Interaction of dimethyl-and monomethyloxyluciferin with recombinant wild-type and mutant firefly luciferases

Dissociation constants (Ks) in the pH range 6.5-9.0 for complexes of luciferin, dimethyloxyluciferin (DMOL), and monomethylluciferin (MMOL) with recombinant wild-type and mutant (His433Tyr) luciferases from the Luciola mingrelica firefly were determined by fluorescent titration. The protonated effectors were bound by the wild-type and mutant luciferases better than the nonprotonated ones. The affinity of DMOL for the mutant luciferase was higher than for the wild-type luciferase at alkaline pH, whereas the affinity of MMOL was higher at all pH values studied. The fluorescence emission and excitation spectra of DMOL and MMOL in buffer solution (pH 7.8) were obtained in the absence and presence of luciferase. The fluorescence maxima of DMOL and MMOL complexes with luciferase were 20 and 100 nm, respectively, shifted to shorter wavelengths as compared to the values in buffer solution. This was explained by nonspecific and specific influence of the protein microenvironment on the fluorescence spectra of DMOL and its specific influence on the MMOL fluorescence spectra.     

Fluorescence and chemical modification of tryptophan as probes of structure of GTP:AMP phosphotransferase from beef heart mitochondria

Selective modification of the two Trp residues of GTP:AMP phosphotransferase from beef heart mitochondria (Mr 26 000; MgGTP + AMP in equilibrium MgGDP + ADP) has been attained by treatment of the enzyme with N-bromosuccinimide at pH 4.0. Almost complete loss of activity is observed when one Trp is oxidized. Fluorescence emission spectra (lambda exc 295 nm) were recorded over the pH range 1.9-12.2. Quenching constants, K, with acrylamide were 4.9, 3.4, 3.1, 2.4, 9.2 and 9.4 M-1 at respective pH values of 11.1, 7.5, 5.5, 4.0, 1.9 and 7.5 with 6 M guanidine/HCl. Over the pH range 8.0-5.5 the fluorescence peak has a constant height with maximum at 333-334 nm, which can be segregated by acrylamide quenching into a peak with maximum at 338 nm and another with maximum at 330 nm. Dropping the pH from 5.5 to 4.0 results in the fluorescence at 338 nm decreasing to 335 nm (indicative of less exposure of the Trp) while that at 330 nm remains constant. Thus the limitation of reactivity to N-bromosuccinimide to pH 4.0 or lower cannot be accounted for by increased exposure of the Trp residues but rather must be explained by a change in the microenvironment of each Trp. As shown by K values above, at pH 2.0 Trp residues are exposed to the solvent, as in the case of treatment with 6 M guanidine hydrochloride. In raising the pH from 8.0 to 12.0 a number of changes occur: (a) the lambda max of emission shifts from 333-334 nm to 343 nm; (b) residue(s) become(s) more available to acrylamide quenching; (c) fluorescence decreases and enzymatic activity increases, both with a midpoint at about 10.6; (d) absorption difference spectra show a maximum at 295 nm typical of Tyr ionization. These data are consistent with conformational change as the pH becomes more alkaline making the Trp residue(s) more exposed to the solvent and/or to non-radiative energy transfer to tyrosinate.     

Determination of methotrexate, several pteridines, and creatinine in human urine, previous oxidation with potassium permanganate, using HPLC with photometric and fluorimetric serial detection

A novel HPLC method, using UV and fluorimetric serial detection, for the simultaneous determination of methotrexate (MTX), five disease marker pteridines, and the reference metabolic subproduct creatinine (CREA) in human urine was established. A previous oxidation process using 10(-3) M KMnO4 (pH 5.0) and 35min of oxidation time was necessary to transform the analytes in the highly fluorescent pteridinic rings. CREA was not affected by the oxidative medium. Using Tris-HCl/NaCl buffer solution (pH 6.6) as mobile phase, MTX and the assayed pteridines were monitored by fluorescence at lambda(em) = 444 nm and lambda(ex) = 280 nm and creatinine was monitored by absorption measurements at lambda(abs) = 230 nm. All components were well resolved in approximately 7 min. Detection limits, according the criteria of Clayton and co-workers, were 10 ng ml(-1) for MTX, less than 1 ng ml(-1) for all of the pteridines, and 4 microg ml(-1) for CREA.     

Reversible denaturation of Aequorea green-fluorescent protein: physical separation and characterization of the renatured protein

The green-fluorescent protein (GFP) that functions as a bioluminescence energy transfer acceptor in the jellyfish Aequorea has been renatured with up to 90% yield following acid, base, or guanidine denaturation. Renaturation, following pH neutralization or simple dilution of guanidine, proceeds with a half-recovery time of less than 5 min as measured by the return of visible fluorescence. Residual unrenatured protein has been quantitatively removed by chromatography on Sephadex G-75. The chromatographed, renatured GFP has corrected fluorescence excitation and emission spectra identical with those of the native protein at pH 7.0 (excitation lambda max = 398 nm; emission lambda max = 508 nm) and also at pH 12.2 (excitation lambda max = 476 nm; emission lambda max = 505 nm). With its peak position red-shifted 78 nm at pH 12.2, the Aequorea GFP excitation spectrum more closely resembles the excitation spectra of Renilla (sea pansy) and Phialidium (hydromedusan) GFPs at neutral pH. Visible absorption spectra of the native and renatured Aequorea green-fluorescent proteins at pH 7.0 are also identical, suggesting that the chromophore binding site has returned to its native state. Small differences in far-UV absorption and circular dichroism spectra, however, indicate that the renatured protein has not fully regained its native secondary structure.     

pH-induced quaternary assembly of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin: The monomer exhibits better peroxidase activity

pH-dependent (pH 6.0–8.0) quaternary structural changes of ferric Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) have been investigated using dynamic light scattering. The VHb exhibits a monomeric state under neutral conditions at pH 7.0, while the protein forms distinct homodimeric species at pH 6.0 and 8.0, respectively. The dissociation constant obtained using the Bio-Layer Interferometry technology indicates that, at pH 7.0, the monomer–monomer dissociation of VHb is about 6-fold or 5-fold higher (K_D = 6.34 μM) compared with that at slightly acidic pH (K_D = 1.05 μM) or slightly alkaline pH (K_D = 1.22 μM). The pH-dependent absorption spectra demonstrate that the heme microenvironment of VHb is sensitive to the changes of pH value. The maximum absorption band of heme group of VHb shifts from 402 nm to 407 nm when pH changes from 6.0 to 8.0. In addition, the fluorescence emission spectra of VHb, taken at excitation wavelength of 295 nm, suggest that the single Trp122 fluorescence quantum yields in VHb are decreased due to the formation of the homodimeric species. However, the circular dichroism spectra data display that the secondary structures of VHb are little affected by pH transitions. The pH-dependent peroxidase activity of VHb was also investigated in this study. The optimum pH for VHb using 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as substrate is 7.0, which implies that the monomer state of VHb would exhibit better peroxidase activity than the homodimeric species of VHb at pH 6.0 and 8.0.     

Phototransduction by vertebrate ultraviolet visual pigments: protonation of the retinylidene Schiff base following photobleaching

The photochemical and subsequent thermal reactions of the mouse short-wavelength visual pigment (MUV) were studied by using cryogenic UV-visible and FTIR difference spectroscopy. Upon illumination at 75 K, MUV forms a batho intermediate (lambda(max) approximately 380 nm). The batho intermediate thermally decays to the lumi intermediate (lambda(max) approximately 440 nm) via a slightly blue-shifted intermediate not observed in other photobleaching pathways, BL (lambda(max) approximately 375 nm), at temperatures greater than 180 K. The lumi intermediate has a significantly red-shifted absorption maximum at 440 nm, suggesting that the retinylidene Schiff base in this intermediate is protonated. The lumi intermediate decays to an even more red-shifted meta I intermediate (lambda(max) approximately 480 nm) which in turn decays to meta II (lambda(max) approximately 380 nm) at 248 K and above. Differential FTIR analysis of the 1100-1500 cm(-1) region reveals an integral absorptivity that is more than 3 times smaller than observed in rhodopsin and VCOP. These results are consistent with an unprotonated Schiff base chromophore. We conclude that the MUV-visual pigment possesses an unprotonated retinylidene Schiff base in the dark state, and undergoes a protonation event during the photobleaching cascade.     

Energy-linked protonation of quinacrine in beef heart submitochondrial membranes.

1. The absorption spectrum of quinacrine in aqueous solution, in the visible region, changes with the pH of the medium in the pH range from 6.0 to 9.0 with an isosbestic point at 353 nm. This indicates that the monoprotonated (quinacrine - H+) and the diprotonated (quinacrine - 2H+) forms of quinacrine at equilibrium in this pH range have a 1 to 1 stoichiometry. 2. The monoprotonated and the dipronated forms to quinacrine exhibit similar fluorescence emission spectra, but distinctive fluorescence excitation spectra. 3. The relative fluorescence quantum yields of quinacrine in aqueous media of various pH values are estimated. The relative fluorescence quantum yield of quinacrine at pH 9.0 is more than 3 fold of that at pH 6.0. 4. The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, as well as the relative fluorescence quantum yield of quinacrine associated with non-energized submitochondrial membranes, are similar to those of quinacrine alone. 5. Analyses of the absorption spectra, the fluorescence excitation spectra and the relative fluorescence quantum yield indicate that the energy-linked fluorescence decrease of quinacrine associated with the energized submitochondrial membranes results from the protonation of quinacrine - H+ to form quinacrine - 2H+. 6. Quantitative data are provided indicating that the maximal efficiency of protonation of quinacrine - H+ to form quinacrine - 2H+ depends on the concentration of H+ in the membranes generated through energy coupling, and the concentration of quinacrine - H+ initially present in the reaction medium. Under optimal conditions virtually complete conversion of quinacrine - H+ into quinacrine - 2H+ is observed. 7. The fluorescence intensity of quinacrine, either alone or associated with non-energized submitochondrial membranes, decreases with increasing temperature. When quinacrine is associated with the energized membranes, however, its fluorescence intensity increases slightly with increasing temperature. This unusual fluorescence behavior towards temperature, together with the fact that under optimal conditions virtually all the quinacrine molecules associated with the energized membranes are in the diprotonated form, further substantiate our earlier conclusion that the diprotonated quinacrine molecules are tightly bound to the energized membranes in a fashion which does not permit ready equilibration with the external medium.     

Glucose dehydrogenase from Bacillus subtilis expressed in Escherichia coli. I: Purification, characterization and comparison with glucose dehydrogenase from Bacillus megaterium

Escherichia coli containing the Bacillus subtilis glucose dehydrogenase gene on a plasmid (prL7) was used to produce the enzyme in high quantities. Gluc-DH-S was purified from the cell extract by (NH4)2SO4-precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography and Triazine-dye chromatography to a specific activity of 375 U/mg. The enzyme was apparently homogenous on SDS-PAGE with a subunit molecular mass of 31.5 kDa. Investigation of Gluc-DH-S was performed for comparison with the corresponding properties of Gluc-DH-M. The limiting Michaelis constant at pH 8.0 for NAD+ is Ka = 0.11 mM and for D-glucose Kb = 8.7 mM. The dissociation constant for NAD+ is Kia = 17.1 mM. Similar to Gluc-DH-M, Gluc-DH-S is inactivated by dissociation under weak alkaline conditions at pH 9.0. Complete reactivation is attained by readjustment to pH 6.5. Ultraviolet absorption, fluorescence and CD-spectra of native Gluc-DH-S, as well as fluorescence- and CD-backbone-spectra of the dissociated enzyme were nearly identical to the corresponding spectra of Gluc-DH-M. The aromatic CD-spectrum of dissociated Gluc-DH-S was different, representing a residual ellipticity of tryptophyl moieties in the 290-310 nm region. Density gradient centrifugation proved that this behaviour is due to the formation of inactive dimers in equilibrium with monomers after dissociation. In comparison to Gluc-DH-M, the kinetics of inactivation as well as the time-dependent change of fluorescence intensity at pH 9.0 of Gluc-DH-S showed a higher velocity and a changed course of the dissociation process.     

Characteristics of the tertiary structure of histone H1 from the calf thymus

By optical methods it has been previously shown that the globular "head" of histone H1 forms a hydrophobic cavity containing Tyr72. The latter is screened from the polar water surrounding and its intramolecular mobility is drastically hindered. As a consequence of the alteration in the micromilieu are a long wave shift (lambda max = 279,5 nm) and a more pronounced longwave absorption spectra, higher anisotropy (A = 0,11), augmented quantum yield of fluorescence (approximately 0,2) and a decrease of the Stern-Volmer constant for Hl at fluorescence quenching by acrylamide. It was found that changes in fluorescence intensity of histones are connected with alterations in the quantum yield of fluorescence at lambda exc = = 265 nm, but not at lambda exc = 280 nm. The changes in fluorescence intensity at light excitation 280 nm (F280) and 265 nm (F265) are in good accordance with shift delta E286 in differential absorption spectra. Introduction of parameter Cf = F280/F265 allows to study shifts of excitation spectra instead of shifts in absorption spectra of histones. This method has certain advantages, since it permits investigations with lower protein concentrations and in turbid solutions. The data obtained allow to draw out Tyr72 of histone Hl into a special class of fluorescent-tyrosyls, that differ in properties from those of other tryptophandevoided proteins: RNAse, insulin and core-histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4.     

Phospholipid-deacylating enzymes of rat stomach mucosa

1. Rat stomach mucosa exhibited three distinguishable phospholipid-deacylating enzyme activities: lysophospholipase, phospholipase A1 and phospholipase A2. 2. The lysophospholipase hydrolyzed 1-palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine to free fatty acid and glycerophosphorylcholine. This enzyme had an optimum pH of 8.0, was heat labile, did not require Ca2+ for maximum activity and was not inhibited by bile salts or buffers of high ionic strength. 3. Phospholipase A2 and phospholipase A1 deacylated dipalmitoyl phophatidylcholine to the corresponding lyso compound and free fatty acid. The specific activity of phospholipase A2 was 2--4-fold higher than that of phospholipase A1 under all the conditions tested. Both activities were enhanced 4--7.5-fold in the presence of bile salts at alkaline pH and 11-18-fold at acidic pH. 4. In the absence of bile salts, phospholipase A1 exhibited pH optima at 6.5 and 9.5 and phospholipase A2 at pH 6.5, 8.0 and 9.5. The pH optima for phospholipase A1 were shifted to pH 3.0, 6.0 and 9.0 in presence of sodium taurocholate; the activity was detected only at a single pH of 9.5 in the presence of sodium deoxycholate and at pH 10.0 in the presence of sodium glycocholate. Phospholipase A2 optimum activity was displayed at pH 3.0, 6.0 and 8.0 in presence of taurocholage, pH 7.5 and 9.0, in presence of glycocholate and only at pH 9.0 in presence of deoxycholate. 5. Ca2+ was essential for optimum activity of phospholipases A1 and A2. But phospholipase A1 lost complete activity in presence of 0.5 mM ethyleneglycolbis-(beta-aminoethylether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) at pH 6.0, whereas phospholipase A2 lost only 50%. 6. Phospholipases A1 and A2 retained about 50% of their activities by heating at 75 degrees for 10 min. At 100 degrees, phospholipase A1 retained 22% of its activity, whereas phospholipase A2 retained only 7%.     

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies on Pseudomonas nitrosyl nitrite reductase. Evidence for multiple species in the electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of nitrosyl haemoproteins.

The e.p.r. spectra of reduced 14NO- and 15NO-bound Pseudomonas nitrite reductase have been investigated at pH 5.8 and 8.0 in four buffer systems. At pH 8.0, absorption spectra indicated that only the haem d1 was NO-bound, but, although quantification of the e.p.r. signals in all cases accounted for NO bound the the haem d1 in both subunits of the enzyme, the precise form of the signals varied with buffer and temperature. A rhombic species, with gx = 2.07, gz = 2.01 and gy = 1.96, represented in the low-temperature spectra seen in all the buffers was converted at high temperatures (approx. 200K) into a form showing a reduced anisotropy. Hyperfine splitting on the gz component of this rhombic signal indicated a nitrogen atom trans to NO and it is proposed that histidine provides the endogenous axial ligand for haem d1. At pH 5.8, absorption spectra indicated NO binding to both haems c and d1 and e.p.r. quantifications accounted for NO-bound haems c and d1 in both enzyme subunits. The e.p.r. spectra at pH 5.8 were generally similar to those at pH 8.0 with respect to g-values and hyperfine coupling constants, but were broader with less well defined hyperfine splittings. As at pH 8, rhombic signals present in spectra at low temperatures were converted to less anisotropic forms at high temperatures. The results are discussed in relation to work on model nitrosyl-protohaem complexes [Yoshimura, Ozaki, Shintani & Watanabe (1979) Arch. Biochem, Biophys. 193, 301-313]. No. e.p.r. signal was observed from oxidized NO-bound Pseudomonas nitrite reductase at pH 6.0, over the temperature range 6-100K.     

Bertalanffy-like fluorescence staining with 3-dimethylamino-6-methoxyacridine

Three new acridine dyes, 3-dimethylamino-6-methoxyacridine 1, 3-amino-6-methoxyacridine 2 and 3-amino-7-methoxyacridine 3, have been prepared and tested as fluorochromes of LM- and HeLa-cells. The dyes are basic compounds (pKA: 1 8,76; 2 8,01; 3 7,65) and form cations in neutral or acidic aqueous solutions by addition of a proton to the aza-nitrogen atom of the heterocycle. The fluorochromes stain fixed LM- and HeLa-cells at pH = 6. The fluorescence shows metachromasy similar to the staining with acridine orange AO according to the technique of Bertalanffy. But there is less fading of the fluorescence. The dye 1 is the most suitable fluorochrome of the series. It was studied in detail. Using optimized staining conditions the fluorescence of the nucleus is yellow-green that of the cytoplasm and the nucleoli orange or brownish-red. Enzymatic digestion experiments show that the dye cations are bound to DNA in the nucleus and to RNA in the cytoplasm or nucleoli. The absorption and emission spectra of the stained cells have been studied by means of microspectrophotometry. The absorption spectra of the nucleus and the cytoplasm are very similar. The maximum of the long wave length absorption of both occurs at 21400 cm-1 (467 nm) with a shoulder at ca 20100 cm-1 (498 nm). The fluorescence spectra of nucleus and cytoplasm of metachromatically stained cells are different. The emission maximum of the cytoplasm and nucleoli, 16200 cm-1 (617 nm), is red-shifted relative to the maximum of the nucleus, 18200 cm-1 (549 nm). This shift causes the metachromatic fluorescence effect. In addition we studied the concentration dependence of the absorption and fluorescence spectra of the cation 1 in aqueous solution, pH = 6, in the concentration range 6 X 10(-6)-6 X 10(-4) M. Shape and maximum of the long wave length absorption and emission depend only slightly on the concentration: Mean value of absorption maximum ca 21500 cm-1 (465 nm), shoulder at ca 20300 cm-1 (493 nm), fluorescence maximum ca 18300 cm-1 (547 nm). With growing concentration diminishes the molar absorptivity. This decrease in absorptivity and isosbestic points in the absorption spectra indicate the formation of dimers with growing dye concentration. The absorption spectra of the metachromatically stained cells and of the dye in aqueous solution are very similar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Ionic strength and pH effect on the Fe(III)-imidazolate bond in the heme pocket of horseradish peroxidase: an EPR and UV-visible combined approach

The effects of chloride, dihydrogenphosphate and ionic strength on the spectroscopic properties of horseradish peroxidase in aqueous solution at pH=3.0 were investigated. A red-shift (lambda=408 nm) of the Soret band was observed in the presence of 40 mM chloride; 500 mM dihydrogenphosphate or chloride brought about a blue shift of the same band (lambda=370 nm). The EPR spectrum of the native enzyme at pH 3.0 was characterized by the presence of two additional absorption bands in the region around g=6, with respect to pH 6.5. Chloride addition resulted in the loss of these features and in a lower rhombicity of the signal. A unique EPR band at g=6.0 was obtained as a result of the interaction between HRP and dihydrogenphosphate, both in the absence and presence of 40 mM Cl-. We suggest that a synergistic effect of low pH, Cl- and ionic strength is responsible for dramatic modifications of the enzyme conformation consistent with the Fe(II)-His170 bond cleavage. Dihydrogenphosphate as well as high chloride concentrations are shown to display an unspecific effect, related to ionic strength. A mechanistic explanation for the acid transition of HRP, previously observed by Smulevich et al. [Biochemistry 36 (1997) 640] and interpreted as a pure pH effect, is proposed.     

Differences between the electric fields of the catalytic sites of papain and actinidin detected by using the thiol-located nitrobenzofurazan label as a spectroscopic reporter group.

The catalytic-site thiol groups of papain (EC 3.4.22.2) and actinidin (EC 3.4.22.14) were each labelled with the nitrobenzofurazan (Nbf) chromophore by reaction with 4-chloro-7-nitrobenzofurazan at pH 4.4. The electronic-absorption spectra of both labelled enzymes were determined in aqueous solution, in the pH ranges approx. 2-5 for S-Nbf-papain and approx. 3.3-8 for S-Nbf-actinidin, and for the latter also in 6 M-guanidinium chloride. The spectrum of S-Nbf-papain is characterized by lambda max. = 402 nm at pH 5 and by lambda max. = 422 nm at pH 2.18. The pH-dependent shift in lambda max. accompanies a pH-dependent change in A 430, the nature of which is consistent with its dependence on a single ionizing group with pKa 3.7. The spectrum of S-Nbf-actinidin is pH-independent in the pH range approx. 3.3-8 and is characterized by lambda max. = 413 nm. This absorption maximum shifts to 425 nm in 6M-guanidinium chloride. These results are discussed and related to those reported previously from studies on papain and actinidin with various reactivity probes. Despite the close similarity in the catalytic sites of papain and actinidin deduced from X-ray-diffraction studies, the considerable differences in their reactivity characteristics are mirrored by differences in their electric fields detected by the Nbf spectroscopic label. The microenvironment in the catalytic site of actinidin appears to favour the existence of ions significantly more than in the corresponding region in papain.     

Fluorescence studies of the interaction of DNA with Hoechst 33258

Absorption and fluorescence measurements of DNA-Hoechst 33258 complexes at high molar ratio of DNA phosphate to dye are consistent with the existence of two types of bound species. One type (Type I) predominates at high ionic strength, whereas the other (Type II) occurs at low ionic strength. The fluorescence peak (lambda fmax) depends on the excitation wavelength (lambda ex); lambda fmax shifts toward longer wavelength with increasing lambda ex. Optical properties obtained are summarized in the following: for Type I, lambda amax (absorption) = 352 nm, lambda fmax at lambda ex of 335 nm = 460 nm, tau (fluorescence lifetime) = 2.0-2.5 ns; for Type II, lambda amax = 360 nm, lambda fmax at lambda ex of 335 nm = 470 nm, tau = 4.0-5.0 ns. This behavior is interpreted in terms of solvent-solute relaxation. Type I corresponds to less hydrated bound species, while Type II to more hydrated bound species.     

A crystallographic study of bright far-red fluorescent protein mKate reveals pH-induced cis-trans isomerization of the chromophore

The far-red fluorescent protein mKate (lambda(ex), 588 nm; lambda(em), 635 nm; chromophore-forming triad Met(63)-Tyr(64)-Gly(65)), originating from wild-type red fluorescent progenitor eqFP578 (sea anemone Entacmaea quadricolor), is monomeric and characterized by the pronounced pH dependence of fluorescence, relatively high brightness, and high photostability. The protein has been crystallized at a pH ranging from 2 to 9 in three space groups, and four structures have been determined by x-ray crystallography at the resolution of 1.75-2.6 A. The pH-dependent fluorescence of mKate has been shown to be due to reversible cis-trans isomerization of the chromophore phenolic ring. In the non-fluorescent state at pH 2.0, the chromophore of mKate is in the trans-isomeric form. The weakly fluorescent state of the protein at pH 4.2 is characterized by a mixture of trans and cis isomers. The chromophore in a highly fluorescent state at pH 7.0/9.0 adopts the cis form. Three key residues, Ser(143), Leu(174), and Arg(197) residing in the vicinity of the chromophore, have been identified as being primarily responsible for the far-red shift in the spectra. A group of residues consisting of Val(93), Arg(122), Glu(155), Arg(157), Asp(159), His(169), Ile(171), Asn(173), Val(192), Tyr(194), and Val(216), are most likely responsible for the observed monomeric state of the protein in solution.     

Photoreactivation of superoxide dismutase by intensive red (laser) light

The effects of helium-neon laser (HNL) on activity, absorption spectra, and ESR signals of superoxide dismutase (SOD; E Cul. 15.1.1) from bovine erythrocytes in acid medium were investigated. It was found that incubation during 2 hours at pH 5.9 led to inactivation of the enzyme. The subsequent illumination of SOD by HNL brought about the enzyme reactivation. Both absorption and ESR spectra were changed after incubation at pH 5.9 and restored after laser irradiation. In a model system, copper-histidine complex, absorption maximum was shifted from 632–633 nm at pH 5.8 to 639–640 nm at pH 8.5–9.0. The similar shift of the maximum was observed after illumination by HNL at pH 5.8. It may be postulated that the photoreactivation of SOD consists essentially in deprotonation of His-61 residue in the enzyme active site and subsequent recovery of imidasol bridge between copper and zinc which had been destroyed at low pH.

Since many other enzymes possess similar histidine-copper structures in their active sites, one may expect diverse effects of red (laser) light on the enzyme activity. Heme-containing enzyme, catalase was also found to be photoreactivated by HNL after inactivation at pH 6.0.     

Spectroscopic discrimination of the three rhodopsinlike pigments in Halobacterium halobium membranes.

Membranes of Halobacterium halobium contain two photochemically reactive retinal pigments in addition to the proton pump bacteriorhodopsin. One, halorhodopsin, is also an electrogenic ion pump with a fast (on a scale of milliseconds) photoreaction cycle. The other, s-rhodopsin, is active in the same spectral region, but has a much slower photoreaction cycle (on a scale of seconds). S-rhodopsin is not an electrogenic ion pump and its properties suggest it functions as the receptor pigment for phototaxis. All three pigments have very similar absorption spectra. The recent isolation of mutants deficient in both bacteriorhodopsin and halorhodopsin and in retinal synthesis has allowed us to resolve the absorption spectra of s-rhodopsin and halorhodopsin. At neutral pH s-rhodopsin has an absorption maximum at 587 +/- 2 nm and halorhodopsin at 578 +/- 2 nm. At pH 10.8, lambda max for s-rhodopsin is shifted to 552 nm and extinction decreases slightly (15%) while halorhodopsin loses all extinction above 500 nm. Both effects are fully reversible and allow determination of the amounts of s-rhodopsin and halorhodopsin in membrane preparations containing both pigments. Both pigments were present in earlier studies of H. halobium membranes, and in view of these findings, several observations must be reinterpreted.     

Analysis of the acid and alkaline dissociation of earthworm hemoglobin, Lumbricus terrestris, by front-face fluorescence spectroscopy

The steady-state fluorescence properties of the multisubunit hemoglobin isolated from the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris, were studied by front-face fluorometry. Acid and alkaline dissociation of this high-molecular-weight hemoglobin were examined over the pH range 3.7-12.5 using different liganded states (oxy, CO, met). The relative intensity of the emission maximum at 320 nm (exc. 280 nm) is ligand-dependent increasing as follows: oxy less than deoxy less than CO less than met at pH 7.0. The intensity of the emission maximum of oxyhemoglobin at the alkaline acid end point, pH 10.5 (333 nm), is significantly greater than that observed at the acid end point, pH 4.18 (320 nm), suggesting different subunit dissociation. The spectra of oxyhemoglobin at pH 4.18 and the spectrum of carbonmonoxy hemoglobin at pH 7.0 in the presence of 1 M magnesium chloride were almost identical, indicating similar subunit dissociation. Difference spectrum (pH 9.0-7.2) of fluorescence emission (exc. 305) resulted in a maximum at 341 nm, indicative of tyrosinate formation. This suggests that tyrosine(s) may also be located at the subunit interface(s) of this hemoglobin. These studies indicate that several aromatic amino acid residues are associated with the critical sites of subunit interactions within this molecule. Analysis of the fluorescence spectra also suggests that the formation of different subunit species resulting from acid and alkaline dissociation cannot be ruled out.