Electron and nuclear dynamics in many-electron atoms, molecules and chlorophyll-protein complexes: a review

It has been shown [V.A. Shuvalov, Quantum dynamics of electrons in many-electron atoms of biologically important compounds, Biochemistry (Mosc.) 68 (2003) 1333-1354; V.A. Shuvalov, Quantum dynamics of electrons in atoms of biologically important molecules, Uspekhi biologicheskoi khimii, (Pushchino) 44 (2004) 79-108] that the orbit angular momentum L of each electron in many-electron atoms is L=mVr=nPlanck's and similar to L for one-electron atom suggested by N. Bohr. It has been found that for an atom with N electrons the total electron energy equation E=-(Z(eff))(2)e(4)m/(2n(2)Planck's(2)N) is more appropriate for energy calculation than standard quantum mechanical expressions. It means that the value of L of each electron is independent of the presence of other electrons in an atom and correlates well to the properties of virtual photons emitted by the nucleus and creating a trap for electrons. The energies for elements of the 1st up to the 5th rows and their ions (total amount 240) of Mendeleev' Periodical table were calculated consistent with the experimental data (deviations in average were 5 x 10(-3)). The obtained equations can be used for electron dynamics calculations in molecules. For H(2) and H(2)(+) the interference of electron-photon orbits between the atoms determines the distances between the nuclei which are in agreement with the experimental values. The formation of resonance electron-photon orbit in molecules with the conjugated bonds, including chlorophyll-like molecules, appears to form a resonance trap for an electron with E values close to experimental data. Two mechanisms were suggested for non-barrier primary charge separation in reaction centers (RCs) of photosynthetic bacteria and green plants by using the idea of electron-photon orbit interference between the two molecules. Both mechanisms are connected to formation of the exciplexes of chlorophyll-like molecules. The first one includes some nuclear motion before exciplex formation, the second one is related to the optical transition to a charge transfer state.     

Magnetic and structural studies of novel tetranickel hydroxamates

The dinickel(II) compound [Ni₂(μ-OAc)₂(OAc)₂(μ-H₂O)(asy·dmen)₂]·2.5H₂O, 1; undergoes facile reaction in a 1:2 molar ratio with benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) in ethanol to give the novel nickel(II) tetranuclear hydroxamate complex [Ni₄(μ-OAc)₃(μ-BA)₃(asy·dmen)₃][OTf]₂·H₂O, 2, in which the bridging acetates, bridging two nickel atoms in 1, undergo a carboxylate shift from the μ₂-η¹:η¹ bridging mode of binding to the μ₃-η¹:η² bridging three nickel atoms in the tetramer. The structure of complex 2 was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The two monodentate acetates, water and two bidentate bridging acetates of two moles of complex 1 are replaced by three monodentate bridging acetates and three benzohydroxamates. Three nickel atoms in the tetramer, Ni(2), Ni(3) and Ni(4) are in a N₂O₄ octahedral environment, while the fourth nickel atom Ni(1) is in an O(6) octahedral environment. The Ni-Ni separations are Ni(1)-Ni(2) = 3.108 Å, Ni(1)-Ni(3) = 3.104 Å and Ni(1)-Ni(4) = 3.110 Å, which are longer than previously studied in dinuclear urease inhibited models but shorter than in the nickel(II) tetrameric glutarohydroxamate complex [Ni₄(μ-OAc)₂(μ-gluA₂)₂(tmen)₄][OTf]₂, isolated and characterized previously in this laboratory. Magnetic studies of the tetrameric complex show that the four Ni(II) ions are ferromagnetically coupled, leading to a total ground spin state S_T = 4. Three analogous tetranuclear nickel hydroxamates were prepared from AHA and BHA and the appropriate dinuclear complex with either sy·dmen or asy·dmen as capping ligands.     

Formation and decay of P680 (PD1–PD2)PheoD1 radical ion pair in photosystem II core complexes

Under physiological conditions (278 K) femtosecond pump-probe laser spectroscopy with 20-fs time resolution was applied to study primary charge separation in spinach photosystem II (PSII) core complexes excited at 710 nm. It was shown that initial formation of anion radical band of pheophytin molecule (Pheo⁻) at 460 nm is observed with rise time of ~ 11 ps. The kinetics of the observed rise was ascribed to charge separation between Chl (chlorophyll a) dimer, primary electron donor in PSII (P680*) and Pheo located in D1 protein subunit (Pheo_D1) absorbing at 420 nm, 545 nm and 680 nm with formation of the ion-radical pair P680⁺Pheo_DI⁻. The subsequent electron transfer from Pheo_D1⁻ to primary plastoquinone electron acceptor (Q_A) was accompanied by relaxation of the 460-nm band and occurred within ~ 250 ps in good agreement with previous measurements in Photosystem II-enriched particles and bacterial reaction centers. The subtraction of the P680⁺ spectrum measured at 455 ps delay from the spectra at 23 ps or 44 ps delay reveals the spectrum of Pheo_DI⁻, which is very similar to that measured earlier by accumulation method. The spectrum of Pheo_DI⁻ formation includes a bleaching (or red shift) of the 670 nm band indicating that Chl-670 is close to Pheo_D1. According to previous measurements in the femtosecond–picosecond time range this Chl-670 was ascribed to Chl_D1 [Shelaev, Gostev, Vishnev, Shkuropatov, Ptushenko, Mamedov, Sarkisov, Nadtochenko, Semenov and Shuvalov, J. Photochemistry and Photobiology, B: Biology 104 (2011) 45–50]. Stimulated emission at 685 nm was found to have two decaying components with time constants of ~ 1 ps and ~ 14 ps. These components appear to reflect formation of P680⁺Chl_D1⁻ and P680⁺Pheo_D1⁻, respectively, as found earlier. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Photosynthesis Research for Sustainability: Keys to Produce Clean Energy.     

Hydrogen atom abstraction from HOOOCl by chlorine atom and OH radical

Gas-phase reactions of HOOOCl with both Cl atom and OH radical are investigated using ab initio methods. The structures of all reactants, products, intermediates, and transition states have been optimized and characterized with the quadratic configuration interaction (QCISD) method. The overall mechanism for the Cl + HOOOCl and OH + HOOOCl reaction is the formation of HCl + O₂ + ClO and H₂O + O₂ + ClO, respectively. The rate-limiting step in each reaction is the abstraction of hydrogen from HOOOCl by either Cl or OH radicals and the barrier height is predicted to be 1.9 kcal mol⁻¹ and 8.1 kcal mol⁻¹ for abstraction by Cl atom and OH radical, respectively. Since both barriers for hydrogen abstraction are high, the reaction is suggested to be slow. These results also suggest that an atmospheric removal mechanism for HOOOCl may result from reaction with Cl atoms rather than with OH radicals, and that photolysis of HOOOCl may be the major removal mechanism for the intermediate.     

Luminostat operation: a tool to maximize microalgae photosynthetic efficiency in photobioreactors during the daily light cycle?

The luminostat regime has been proposed as a way to maximize light absorption and thus to increase the microalgae photosynthetic efficiency within photobioreactors. In this study, simulated outdoor light conditions were applied to a lab-scale photobioreactor in order to evaluate the luminostat control under varying light conditions. The photon flux density leaving the reactor (PFD_out) was varied from 4 to 20 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹and the productivity and photosynthetic efficiency of Chlorella sorokiniana were assessed.Maximal volumetric productivity (1.22 g kg⁻¹ d⁻¹) and biomass yield on PAR photons (400-700 nm) absorbed (1.27 g mol⁻¹) were found when PFD_out was maintained between 4 and 6 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹. The resultant photosynthetic efficiency was comparable to that already reported in a chemostat-controlled reactor. A strict luminostat regime could not be maintained under varying light conditions. Further modifications to the luminostat control are required before application under outdoor conditions.     

The sedimentation properties of ferritins. New insights and analysis of methods of nanoparticle preparation

Background

Ferritin exhibits complex behavior in the ultracentrifuge due to variability in iron core size among molecules. A comprehensive study was undertaken to develop procedures for obtaining more uniform cores and assessing their homogeneity.

Methods

Analytical ultracentrifugation was used to measure the mineral core size distributions obtained by adding iron under high- and low-flux conditions to horse spleen (apoHoSF) and human H-chain (apoHuHF) apoferritins.

Results

More uniform core sizes are obtained with the homopolymer human H-chain ferritin than with the heteropolymer horse spleen HoSF protein in which subpopulations of HoSF molecules with varying iron content are observed. A binomial probability distribution of H- and L-subunits among protein shells qualitatively accounts for the observed subpopulations. The addition of Fe²⁺ to apoHuHF produces iron core particle size diameters from 3.8 ± 0.3 to 6.2 ± 0.3 nm. Diameters from 3.4 ± 0.6 to 6.5 ± 0.6 nm are obtained with natural HoSF after sucrose gradient fractionation. The change in the sedimentation coefficient as iron accumulates in ferritin suggests that the protein shell contracts ∼ 10% to a more compact structure, a finding consistent with published electron micrographs. The physicochemical parameters for apoHoSF (15%/85% H/L subunits) are M = 484,120 g/mol, ν? = 0.735 mL/g, s_20,w = 17.0 S and D_20,w = 3.21 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s; and for apoHuHF M = 506,266 g/mol, ν? = 0.724 mL/g, s_20,w = 18.3 S and D_20,w = 3.18 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/s.

Significance

The methods presented here should prove useful in the synthesis of size controlled nanoparticles of other minerals.     

Development of cesium phosphotungstate salt and chitosan composite membrane for direct methanol fuel cells

A novel composite membrane has been developed by doping cesium phosphotungstate salt (Cs_xH_3−xPW₁₂O₄₀ (0 ≤ x ≤3), Cs_x-PTA) into chitosan (CTS/Cs_x-PTA) for application in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). Uniform distribution of Cs_x-PTA nanoparticles has been achieved in the chitosan matrix. The proton conductivity of the composite membrane is significantly affected by the Cs_x-PTA content in the composite membrane as well as the Cs substitution in PTA. The highest proton conductivity for the CTS/Cs_x-PTA membranes was obtained with x = 2 and Cs₂-PTA content of 5 wt%. The value is 6 × 10⁻³ S cm⁻¹ and 1.75 × 10⁻² S cm⁻¹ at 298 K and 353 K, respectively. The methanol permeability of CTS/Cs₂-PTA membrane is about 5.6 × 10⁻⁷, 90% lower than that of Nafion-212 membrane. The highest selectivity factor (φ) was obtained on CTS/Cs₂-PTA-5 wt% composite membrane, 1.1 × 10⁴/S cm⁻³ s. The present study indicates the promising potential of CTS/Cs_x-PTA composite membrane as alternative proton exchange membranes in direct methanol fuel cells.     

Replacement of the methionine axial ligand to the primary electron acceptor A0 slows the A0 reoxidation dynamics in Photosystem I

The recent crystal structure of photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus shows two nearly symmetric branches of electron transfer cofactors including the primary electron donor, P₇₀₀, and a sequence of electron acceptors, A, A₀ and A₁, bound to the PsaA and PsaB heterodimer. The central magnesium atoms of each of the putative primary electron acceptor chlorophylls, A₀, are unusually coordinated by the sulfur atom of methionine 688 of PsaA and 668 of PsaB, respectively. We [Ramesh et al. (2004a) Biochemistry 43:1369-1375] have shown that the replacement of either methionine with histidine in the PSI of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii resulted in accumulation of A₀⁻ (in 300-ps time scale), suggesting that both the PsaA and PsaB branches are active. This is in contrast to cyanobacterial PSI where studies with methionine-to-leucine mutants show that electron transfer occurs predominantly along the PsaA branch. In this contribution we report that the change of methionine to either leucine or serine leads to a similar accumulation of A₀⁻ on both the PsaA and the PsaB branch of PSI from C. reinhardtii, as we reported earlier for histidine mutants. More importantly, we further demonstrate that for all the mutants under study, accumulation of A₀⁻ is transient, and that reoxidation of A₀⁻ occurs within 1-2 ns, two orders of magnitude slower than in wild type PSI, most likely via slow electron transfer to A₁. This illustrates an indispensable role of methionine as an axial ligand to the primary acceptor A₀ in optimizing the rate of charge stabilization in PSI. A simple energetic model for this reaction is proposed. Our findings support the model of equivalent electron transfer along both cofactor branches in Photosystem I.     

Photosynthetic electron transport activity in heat-treated barley leaves: The role of internal alternative electron donors to photosystem II

Electron transport processes were investigated in barley leaves in which the oxygen-evolution was fully inhibited by a heat pulse (48 °C, 40 s). Under these circumstances, the K peak (∼ F_400 μs) appears in the chl a fluorescence (OJIP) transient reflecting partial Q_A reduction, which is due to a stable charge separation resulting from the donation of one electron by tyrozine Z. Following the K peak additional fluorescence increase (indicating Q_A⁻ accumulation) occurs in the 0.2-2 s time range. Using simultaneous chl a fluorescence and 820 nm transmission measurements it is demonstrated that this Q_A⁻ accumulation is due to naturally occurring alternative electron sources that donate electrons to the donor side of photosystem II. Chl a fluorescence data obtained with 5-ms light pulses (double flashes spaced 2.3-500 ms apart, and trains of several hundred flashes spaced by 100 or 200 ms) show that the electron donation occurs from a large pool with t_1/2 ∼ 30 ms. This alternative electron donor is most probably ascorbate.     

Phagocytic activity,respiratory burst,cytoplasmic free-Ca concentration and apoptotic cell ratio of haemocytes from the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon under acute copper stress

The aim of this study was to investigate the cellular toxicity of copper-induced injury to the black tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. The 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 96 h LC₅₀ (median lethal concentration) of Cu²⁺ on P. monodon (11.63 ± 1.14 g) were found to be 3.49, 1.54, 0.73 and 0.40 mg L^− 1, respectively. Total haemocyte count (THC), phagocytic activity, respiratory burst (RB), cytoplasmic free-Ca²⁺ (cf-Ca²⁺) concentration and apoptotic cell ratio of shrimp were determined after exposure to different concentrations of Cu²⁺ (0, 0.05, 0.5, 1.5 and 3.5 mg L^− 1) for 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. There was no significant effect on the analytic indicator of shrimp exposed to 0.05 mg L^− 1 Cu²⁺. THC decreased after Cu-exposure to 0.5 mg L^− 1 for 48 h, 1.5 mg L^− 1 for 24 h and 3.5 mg L^− 1 for 12 h. Phagocytic activity decreased in P. monodon following 48 h exposure to 3.5 mg L^− 1 Cu²⁺. RB was induced after 6 h exposure to 0.5, 1.5 and 3.5 mg L^− 1 Cu²⁺. cf-Ca²⁺ concentration increased after 48 h exposure to 0.5 mg L^− 1 Cu²⁺, and 12 h exposure to 1.5 and 3.5 mg L^− 1 Cu²⁺. The percentage of apoptotic cells increased to 9.5%, 16.3% and 18.6% respectively following 48 h exposure to 0.5, 1.5 and 3.5 mg L^− 1 Cu²⁺. These results indicate that Cu can induce oxidative stress, elevation of cf-Ca²⁺ and cell apoptosis, and inhibit phagocytic activity in the shrimp P. monodon, and the lethal injury of Cu²⁺ to P. monodon may be mainly due to the sharp reduction of THC caused by ROS-induced apoptosis.     

Conformational changes and reaction of clostridial glycosylating toxins

The crystal structures of the catalytic fragments of ‘lethal toxin’ from Clostridium sordellii and of ‘α-toxin’ from Clostridium novyi have been established. Almost half of the residues follow the chain fold of the glycosyl-transferase type A family of enzymes; the other half forms large α-helical protrusions that are likely to confer specificity for the respective targeted subgroup of Rho proteins in the cell. In the crystal, the active center of α-toxin contained no substrates and was disassembled, whereas that of lethal toxin, which was ligated with the donor substrate UDP-glucose and cofactor Mn^2 +, was catalytically competent. Surprisingly, the structure of lethal toxin with Ca^2 + (instead of Mn^2 +) at the cofactor position showed a bound donor substrate with a disassembled active center, indicating that the strictly octahedral coordination sphere of Mn^2 + is indispensable to the integrity of the enzyme. The homologous structures of α-toxin without substrate, distorted lethal toxin with Ca^2 + plus donor, active lethal toxin with Mn^2 + plus donor and the homologous Clostridium difficile toxin B with a hydrolyzed donor have been lined up to show the geometry of several reaction steps. Interestingly, the structural refinement of one of the three crystallographically independent molecules of Ca^2 +-ligated lethal toxin resulted in the glucosyl half-chair conformation expected for glycosyl-transferases that retain the anomeric configuration at the C1″ atom. A superposition of six acceptor substrates bound to homologous enzymes yielded the position of the nucleophilic acceptor atom with a deviation of < 1 Å. The resulting donor-acceptor geometry suggests that the reaction runs as a circular electron transfer in a six-membered ring, which involves the deprotonation of the nucleophile by the β-phosphoryl group of the donor substrate UDP-glucose.     

Structural and functional studies of Leishmania braziliensis Hsp90

The ubiquitous Hsp90 is critical for protein homeostasis in the cells, stabilizing “client” proteins in a functional state. Hsp90 activity depends on its ability to bind and hydrolyze ATP, involving various conformational changes that are regulated by co-chaperones, posttranslational modifications and small molecules. Compounds like geldanamycin (GA) and radicicol inhibit the Hsp90 ATPase activity by occupying the ATP binding site, which can lead client protein to degradation and also inhibit cell growth and differentiation in protozoan parasites. Our goal was to produce the recombinant Hsp90 of Leishmania braziliensis (LbHsp90) and construct of its N-terminal (LbHsp90N) and N-domain and middle-domain (LbHsp90NM), which lacks the C-terminal dimerization domain, in order to understand how Hsp90 works in protozoa. The recombinant proteins were produced folded as attested by spectroscopy experiments. Hydrodynamic experiments revealed that LbHsp90N and LbHsp90NM behaved as elongated monomers while LbHsp90 is an elongated dimer. All proteins prevented the in vitro citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase aggregation, attesting that they have chaperone activity, and interacted with adenosine ligands with similar dissociation constants. The LbHsp90 has low ATPase activity (k_cat = 0.320 min^− 1) in agreement with Hsp90 orthologs, whereas the LbHsp90NM has negligible activity, suggesting the importance of the dimeric protein for this activity. The GA interacts with LbHsp90 and with its domain constructions with different affinities and also inhibits the LbHsp90 ATPase activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.7 μM. All these results shed light on the LbHsp90 activity and are the first step to understanding the Hsp90 molecular chaperone system in L. braziliensis.     

Carbon dioxide diffusion across stomata and mesophyll and photo-biochemical processes as affected by growth CO2 and phosphorus nutrition in cotton

Nutrients such as phosphorus may exert a major control over plant response to rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (CO₂), which is projected to double by the end of the 21st century. Elevated CO₂ may overcome the diffusional limitations to photosynthesis posed by stomata and mesophyll and alter the photo-biochemical limitations resulting from phosphorus deficiency. To evaluate these ideas, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was grown in controlled environment growth chambers with three levels of phosphate (Pi) supply (0.2, 0.05 and 0.01 mM) and two levels of CO₂ concentration (ambient 400 and elevated 800 μmol mol⁻¹) under optimum temperature and irrigation. Phosphate deficiency drastically inhibited photosynthetic characteristics and decreased cotton growth for both CO₂ treatments. Under Pi stress, an apparent limitation to the photosynthetic potential was evident by CO₂ diffusion through stomata and mesophyll, impairment of photosystem functioning and inhibition of biochemical process including the carboxylation efficiency of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxyganase and the rate of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate regeneration. The diffusional limitation posed by mesophyll was up to 58% greater than the limitation due to stomatal conductance (g_s) under Pi stress. As expected, elevated CO₂ reduced these diffusional limitations to photosynthesis across Pi levels; however, it failed to reduce the photo-biochemical limitations to photosynthesis in phosphorus deficient plants. Acclimation/down regulation of photosynthetic capacity was evident under elevated CO₂ across Pi treatments. Despite a decrease in phosphorus, nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations in leaf tissue and reduced stomatal conductance at elevated CO₂, the rate of photosynthesis per unit leaf area when measured at the growth CO₂ concentration tended to be higher for all except the lowest Pi treatment. Nevertheless, plant biomass increased at elevated CO₂ across Pi nutrition with taller plants, increased leaf number and larger leaf area.     

Cyanobacterial cytochrome cM: Probing its role as electron donor for CuA of cytochrome c oxidase

It is well known that efficient functioning of photosynthetic (PET) and respiratory electron transport (RET) in cyanobacteria requires the presence of either cytochrome c₆ (Cytc₆) or plastocyanin (PC). By contrast, the interaction of an additional redox carrier, cytochrome c_M (Cytc_M), with either PET or RET is still under discussion. Here, we focus on the (putative) role of Cytc_M in cyanobacterial respiration. It is demonstrated that genes encoding the main terminal oxidase (cytochrome c oxidase, COX) and cytochrome c_M are found in all 44 totally or partially sequenced cyanobacteria (except one strain). In order to check whether Cytc_M can act as electron donor to COX, we investigated the intermolecular electron transfer kinetics between Cytc_M and the soluble Cu_A domain (i.e. the donor binding and electron entry site) of subunit II of COX. Both proteins from Synechocystis PCC6803 were expressed heterologously in E. coli. The forward and the reverse electron transfer reactions were studied yielding apparent bimolecular rate constants of (2.4 ± 0.1) × 10⁵ M^− 1 s^− 1 and (9.6 ± 0.4) × 10³ M^− 1 s^− 1 (5 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7, 50 mM KCl). A comparative analysis with Cytc₆ and PC demonstrates that Cytc_M functions as electron donor to Cu_A as efficiently as Cytc₆ but more efficient than PC. Furthermore, we demonstrate the association of Cytc_M with the cytoplasmic and thylakoid membrane fractions by immunobloting and discuss the potential role of Cytc_M as electron donor for COX under stress conditions.     

Crystal structure of a complex between the phosphorelay protein YPD1 and the response regulator domain of SLN1 bound to a phosphoryl analog

The crystal structure of the yeast SLN1 response regulator (RR) domain bound to both a phosphoryl analog [beryllium fluoride (BeF₃ ⁻)] and Mg^2 +, in complex with its downstream phosphorelay signaling partner YPD1, has been determined at a resolution of 1.70 Å. Comparisons between the BeF₃ ⁻-activated complex and the unliganded (or apo) complex determined previously reveal modest but important differences. The SLN1-R1·Mg^2 +·BeF₃ ⁻ structure from the complex provides evidence for the first time that the mechanism of phosphorylation-induced activation is highly conserved between bacterial RR domains and this example from a eukaryotic organism. Residues in and around the active site undergo slight rearrangements in order to form bonds with the essential divalent cation and fluorine atoms of BeF₃ ⁻. Two conserved switch-like residues (Thr1173 and Phe1192) occupy distinctly different positions in the apo versus BeF₃ ⁻-bound structures, consistent with the “Y-T” coupling mechanism proposed for the activation of CheY and other bacterial RRs. Several loop regions and the α4-β5-α5 surface of the SLN1-R1 domain undergo subtle conformational changes (∼ 1-3 Å displacements relative to the apo structure) that lead to significant changes in terms of contacts that are formed with YPD1. Detailed structural comparisons of protein-protein interactions in the apo and BeF₃ ⁻-bound complexes suggest at least a two-state equilibrium model for the formation of a transient encounter complex, in which phosphorylation of the RR promotes the formation of a phosphotransfer-competent complex. In the BeF₃ ⁻-activated complex, the position of His64 from YPD1 needs to be within ideal distance of and in near-linear geometry with Asp1144 from the SLN1-R1 domain for phosphotransfer to occur. The ground-state structure presented here suggests that phosphoryl transfer will likely proceed through an associative mechanism involving the formation of a pentacoordinate phosphorus intermediate.     

Thermodynamics and laser luminescence spectroscopy of binary and ternary complexation of Am, Cm and Eu with citric acid, and citric acid + EDTA at high ionic strength

The binary complexation of Am³⁺, Cm³⁺and Eu³⁺ with citrate has been studied at I = 6.60 m (NaClO₄), pcH 3.60 and in the temperatures range of 0-60 °C employing a solvent extraction technique with di-(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid/heptane. Two complexes, MCit and , were formed at all temperatures. For the three metal ions, the log β₁₀₁ was between 5.9 and 6.2 and log β₁₀₂ between 10.2 and 10.6 at 25 °C. The thermodynamic parameters for the Am-Cit system have been calculated from the temperature dependence of the β₁₀₁ and β₁₀₂ values. Positive enthalpy and entropy values for the formation of both complexes are interpreted as due to the contributions from the dehydration of the metal ions exceeding the exothermic cation-anion pairing. The formation of the ternary complex M(EDTA)(Cit)⁴⁻ (M = Cm and Eu) was measured to have large stability constants (log β₁₁₁ between 20.9 and 24.4) at 25 and 60 °C. Time resolved laser luminescence spectroscopy and lifetime measurement data validated the nature of the complexes of Eu(III) formed in the presence of Cit and EDTA + Cit in 6.60 m (NaClO₄) solution.     

Deprotonation of β-cyclodextrin in alkaline solutions

Variable pH ¹³C NMR and ¹H NMR spectroscopic studies of the β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) in alkaline aqueous solutions revealed that β-CD does not deprotonate at pH < 12.0. Further increase in solution pH results in the deprotonation of OH-groups adjacent to C-2 and C-3 carbon atoms of β-CD glucopyranose units, whereas the deprotonation of OH-groups adjacent to C-6 carbon atoms is expressed less markedly. The pK_a values for β-CD OH-groups adjacent to C-2 and C-3 carbon atoms are rather close, pK_a1,2 being 13.5 ± 0.2 (22.5 °C).     

In vitro and in vivo pharmacology of CP-945,598, a potent and selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist for the management of obesity

Cannabinoid CB₁ receptor antagonists exhibit pharmacologic properties favorable for the treatment of metabolic disease. CP-945,598 (1-[9-(4-chlorophenyl)-8-(2-chlorophenyl)-9H-purin-6-yl]-4-ethylamino piperidine-4-carboxylic acid amide hydrochloride) is a recently discovered selective, high affinity, competitive CB₁ receptor antagonist that inhibits both basal and cannabinoid agonist-mediated CB₁ receptor signaling in vitro and in vivo. CP-945,598 exhibits sub-nanomolar potency at human CB₁ receptors in both binding (K_i = 0.7 nM) and functional assays (K_i = 0.2 nM). The compound has low affinity (K_i = 7600 nM) for human CB₂ receptors. In vivo, CP-945,598 reverses four cannabinoid agonist-mediated CNS-driven responses (hypo-locomotion, hypothermia, analgesia, and catalepsy) to a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist. CP-945,598 exhibits dose and concentration-dependent anorectic activity in two models of acute food intake in rodents, fast-induced re-feeding and spontaneous, nocturnal feeding. CP-945,598 also acutely stimulates energy expenditure in rats and decreases the respiratory quotient indicating a metabolic switch to increased fat oxidation. CP-945,598 at 10 mg/kg promoted a 9%, vehicle adjusted weight loss in a 10 day weight loss study in diet-induced obese mice. Concentration/effect relationships combined with ex vivo brain CB₁ receptor occupancy data were used to evaluate efficacy in behavioral, food intake, and energy expenditure studies. Together, these in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo data indicate that CP-945,598 is a novel CB₁ receptor competitive antagonist that may further our understanding of the endocannabinoid system.     

Spectroscopic studies of the chlorophyll d containing photosystem I from the cyanobacterium, Acaryochloris marina

Absorbance difference spectroscopy and redox titrations have been applied to investigate the properties of photosystem I from the chlorophyll d containing cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina. At room temperature, the (P740⁺ − P740) and (F_A/B⁻ − F_A/B) absorbance difference spectra were recorded in the range between 300 and 1000 nm while at cryogenic temperatures, (P740⁺A₁⁻ − P740A₁) and (³P740 − P740) absorbance difference spectra have been measured. Spectroscopic and kinetic evidence is presented that the cofactors involved in the electron transfer from the reduced secondary electron acceptor, phylloquinone (A₁⁻), to the terminal electron acceptor and their structural arrangement are virtually identical to those of chlorophyll a containing photosystem I. The oxidation potential of the primary electron donor P740 of photosystem I has been reinvestigated. We find a midpoint potential of 450 ± 10 mV in photosystem I-enriched membrane fractions as well as in thylakoids which is very similar to that found for P700 in chlorophyll a dominated organisms. In addition, the extinction difference coefficient for the oxidation of the primary donor has been determined and a value of 45,000 ± 4000 M^− 1 cm^− 1 at 740 nm was obtained. Based on this value the ratio of P740 to chlorophyll is calculated to be 1:~ 200 chlorophyll d in thylakoid membranes. The consequences of our findings for the energetics in photosystem I of A. marina are discussed as well as the pigment stoichiometry and spectral characteristics of P740.     

Substrate water exchange in photosystem II core complexes of the extremophilic red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae

The binding affinity of the two substrate–water molecules to the water-oxidizing Mn₄CaO₅ catalyst in photosystem II core complexes of the extremophilic red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae was studied in the S₂ and S₃ states by the exchange of bound ¹⁶O-substrate against ¹⁸O-labeled water. The rate of this exchange was detected via the membrane-inlet mass spectrometric analysis of flash-induced oxygen evolution. For both redox states a fast and slow phase of water-exchange was resolved at the mixed labeled m/z 34 mass peak: k_f = 52 ± 8 s^− 1 and k_s = 1.9 ± 0.3 s^− 1 in the S₂ state, and k_f = 42 ± 2 s^− 1 and k_slow = 1.2 ± 0.3 s^− 1 in S₃, respectively. Overall these exchange rates are similar to those observed previously with preparations of other organisms. The most remarkable finding is a significantly slower exchange at the fast substrate–water site in the S₂ state, which confirms beyond doubt that both substrate–water molecules are already bound in the S₂ state. This leads to a very small change of the affinity for both the fast and the slowly exchanging substrates during the S₂ → S₃ transition. Implications for recent models for water-oxidation are briefly discussed.