The effect of ferredoxin(BED) overexpression on benzene dioxygenase activity in Pseudomonas putida ML2.

The benzene dioxygenase from Pseudomonas putida ML2 is a multicomponent complex comprising a flavoprotein reductase, a ferredoxin, and a terminal iron-sulfur protein (ISP). The catalytic activity of the isolated complex shows a nonlinear relationship with protein concentration in cell extracts, with the limiting factor for activity in vitro being ferredoxin(BED). The relative levels of the three components were analyzed by using 125I-labelled antibodies, and the functional molar ratio of ISP(BED), ferredoxin(BED), and reductase(BED) was shown to be 1:0.9:0.8, respectively. The concentration of ferredoxin(BED) was confirmed by quantitative electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of the 2Fe-2S centers in ferredoxin(BED) and ISP(BED) of whole cells. These results demonstrate that the ferredoxin(BED) component is a limiting factor in dioxygenase activity in vitro. To determine if it is a limiting factor in vivo, a plasmid (pJRM606) overproducing ferredoxin(BED) was introduced into P. putida ML2. The benzene dioxygenase activity of this strain, measured in cell extracts, was fivefold greater than in the wild type, and the activity was linear with protein concentration in cell extracts above 2 mg/ml. Western blotting (immunoblotting) and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis confirmed an elevated level of ferredoxin(BED) protein and active redox centers in the recombinant strain. However, in these cells, the increased level of ferredoxin(BED) had no effect on the overall rate of benzene oxidation by whole cells. Thus, we conclude that ferredoxin(BED) is not limiting at the high intracellular concentration (0.48 mM) found in cells.     

The metabolism of higher chlorinated benzene isomers.

The metabolism of the isomeric tri- and tetrachlorobenzene isomers, penta- and hexachlorobenzene was investigated in the rabbit. The major urinary metabolites of the isomeric tri- and tetrachlorobenzenes were identified as the corresponding tri- and tetrachlorophenols whose structures were confirmed by chromatographic analyses. The genesis of the formation of metabolites is discussed in terms of their possible arene oxide intermediates in which the NIH shift of a chlorine atom is observed in the oxidation of many of the isomers. Pentachlorobenzene is metabolized to give both pentachlorophenol and a dechlorination-hydroxylation product which was identified as 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol. The hexachlorobenzene substrate did not give any phenolic metabolites.     

Conformer-specific and two-fold adiabatic photoisomerization of ZZ-1,4-di-(2-quinolylethenyl)benzene.

Irradiation of the ZZ stereoisomer of 1,4-di-(2'-quinolylethenyl)-benzene was found to cause direct adiabatic (one photon-two bond) isomerization to a product having the same lifetime as the EE isomer but a rather different spectrum with respect to that obtained by direct excitation of the EE one. To clarify this unexpected behaviour, the conformational equilibria of the EE stereoisomer have been studied in non-polar solvent by fluorimetry. The most abundant conformers, formed by the hindered rotation of the condensed-ring groups around the quasi-single bond with the ethenic carbons, have been characterized by the selective effect of the excitation energy on the fluorescence spectrum. The combined application of the principal component analysis allowed the separation of the spectral properties of three conformers to be achieved. Information on their structures was obtained by theoretical calculations. The results of the present conformational study clearly indicated that the fluorescence spectrum of the photoproduct of ZZ belongs to a specific component of the conformer mixture of the EE isomer.     

Hydroxymethylation of the benzene ring. Microsomal hydroxymethylation of benzo(alpha)pyrene to 6-hydroxymethylbenzo(alpha)pyrene

The formation of 6-hydroxymethylbenzo(α)pyrene from benzo(α)pyrene has been shown to be catalyzed by sonicates of rat liver microsomes. The biosynthetic pathway for the formation of the aryl hydroxymethyl groups appears to be a direct hydroxymethylation of the benzene ring and not involve 6-methylbenzo(α)pyrene as an intermediate, because the formation of 6-hydroxymethylbenzo(α)pyrene is not a cytochrome P-450-mediated reaction, whereas a model aryl side chain methyl group hydroxylation has been shown to be inhibited by cytochrome P-450 inhibitors.     

Radiation synthesis of organometallic compounds. Radiolysis of benzene solutions of Co2(CO)8

The radiation-induced synthesis of gdot; ₂(η²-cyclohexyne)hexacarbonyl dicobalt (CoCo) and gdot; ₃(2-cyclopenten-1 methylidine)-cyclo-tris(tricarbonyl cobalt)(3CoCo) from benzene and Co₂(CO)₈ is reported. The metal carbonyl species act as traps for some of the radiation-induced excited species.     

Detection of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes (BTEX) using toluene dioxygenase-peroxidase coupling reactions

We have developed a simple, whole-cell bioassay for the detection of bioavailable benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and similar compounds. A genetically engineered E. coli strain expressing toluene dioxygenase (TDO) and toluene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (TodD) was constructed, enabling the conversion of BTEX into their respective catechols, which were quickly converted into colored products by a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-coupled reaction. The intensity of the color formation was correlated to concentrations of the BTEX compounds. Under the optimized conditions, a detection limit (defined as three times the standard deviation of the response obtained from the blank) of 10, 10, 20, and 50 microM was observed for benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene, respectively. The bioassay was selective toward BTEX-related compounds with no interference observed with commonly used pesticides, herbicides, and organic solvent. The bioassay was very stable with little change in response over a 10-week period. The excellent stability suggests that the reported bioassay may be suitable for field monitoring of BTEX to identify and track contaminated water and follow the bioremediation progress.     

The phytotoxicity of D.D.T. and of benzene hexachloride

Spraying with two preparations of D.D.T. had a negligible effect on the maturation of outdoor tomatoes and of summer cabbage. Spraying with a commercial D.D.T. suspension damaged cucurbits and treatment with the suspension base distorted glasshouse cucumbers during one season only.
Benzene hexachloride (B.H.C.) sprays did not affect the yield or flavour of tomatoes, but, at concentrations higher than those normally used, they severely scorched radish, turnip, swede, kale, spinach and beetroot seedlings. The application of B.H.C. dusts stunted seedlings of radish.
On one occasion young potato foliage was damaged by relatively high concentrations of two compounded B.H.C. sprays and by B.H.C. dust but late-season older foliage was unaffected. A spray compounded from B.H.C. dispersible powder caused tainting of potatoes, peas, carrots, beetroot, marrows, cauliflowers and lettuce. Apples and plums treated with B.H.C. spray preparations developed a taint after cooking.     

Photoinduced DNA cleavage by benzenediradical equivalents. 1,3- and 1,4-bis(dicarbonylcyclopentadienyliron)benzene

Upon photolysis, diiron complexes 1,4- and 1,3-Fp(2)C(6)H(4) (1 and 2) linearize plasmid DNA at ratios as low as 1.5 and 3.0 molecules/bp DNA, respectively. Additionally, single-strand cleavage was observed at ratios higher than 0.05 and 0.19 molecules/bp DNA for 1 and 2, respectively. Radical scavenging studies and metal radical control experiments implicate carbon-centered radicals as participants in the cleavage pathway.     

Evidence for stereospecific collision complexes of cyclo(tri-L-prolyl) with benzene

NMR spectra of cyclo(tri-L -prolyl), c-(P)₃, show large shifts of the H_α resonance on adding C₆D₆ to a solution of c-(P)₃ in CD₂Cl₂. CPK models and observed coupling constants indicate a rigid c-(P)₃ conformation, independent of solvent composition, suggesting that these shifts result from formation of stereospecific C₆D₆–c-(P)₃ collision complexes in which the c-(P)₃ H_α lie near the face of the aromatic ring. The temperature dependence of the H_α shifts and the solvent dependent shifts observed on adding toluene-d₈ or nitrobenzene-d₅ to the c-(P)₃ solution suggest that preferred C₆D₆–c-(P)₃ orientations result from attractive interactions between the electron-rich aromatic ring and the electropositive H_α's and/or δ⁺ nitrogen atoms in the peptide backbone. Reports of such interactions in increasingly diverse peptide model systems suggest that they may play a role in stabilizing protein structures.     

Copper(I) bromide complexes from 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphano) benzene and some heterocyclic thiones

The synthesis, characterization and solid state emission properties of a series of mixed-ligand copper(I)bromide complexes containing 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphano)benzene (dppbz) and some heterocyclic thiones (L) are reported. The complexes are readily synthesized by the addition of the appropriate thione to a CuBr-diphosphane adduct in acetonitrile/methanol or acetone solution. The molecular structures of [CuBr(dppbz)(py2SH)], [CuBr(dppbz)(pymtH)] and [CuBr(dppbz)(imdtH₂)] were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Each of these structures features a tetrahedral copper(I) centre with two phosphorus atoms from the chelating diphos ligand, one bromine and the exocyclic sulfur atom of the heterocyclic thioamide unit. Slow decomposition of the mixed-ligand complexes via ligand dissociation occurs when their chloroform solutions are left to stand at room temperature for several weeks. On the basis of elemental analysis, NMR and IR spectra, the resulting coloured crystals are found to contain phosphane-free coordination polymers of composition [CuBr(L)]. At room temperature, some of the molecular complexes in the solid state exhibit strong emission assigned to a metal-ligand charge transfer of type Cu(I) → π*(PPh₂).     

The effects of D.D.T. and of benzene hexachloride on bees

Laboratory and field experiments were carried out during 1946 to determine the effects of D.D.T. and of benzene hexachloride (B.H.C.)* on honey-bees and on several wild be species.
Laboratory experiments show that B.H.C. is a powerful contact and stomach poison and results of field experiments with commercial preparations confirm its danger to the foraging bee population. A few minutes' contact with treated surfaces is sufficient to cause death and blossom may remain poisonous for at least 3 days after treatment.
In the laboratory D.D.T. has a contact action at fairly high concentrations and as a stomach poison is rather more toxic than lead arsenate. In the field, commercial preparations on open blossom are apparently harmless to foraging bees.     

The metabolism of benzene by bacteria. Purification and some properties of the enzyme cis-1,2-dihydroxycyclohexa-3,5-diene (nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide) oxidoreductase (cis-benzene glycol dehydrogenase)

1. cis-Benzene glycol dehydrogenase was purified to a homogeneous state from a species of Pseudomonas grown with benzene as the major carbon source. 2. The enzyme was specific for the cis-isomer of its substrate and required NAD(+) as hydrogen acceptor. 3. Partial inactivation of the enzyme, which was observed during purification, could be reversed by the addition of Fe(2+) and GSH. 4. A molecular weight of 440000 was calculated from data obtained by sedimentation-velocity and diffusion analysis in the ultracentrifuge. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis indicated a subunit of molecular weight 110000. 5. p-Chloromercuribenzoic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline were shown to inhibit the enzyme.     

Diverse coordination of polynuclear copper(II) complexes constructed from benzene tetracarboxylates

The reaction of aqueous solutions of the preformed 1:1 Cu(ClO₄)₂-polydentate amine with tetrasodium 1,2,4,5-benzene tetracarboxylate (Na₄bta) afforded three different types of polynuclear compounds. These include the tetranuclear complexes: [Cu₄(Medpt)₄(μ₄-bta)(ClO₄)₂(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₂·2H₂O (1), [Cu₄(pmdien)₄(μ₄-bta)(H₂O)₄](ClO₄)₄ (2), [Cu₄(Mepea)₄(μ₄-bta)(H₂O)₂](ClO₄)₄(3), [Cu₄(TPA)₄(μ₄-bta)](ClO₄)₄·10H₂O (4) and [Cu₄(tepa)₄(μ₄-bta)](ClO₄)₄·2H₂O (5), the di-nuclear: [Cu₂(DPA)₂(μ₂-bta)(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O (6), [Cu₂(dppa)₂(μ₂-bta)(H₂O)₂]·4H₂O (7) and [Cu₂(pmea)₂(μ₂-bta)]·14H₂O (8) and the trinuclear complex [Cu₃(dppa)₃(μ₃-bta)(H₂O)_2.25](ClO₄)₂·6.5H₂O (9) where Medpt = 3,3′-diamino-N-methyldipropylamine, pmedien = N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, Mepea = [2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]-(2-pyridylmethyl)methylamine, TPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine, tepa = tris[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl)]amine, DPA = di(2-pyridymethyl)amine, dppa = N-propanamide-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine and pmea = bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-[2-(2-pyridylethyl)]amine. The complexes were structurally characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic techniques, and by X-ray crystallography for complexes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 9. X-ray structure of the complexes reveal that bta⁴⁻ is acting as a bridging ligand via its four deprotonated caboxylate groups in 1, 2 and 4, three carboxylate groups in 9 and via two trans-carboxylates in 6 and 7. The complexes exhibit extended supramolecular networks with different dimensionality: 1-D in 2 and 4 due to hydrogen bonds of the type O-H···O, 2-D in 1 and 7, and 3-D network in 6 as a result of hydrogen bonds of the types N-H···O and O-H···O. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed very weak antiferromagnetic coupling between the Cu^II ions in 1-5, 7-9 (|J| = 0.02-0.87 cm⁻¹) and weak ferromagnetic coupling for 6 (J = 0.08 cm⁻¹).     

C-H activation of benzene by platinum(II) complexes with cyclometalated phosphine ligands

The bulky phosphine ligands di-tert-butyl(1-naphthyl)phosphine (1) or di-tert-butyl(N-indolyl)phosphine (2) react at room temperature with [(μ-SMe₂)PtMe₂]₂. Coordination of the phosphine and C-H bond activation at an sp² carbon of the ligand with the release of methane takes place to form the PC cyclometalated products [(PC)PtMe(SMe₂)] (3 or 4, respectively). The cyclometalated complexes 3 and 4 have both been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complexes 3 and 4 were each observed to undergo intermolecular activation of arene C-H bonds. Upon thermolysis in benzene, complexes 3 and 4 react to eliminate methane and yield isolable platinum(II)-phenyl complexes.