Tetranitromethane modification of photosystem 2

Inhibition of photosystem 2 by the peptide-modification reagent, tetranitromethane, has been investigated with spinach digitonin particles. In the presence of tetranitromethane, (1) the initial fluoresence yield is suppressed with a concomitant elimination of the variable component of fluorescence; (2) the optical absorption transient at 820 nm, attributed to P680⁺, is greatly attenuated; (3) diphenylcarbazide-supported photoreduction of dichlorophenol indophenol is abolished; and (4) electron spin resonance Signal 2f and Signal 2s are eliminated. These results are consistent with multiple sites of modification in photosystem 2 by tetranitromethane, and suggest further that this reagent can inhibit charge stabilization in the reaction center.Abbreviations D₁ electron donor to P680⁺ in oxygen-inhibited photosystem 2 preparations - DPIP 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol - esr electron spin resonance - F_i initial chlorophyll a fluorescence yield - F_max maximum chlorophyll a fluorescence yield - F_v variable chlorophyll a fluorescence yield - FWHM full width at half maximum - Mes 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - P680 primary electron donor chlorophyll of photosystem 2 - Ph pheophytin - PS 2-photosystem 2 - Q_a primary quinone electron acceptor - Q_b secondary quinone acceptor - Tricine N-[2-hydroxy-1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl]glycine - TNM tetranitromethane     

Melting studies on spin-labeled polyadenylic–polyuridylic complexes

Temperature-dependent conformational transitions of spin-labeled poly rA, spin-labeled poly rU and the two-stranded helical complexes consisting either of spin-labeled rA·poly rU or spin-labeled poly rU·poly rA have been measured by electron spin resonance spectrocopy. The polynucleotides were spin labeled with 4-(2-iodoacetamido)2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinooxyl and the spin label to nucleotide base ratio was approximately 1:600. The relationship between the log of tumbling time τ and the reciprocal absolute temperature for the spin-labeled single and double-stranded polynucleotides is presented. An agreement between T_m^OD (optical density melting) and T_m^sp (spin melting) is found for the complexes, which strongly supports the conclusion that the same temperature-dependent structural changes are monitored with both techniques.     

Formation of artifactual DMPO-OH spin adduct in acid solutions containing nitrite ions

We investigated aqueous solutions containing nitrite ions and DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide) by electron spin resonance (ESR) in the pH range from 1 to 6. A DMPO-OH signal was observed below pH 3.0 in the presence of nitrite ions, whereas in the absence of nitrite ion, an extremely weak signal was observed below pH 1.5. Addition of methanol, a hydroxyl radical scavenger, to this system did not lead to the appearance of a detectable DMPO-CH₂OH signal. The possibility of this DMPO-OH signal being due to a genuine spin trapping process with hydroxyl radical was, therefore, ruled out. The reactivities of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in this system with DMPO have also been investigated by density functional theory (DFT) at the IEFPCM (water)/B3LYP/6–311?+?G ** level of theory. On the basis of the pH dependence of the signal intensity and the redox potential E° (versus SHE) calculated by DFT theory, we propose that the origin of this signal is “inverted spin trapping” via one-electron oxidation of DMPO by H₂ONO⁺, followed by the nucleophilic addition of water. Prevention of these false-positive results when detecting hydroxyl radical using ESR spin trapping requires an awareness of both the presence of nitrite ions in the solution and the solution pH.     

Quantum Entanglement and Spin Control in Silicon Nanocrystal

Selective coherence control and electrically mediated exchange coupling of single electron spin between triplet and singlet states using numerically derived optimal control of proton pulses is demonstrated. We obtained spatial confinement below size of the Bohr radius for proton spin chain FWHM. Precise manipulation of individual spins and polarization of electron spin states are analyzed via proton induced emission and controlled population of energy shells in pure ²⁹Si nanocrystal. Entangled quantum states of channeled proton trajectories are mapped in transverse and angular phase space of ²⁹Si axial channel alignment in order to avoid transversal excitations. Proton density and proton energy as impact parameter functions are characterized in single particle density matrix via discretization of diagonal and nearest off-diagonal elements. We combined high field and low densities (1 MeV/92 nm) to create inseparable quantum state by superimposing the hyperpolarizationed proton spin chain with electron spin of ²⁹Si. Quantum discretization of density of states (DOS) was performed by the Monte Carlo simulation method using numerical solutions of proton equations of motion. Distribution of gaussian coherent states is obtained by continuous modulation of individual spin phase and amplitude. Obtained results allow precise engineering and faithful mapping of spin states. This would provide the effective quantum key distribution (QKD) and transmission of quantum information over remote distances between quantum memory centers for scalable quantum communication network. Furthermore, obtained results give insights in application of channeled protons subatomic microscopy as a complete versatile scanning-probe system capable of both quantum engineering of charged particle states and characterization of quantum states below diffraction limit linear and in-depth resolution.PACS numbers: 03.65.Ud, 03.67.Bg, 61.85.+p, 67.30.hj     

北京山区侧柏林冠层-大气蒸腾导度模拟及环境因子响应

蒸腾导度模型是衡量冠层-大气界面水汽输出的重要阻力模型,研究其特征及对环境因子的响应,为揭示森林冠层-大气界面水汽输出阻力机制提供理论依据。以首都圈森林生态系统定位观测研究站侧柏林为研究对象,采用TDP热探针法测定侧柏林树干液流密度,同步监测光合有效辐射、饱和水汽压差、气温、风速等主要环境因子,分析冠层导度和空气动力学导度的动态变化,构建冠层-大气蒸腾导度模型并模拟,明确冠层-大气蒸腾导度对各环境因子的响应关系。结果表明:蒸腾导度季节变化表现为非生长季与冠层导度趋势一致,生长季与空气动力学导度趋势一致,全年均为单峰趋势。冬季蒸腾导度与冠层导度保持较稳定差值(45 mol m^(-2 )s^-1左右),其他季节蒸腾导度与冠层导度、空气动力学导度的最大差值,均在各季节冠层导度、空气动力学导度的峰值水平。全年日均蒸腾导度冬季最大(86.92 mol m^(-2 )s^-1),其他季节较小且稳定(40—50 mol m^(-2 )s^-1之间)。在非生长季各环境因子对蒸腾导度的影响与对冠层导度的影响基本一致,温度为主要影响因子(r=-0.198),其他环境因子影响较小(r<0.1);在生长季中风速为主要影响因子(r=0.488),光合有效辐射(r=0.228)和饱和水汽压差(r=-0.299)的影响明显升高,温度的影响降低(r=0.114)。蒸腾导度模型较好的模拟了冠层-大气界面侧柏蒸腾不同季节的变化规律,阐明了各环境因子和冠层导度、空气动力学导度对蒸腾导度的影响机制,证实在生长季应重视空气动力学导度对蒸腾的影响。     

Evidence for an anisotropic magnetic interaction between the (bacteriopheophytin) intermediary acceptor and the first quinone acceptor in bacterial photosynthesis

We have investigated electron spin polarization effects occurring in protonated and perdeuterated reaction centers of Rhodospirillum rubrum with electron spin resonance at 9 and 35 GHz (X- and Q-band). As for Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides strains 2.4.1 and R-26 (Gast, P. and Hoff, A.J. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 548, 520–535; Gast, P., Mushlin, R.A. and Hoff, A.J. (1982) J. Phys. Chem. 86, 2886–2891), electron spin polarization effects of the prereduced first quinone acceptor Q^?_A in R. rubrum are strongly nonuniform. This nonuniformity is due to an anisotropic magnetic coupling between the intermediary bacteriopheophytin acceptor (I^?) and Q^?_A. It is argued that the anisotropy is too strong to arise solely from an anisotropy in the exchange interaction between I^? and Q^?_A and that dipolar contributions to the magnetic coupling between I^? and Q^?_A are important. The anisotropy in the magnetic coupling for reaction centers of Rps. sphaeroides strains 2.4.1 and R-26 is different from that of R. rubrum wild type. The combination of the 4-fold higher resolution at Q-band and the line narrowing upon deuteration has enabled us to obtain the principal g values and two hyperfine interaction constants of the reduced first quinone acceptor Q^?_A. The principal g values are g_x = 2.0067, g_y = 2.0056 and g_z = 2.0024; the hyperfine constant of the CH₂ group at position 1 is 1.6 G and that of the CH₃ group at position 2 is 2.1 G. These values are close to those found for ubisemiquinone in vitro (Okamura, M.Y., Debus, R.J., Isaacson, R.A. and Feher, G. (1980) Fed. Proc. 39, 1802; Hales, B.J. (1975) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 97, 5993–5997).     

Chronic ethanol feeding causes oxidative stress in rat liver mitochondria. Prevention by S-adenosyl methionine

Oxygen utilisation during tyrosinase-catalysed oxidation of 4-hydroxyanisole was investigated using an electron spin resonance technique which employs quantitative changes in the characteristics of the electron spin resonance spectrum of the spin label 3-carbamoyl-2,5-dihydro-2,2,5–5-tetramethyl-1-H-pyridoyl-1-yloxy (CTPO) to follow changes in the oxygen concentration. Reaction mixtures containing mushroom tyrosinase (15 μg ml^?1) and differing initial concentrations of 4-hydroxyanisole in aerated phosphate buffer at pH 6.8 were incubated at room temperature. The ratio of utilisation of oxygen was found to be in approximately 1:1 molar ratio with the initial 4-hydroxyanisole concentration in the reaction mixture between 50 and 200 μmol/1 4-hydroxyanisole. The results are consistent with the stoichiometry of oxygen utilisation being accounted for by the oxidation of 4-hydroxyanisole to anisyl quinone.     

Effects of Ca2+ and Temperature on K+ Content Distribution along Roots of Wheat, Rice and Cucumber

The effects of Ca²⁺ and temperature on the K⁺ contents of root segments of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Aurora), rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Dunghan Shali) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Csemege Fürtös) were investigated with special regard to the low-temperature anomaly of the K⁺ uptake of thermophilic plants. The anomaly occurred in those root segments where the K⁺ contents turned out to be highest. The K⁺ contents of the apical root sections of thermophilic species responded in general to Ca²⁺ in more pronounced ways than those of wheat, at both 0 and 25°C. The concerted actions of a purely physical process with negative temperature coefficient and of the special thermotropic properties of the membranes are suggested to be responsible for the low-temperature anomaly. A strict discrimination between the Viets-effect on the content (classical Viets-effect) and on the uptake is proposed. The classical Viets-effect seems to be related to alterations in both active transport and exchange processes.     

The cardiac ryanodine receptor: Looking for anomalies in permeation properties

Anomalies in the permeation properties of the cardiac RyR channel reconstituted into bilayer lipid membranes were investigated systematically. We tested the presence of the anomalous mole fraction effect (AMFE) for the ion conductance and the reversal potential with varying mole fractions of two permeant ions, while the total ion concentration was lower, as in previous studies, to avoid the masking effect of the channel pore saturation with ions. Mixtures of Ba²⁺ with other divalents (Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺), of Ca²⁺ with monovalents (Li⁺, Cs⁺), and of Na⁺ with other monovalents (Cs⁺, Li⁺) were used. We revealed a clear anomaly only for the ion conductance measured in the Na⁺-Cs⁺ and Ca²⁺-Li⁺ mixtures as computed by a Poisson-Nernst-Planck/density functional theory (PNP/DFT) model. Furthermore, we found a significant minimum in the concentration dependence of the reversal potential determined under Li⁺/Ca²⁺ bi-ionic conditions. Our study led to new observations that may have important implications for understanding the mechanisms involved in ion handling in the RyR channel pore; furthermore our results could be useful for further validation of ion permeation models developed for the RyR channel.     

Weak coordination among petiole,leaf, vein,and gas‐exchange traits across Australian angiosperm species and its possible implications

Close coordination between leaf gas exchange and maximal hydraulic supply has been reported across diverse plant life forms. However, it has also been suggested that this relationship may become weak or break down completely within the angiosperms. We examined coordination between hydraulic, leaf vein, and gas‐exchange traits across a diverse group of 35 evergreen Australian angiosperms, spanning a large range in leaf structure and habitat. Leaf‐specific conductance was calculated from petiole vessel anatomy and was also measured directly using the rehydration technique. Leaf vein density (thought to be a determinant of gas exchange rate), maximal stomatal conductance, and net CO₂ assimilation rate were also measured for most species (n = 19–35). Vein density was not correlated with leaf‐specific conductance (either calculated or measured), stomatal conductance, nor maximal net CO₂ assimilation, with r² values ranging from 0.00 to 0.11, P values from 0.909 to 0.102, and n values from 19 to 35 in all cases. Leaf‐specific conductance calculated from petiole anatomy was weakly correlated with maximal stomatal conductance (r² = 0.16; P = 0.022; n = 32), whereas the direct measurement of leaf‐specific conductance was weakly correlated with net maximal CO₂ assimilation (r² = 0.21; P = 0.005; n = 35). Calculated leaf‐specific conductance, xylem ultrastructure, and leaf vein density do not appear to be reliable proxy traits for assessing differences in rates of gas exchange or growth across diverse sets of evergreen angiosperms.     

A rapid high-yield isolation method for nuclear envelope ghosts

A method is presented for the isolation of nuclear envelopes from isolated Tetrahymena macronuclei. In principle, nuclei are treated with DNase and RNase at low Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ concentration followed by an extraction with 1 NaCl. The major advantages of this method are: (1) Unfragmented nuclear envelopes are obtained in the form of ghosts consisting of two juxtaposing nuclear membranes interrupted by pores as revealed by thin-section and freeze-etch electron microscopy. (2) The ghosts are obtained in high yield (60%) within a short period (1 h). (3) The nuclear envelopes largely retain their lipid composition. An average ghost contains about 96% of total phospholipids of an average nucleus. Nuclei and ghosts reveal an almost identical pattern of phospholipids and fatty acids as shown by thin-layer and gas-chromatography. (4) The lipids in the ghosts largely remain arranged in bilayers as probed by electron spin resonance using 5-doxylstearic acid as a spin label.     

Calcium effects on electrogenic pump and passive permeability of the plasma membrane ofChara corallina

Summary Removal of Ca²⁺ from the medium results in depolarization of theChara internodal cell and an increase in membrane conductance (G _m). The increase in conductance is associated with an increase in K⁺ conductance, as judged by Ca²⁺ effects on the K⁺ dependence of clamp current. The voltage dependence ofG _m is also affected by Ca²⁺, as is the time course of the response of clamp current to a step change in voltage. Mg²⁺ restores the low conductance and the fast response to a voltage change, but not hyperpolarization at neutral pH, suggesting that there is an additional, independent effect on the electrogenic pump. The membrane does not show the normal ability to increase proton conductance at high pH in the absence of Ca²⁺; this is also restored by Mg²⁺ as well as by Ca²⁺.     

Comparison of the electron spin polarized spectrum found in plant photosystem I and in iron-depleted bacterial reaction centers with time-resolved K-band EPR; evidence that the photosystem I acceptor A1 is a quinone

The suggestion that the electron acceptor A₁ in plant photosystem I (PSI) is a quinone molecule is tested by comparisons with the bacterial photosystem. The electron spin polarized (ESP) EPR signal due to the oxidized donor and reduced quinone acceptor (P ₈₇₀ ⁺ Q^-) in iron-depleted bacterial reaction centers has similar spectral characteristics as the ESP EPR signal in PSI which is believed to be due to P ₇₀₀ ⁺ A ₁ ^- , the oxidized PSI donor and reduced A₁. This is also true for better resolved spectra obtained at K-band (24 GHz). These same spectral characteristics can be simulated using a powder spectrum based on the known g-anisotropy of reduced quinones and with the same parameter set for Q^- and A₁ ^-. The best resolution of the ESP EPR signal has been obtained for deuterated PSI particles at K-band. Simulation of the A₁ ^- contribution based on g-anisotropy yields the same parameters as for bacterial Q^- (except for an overall shift in the anisotropic g-factors, which have previously been determined for Q^-). These results provide evidence that A₁ is a quinone molecule. The electron spin polarized signal of P₇₀₀ ⁺ is part of the better resolved spectrum from the deuterated PSI particles. The nature of the P₇₀₀ ⁺ ESP is not clear; however, it appears that it does not exhibit the polarization pattern required by mechanisms which have been used so far to explain the ESP in PSI.Abbreviations hf hyperfine - A₀ A₀ acceptor of photosystem I - A₁ A₁ acceptor of photosystem I - Brij-58 polyoxyethylene 20 cetyl ether - CP1 photosystem I particles which lack ferridoxin acceptors - ESP electron spin polarized - EPR electron paramagnetic resonance - I intermediary electron acceptor, bacteriopheophytin - LDAO lauryldimethylamine - N-oxide, P₇₀₀ primary electron donor of photosystem I - PSI photosystem I - P₇₀₀ ^T triplet state of primary donor of photosystem I - P₈₇₀ primary donor in R. sphaeroides reaction center - Q quinore-acceptor in photosynthetic bacteria - RC reaction center     

Steric hindrance effect of the equatorial ligand on Fe(IV)O and Ru(IV)O complexes: a density functional study

The geometric structures and mechanisms for hydrogen abstraction from cyclohexane for four high-valent complexes, [Fe^IV(O)(TMC)(NCMe)]²⁺ (where TMC is 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane; 1-NCMe), the inverted isomer [Fe^IV(NCMe)(TMC)(O)]²⁺ (2-NCMe), [Ru^IV(O)(TMC)(NCMe)]²⁺ (the ruthenium analogue of 1-NCMe; 3-NCMe), and the inverted isomer [Ru^IV(NCMe)(TMC)(O)]²⁺ (4-NCMe), were investigated using density functional theory. The axial NCMe ligand was found to be sterically more hindered in 2-NCMe than in 1-NCMe, which is in accord with the calculated results that the Fe–L_axial distance is longer in the former. Both 1-NCMe and 2-NCMe are capable of hydrogen abstraction from cyclohexane via two-state reactivity patterns. In contrast, 3-NCMe and 4-NCMe react with cyclohexane by a single-state mechanism. The reaction pathways computed reveal that 2-NCMe is more reactive than 1-NCMe, in agreement with experimental results, whereas the reactivity of 3-NCMe and 4-NCMe shows little dependence on whether the oxo unit is syn or anti to the four N-methyl groups. Our analysis shows that along the reaction pathway for 2-NCMe in the triplet spin state, the NCMe ligand moves away from the iron center, and therefore the energy of the s_z^{* 2} \sigma_{z}^{* 2} (α-spin) orbital decreases and an electron is transferred to this orbital. Finally, we calculated the kinetic isotope effect and investigated the relationship between this effect and reaction barriers.     

Proton Inhibition of Sodium Channels: Mechanism of Gating Shifts and Reduced Conductance

Extracellular acidosis affects both permeation and gating of the expressed rat skeletal muscle Na⁺ channel (μ1). Reduction of the extracellular pH produced a progressive decrease in the maximal whole-cell conductance and a depolarizing shift in the whole-cell current-voltage relationship. A smaller depolarizing shift in the steady-state inactivation curve was observed. The pK of the reduction of maximal conductance was 6.1 over the pH range studied. An upper limit estimate of the pK of the shift of the half-activation voltage was 6.1. The relative reduction in the maximal whole-cell conductance did not change with higher [Na⁺] _o . The conductance of single fenvalerate-modified Na⁺ channels was reduced by extracellular protons. Although the single-channel conductance increased with higher [Na⁺] _o , the maximal conductances at pH 7.6, 7.0 and 6.0 did not converge at [Na⁺] _o up to 280 mm, inconsistent with a simple electrostatic effect. A model incorporating both Na⁺ and H⁺ binding in the pore and cation binding to a Gouy-Chapman surface charge provided a robust fit to the single-channel conductance data with an estimated surface charge density of 1e⁻/439?². Neither surface charge nor proton block alone suffices to explain the effects of extracellular acidosis on Na⁺ channel permeation; both effects play major roles in mediating the response to extracellular pH. Received: 14 May 1996/Revised: 19 September 1996     

Proton and phosphorus-31 magnetic relaxation studies on the interaction of polyriboadenylic acid with Mn2+

Proton and phosphorus-31 nuclear spin–lattice relaxation times T₁ and spin–spin relaxation times T₂ have been measured on the single-stranded polyriboadenylic acid [poly(A)]–Mn²⁺ system in a neutral D₂O solution in the temperature range 10°–90°C at 100 and 40.5 MHz, respectively, with the Fourier transform nmr method. Minimum values of T₁ have been found for all these nuclei, which have enabled the exact estimation of apparent distances from Mn²⁺ to H₂, H₈, H_1′, and the phosphorus nucleus to be 4.7, 4.1, 5.2, and 3.0 Å, respectively. The electron spin of Mn²⁺ penetrates into the phosphorus nucleus, giving ³¹P hyperfine coupling of more than 10⁶ Hz. Evidence of penetration of the electron spin into H₈ and H₂ is also obtained, suggesting direct coordination of nitrogen atoms of the adenine ring to the Mn²⁺ Ion. Combined with the result from proton relaxation enhancement of water, it is concluded that every Mn²⁺ ion added is bound directly to two phosphate groups with a Mn²⁺–phosphorus distance of 3.3 Å, while a part of the Mn²⁺ ions are simultaneouly bound to the adenine ring. It is estimated that 39 ± 13% and 13 ± 5% of Mn²⁺ are coordinated by N₇ and N₃ (or N₁), respectively. The motional freedom of poly(A) in the environment of the Mn²⁺ binding site has been found to be quenched to the extent that the rotational motion becomes several times slower than that of the corresponding Mn²⁺–free poly(A). The activation energies for the molecular motion are, however, practically unchanged from those for Mn²⁺–free poly(A), and are found to be 8.3, 8.5, 6.1, and 8.7 kcal/mol for H₈, H₂, H_1′, and phosphorus, respectively. T₂ of phosphorus is determined by the dissociation rate (k_?1) of Mn²⁺ from the phosphate group for the whole temperature range studied with activation enthalpy of 6.5 kcal/mol. The dissociation rates of Mn²⁺ from the adenine ring are also estimated from proton T₂ values below 50°C.     

Carbon assimilation, 𝛅13C and water relations of Elaeagnus angustifolia grown at two groundwater depths in the Minqin desert,China

Abstract

We investigated the physiological responses of Elaeagnus angustifolia to variation in groundwater depth. Elaeagnus angustifolia seedlings were grown in the Minqin desert in lysimeters supplied with underground water at the soil depth of 1.40 m and 3.40 m. Results showed that constant access to groundwater allowed plants supplied with water at the lower soil layer to meet their water requirement and, consequently, they were not affected by water stress. There were no differences in A _max (the net CO₂ assimilation rate under conditions of photosynthetically photon flux density and CO₂ saturation), J _max (maximum rate of electron transport) and stomatal conductance between the two underground water treatments. However, plants with deeper groundwater had a significantly higher V _cmax (i.e. a higher carboxylation efficiency of Rubisco) and mesophyll conductance resulting in increased photosynthesis measured at the CO₂ growth condition (A) and, consequently higher intrinsic water-use efficiency (WUE). However, respiration was also increased in plants grown with deeper groundwater. This may have offset the increased A and led to a similar long-term WUE, as expressed by carbon isotope discrimination (δ¹³C), between the two ground water treatments. In the present study, we also found a high foliage nitrogen concentration in the E. angustifolia plants (3.75% on average), that may be very significant ecologically in improving soil properties. The physiological traits of E. angustifolia found in this study confirm that the use of perennial phreatophytic, nitrogen fixing species has significant potential to positively impact soil fertility and carbon sequestration under environmental conditions found in the Minqin desert.     

Pulse ENDOR and density functional theory on the peridinin triplet state involved in the photo-protective mechanism in the peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein from Amphidinium carterae

The photoexcited triplet state of the carotenoid peridinin in the Peridinin-chlorophyll a-protein of the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae has been investigated by pulse EPR and pulse ENDOR spectroscopies at variable temperatures. This is the first time that the ENDOR spectra of a carotenoid triplet in a naturally occurring light-harvesting complex, populated by energy transfer from the chlorophyll a triplet state, have been reported. From the electron spin echo experiments we have obtained the information on the electron spin polarization dynamics and from Mims ENDOR experiments we have derived the triplet state hyperfine couplings of the α- and β-protons of the peridinin conjugated chain. Assignments of β-protons belonging to two different methyl groups, with a_iso = 7.0 MHz and a_iso = 10.6 MHz respectively, have been made by comparison with the values predicted from density functional theory. Calculations provide a complete picture of the triplet spin density on the peridinin molecule, showing that the triplet spins are delocalized over the whole π-conjugated system with an alternate pattern, which is lost in the central region of the polyene chain. The ENDOR investigation strongly supports the hypothesis of localization of the triplet state on one peridinin in each subcluster of the PCP complex, as proposed in [Di Valentin et al. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1777 (2008) 186-195]. High spin density has been found specifically at the carbon atom at position 12 (see Fig. 1B), which for the peridinin involved in the photo-protective mechanism is in close contact with the water ligand to the chlorophyll a pigment. We suggest that this ligated water molecule, placed at the interface between the chlorophyll-peridinin pair, is functioning as a bridge in the triplet-triplet energy transfer between the two pigments.     

The Horseradish Peroxidase Catalysed Oxidation of Deoxyribose Sugars

The ability of horseradish peroxidase (E.C. 1.11.1.7. Donor: H₂O₂ oxidoreductase) to catalytically oxidize 2-deoxyribose sugars to a free radical species was investigated. The ESR spin-trapping technique was used to denionstrate that free radical species were formed. Results with the spin trap 3.5-dibronio-4-nitrosoben-zene sulphonic acid showed that horseradish peroxidase can catalyse the oxidation of 2-deoxyribose to produce an ESR spectrum characteristic of a nitroxide radical spectrum. This spectrum was shown to be a composite of spin adducts resulting from two carbon-centered species, one spin adduct being characterized by the hyperfine coupling constants a^N = 13.6Ganda^H_β = 11.0G, and the other by a^N = 13.4G and a^H = 5.8 G. When 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate was used as the substrate, the spectrum produced was found to be primarily one species characterized by the hyperfine coupling constants a^N = 13.4G and a^H= 5.2. All the radical species produced were carbon-centered spin adducts with a β hydrogen, suggesting that oxidation occurred at the C(2) or C(5) moiety of the sugar. Interestingly, it was found that under the same experimental conditions, horseradish peroxidase apparently did not catalyze the oxidation of either 3-deoxyribose or D-ribose to a free radical since no spin adducts were found in these cases.

It can be readily seen that 2-deoxyribose and 2-deoxyribose-5-phosphate can be oxidized by HRP/H₂O₂ to form a free radical species that can be detected with the ESR spin-trapping technique. There are two probable sites for the formation of a CH type radical on the 2-deoxyribose sugar, these being the C(2) and the C(5) carbons. The fact that there is a species produced from 2-deoxy-ribose, but not 2-deoxy-ribose-5-phosphate, suggests that there is an involvement of the C(5) carbon in the species with the 1 1.0G β hydrogen. In the spectra formed from 2-deoxy-ribose, there is a big difference in the hyperfine splitting of the β hydrogens, suggesting that the radicals are formed at different carbon centers, while the addition of a phosphate group to the C(5) carbon seems to inhibit radical formation at one site. In related work, the chemiluminescence of monosaccharides in the presence of horseradish peroxidase was proposed to be the consequence of carbon-centered free radical formation (10).