is concluded that there are few HFEs that still possess some environmental hazards, including global warming, flammability hazard and adverse effect of exposure. The partition coefficient for these HFEs has been estimated using the group contribution method; the values of logKow for commercial HFEs have been estimated to be below 3.5.

Chlorofluorocarbons↗

Photochemical stitching of a tubularly assembled hexabenzocoronene amphiphile by dimerization of coumarin pendants.

A coumarin-appended amphiphilic hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene (1) self-assembled to form graphitic nanotubes. Upon irradiation of lambda > 300 nm, the nanotubes in the solid state and suspension both underwent dimerization of the coumarin pendants, affording covalently stitched nanotubes, which were hardly soluble in CHCl3, a good solvent of 1. In contrast, a thin film cast from a homogeneous solution of 1 was intact to photoirradiation. Owing to the reversible nature of the photochemical stitching, both negative and positive patterns of the graphitic nanotubes were developed on a silicon substrate by a lithographic post processing.

Journal Article↗

Non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in Chlorella fusca acclimated to constant and dynamic light conditions.

Non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence (NPQ) involves dissipation of light energy in the photosynthetic apparatus via a number of physiologically distinct processes. The relationships among NPQ, the (de)epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle pigments and state transitions was studied in the green alga Chlorella fusca, acquired from six differently light-acclimated continuous cultures. A 10 h light and 14 h darkness, periodicity was obeyed in all cultures. Three cultures received a high total daily irradiance, three others a low one. High and low irradiances were each dosed in three different modes at constant supply, with sine shape intensity modulation, or as a sine with superimposed oscillations. In the constant supply mode, but not for the sine and oscillating modes, high-light rendered a three-fold higher xantophyll cycle pigment content than low-light. Dynamic interconversion of xantophyll cycle pigments was restricted to high-light cultures. NPQ followed the kinetics of the light supply mode and was highest in high light cultures. In low-light cultures, NPQ correlated mainly to state transitions. These observations were supported by experiments with dithiothreithol-treated samples. The relative impact of xantophyll cycle operation and state transitions on NPQ in green algae from different light climates will be discussed with reference to higher plants.

Journal Article↗