From chlorophyll a towards bacteriochlorophyll a: Excited-state processes of modified pigments

By means of fluorescence spectroscopy and nonlinear absorption experiments, excited-state processes of the modified pigments [3-acetyl]-chlorophyll a, [31-OH]-bacteriochlorophyll a and [3-vinyl]-bacteriochlorophyll a were investigated and compared with those of chlorophyll a and bacteriochlorophyll a

Carotenoid triplet state formation in Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26 reaction centers exchanged with modified bacteriochlorophyll pigments and reconstituted with spheroidene

Triplet state electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments have been carried out at X-band on Rb. sphaeroides R-26 reaction centers that have been reconstituted with the carotenoid, spheroidene, and exchanged with 132-OH-Zn-bacteriochlorophyll a and [3-vinyl]-132-OH-bacteriochlorophyll a at the monomeric, lsquoaccessoryrsquo bacteriochlorophyll sites BA,B or with pheophytin a at the bacteriopheophytin sites HA,B. The primary donor and carotenoid triplet state EPR signals in the temperature range 95–150 K are compared and contrasted with those from native Rb. sphaeroides wild type and Rb. sphaeroides R-26 reaction centers reconstituted with spheroidene. The temperature dependencies of the EPR signals are strikingly different for the various samples. The data prove that triplet energy transfer from the primary donor to the carotenoid is mediated by the monomeric, BChlB molecule. Furthermore, the data show that triplet energy transfer from the primary donor to the carotenoid is an activated process, the efficiency of which correlates with the estimated triplet state energies of the modified pigments

Derivation of the formyl-group oxygen of chlorophyll b from molecular oxygen in greening leaves of a higher plant (Zea mays)

Using mass spectroscopy, we demonstrate as much as 93% enrichment of the 7-formyl group oxygen of chlorophyll b when dark-grown, etiolated maize leaves are greened under white light in the presence of 18O2. This suggests that a mono-oxygenase is involved in the oxidation of its methyl group precursor. The concomitant enrichment of about 75% of the 131-oxygen confirms the well-documented finding that this oxo group, in both chlorophyll a and b, also arises from O2. High 18O enrichment into the 7-formyl oxygen relative to the substrate 18O2 was achieved by optimization of the greening conditions in combination with a reductive extraction procedure. It indicates not only a single pathway for Chl b formyl group formation, but also unequivocally demonstrates that molecular oxygen is the sole precursor of the 7-formyl oxygen

Modified reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26

Incubation of photosynthetic reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26 with exogenous 132-OH-bacteriochlorophyll ap or aGG according to Scheer et al. (1987) results in the exchange of endogenous bacteriochlorophyll ap. The exchange amounts to less-than-or-equals, slant 50% according to HPLC analysis, corresponding to a complete replacement of the ‘monomeric’ bacteriochlorophylls, bm and bl, by exogenous pigment. The absorption spectra show small, but distinct changes in the Qx-region of the bacteriochlorophylls, and bleaching of the modified reaction centers is retained. The corresponding binding sites must be accessible from the exterior, and allow for the introduction of a polar residue at C-132. This is supported by the observation of side reactions of the endogenous ‘monomeric’ bacteriochlorophylls within the reaction center pigments, e.g. epimerization and hydroxylation at C-132

Cryogenic design and performance of two quadrupoles used in the CERN hyperon-beam

The two magnets described have a length of 1.35 m and 1.05 m and a cold aperture of 36 mm. They provide focusing powers of 180 T and 130 T with gradients of 156 T/m. They have a fully automatic control and supply, and are supplied with LHe by a 500l dewar. About 9 l/h LHe are necessary when the magnets are operated at 445 A. (4 refs)