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Hymas M, Wongwas S, Roshan S, Whittock AL, Corre C, Omidyan R, Stavros VG. A Multipronged Bioengineering, Spectroscopic and Theoretical Approach in Unravelling the Excited-State Dynamics of the Archetype Mycosporine Amino Acid. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:7424-7429. [PMID: 38996192 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Mycosporine glycine (MyG) was produced by the fermentation of a purposely engineered bacterial strain and isolated from this sustainable source. The ultrafast spectroscopy of MyG was then investigated in its native, zwitterionic form (MyGzwitter), via femtosecond transient electronic absorption spectroscopy. Complementary nonadiabatic (NAD) simulations suggest that, upon photoexcitation to the lowest excited singlet state (S1), MyGzwitter undergoes efficient nonradiative decay to repopulate the electronic ground state (S0). We propose an initial ultrafast ring-twisting mechanism toward an S1/S0 conical intersection, followed by internal conversion to S0 and subsequent vibrational cooling. This study illuminates the workings of the archetype mycosporine, providing photoprotection, in the UV-B range, to organisms such as corals, macroalgae, and cyanobacteria. This study also contributes to our growing understanding of the photoprotection mechanisms of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hymas
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Sopida Wongwas
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Simin Roshan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, 81746-73441 Isfahan, Iran
| | - Abigail L Whittock
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- Analytical Science Centre for Doctoral Training, Senate House, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Christophe Corre
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Reza Omidyan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Isfahan, 81746-73441 Isfahan, Iran
| | - Vasilios G Stavros
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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2
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Cowden AM, Losantos R, Whittock AL, Peñín B, Sampedro D, Stavros VG. Ring buckling and C=N isomerization pathways for efficient photoprotection in two nature-inspired UVA sunscreens revealed through ultrafast dynamics and high-level calculations. Photochem Photobiol 2024; 100:298-313. [PMID: 37312642 DOI: 10.1111/php.13823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Sunscreens provide a frontline defense for our DNA against the damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The active ingredients in topically applied sunscreens that provide this defense are UV filters, which preferentially absorb or reflect UV radiation before it penetrates the skin and interacts with photosensitive nucleic acids. However, there are concerns related to human and environmental toxicity of current UV filters, and consequently a shift toward nature-inspired, particularly microbial, UV filters. In this paper, new physical insight is provided into the fundamental mechanisms of photoprotection in two synthetic analogs of mycosporine-like amino acid-type UV filters, demonstrating new methods of protection that are distinct from those of current commercial sunscreens, extending previous work in this area. Transient absorption measurements (both transient electronic absorption spectroscopy and transient vibrational absorption spectroscopy) are combined with steady-state studies and high-level computational results to aid our mapping of the experimentally derived lifetimes to real-time photodynamic processes. The conclusions reached here pave the way toward developing new and more efficient biomimetic DNA photoprotectant materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M Cowden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Molecular Analytical Science Centre for Doctoral Training, Senate House, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Raúl Losantos
- Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química (CISQ), Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Abigail L Whittock
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Analytical Science Centre for Doctoral Training, Senate House, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Beatriz Peñín
- Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química (CISQ), Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Diego Sampedro
- Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química (CISQ), Universidad de La Rioja, Logroño, Spain
| | - Vasilios G Stavros
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
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3
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Whittock AL, Ding X, Ramirez Barker XE, Auckloo N, Sellers RA, Woolley JM, Tamareselvy K, Vincendet M, Corre C, Pickwell-MacPherson E, Stavros VG. Spectroscopic insight on impact of environment on natural photoprotectants. Chem Sci 2023; 14:6763-6769. [PMID: 37350813 PMCID: PMC10284146 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc01875j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomimicry has become a key player in researching new materials for a whole range of applications. In this study, we have taken a crude extract from the red algae Palmaria palmata containing mycosporine-like amino acids - a photoprotective family of molecules. We have applied the crude extract onto a surface to assess if photoprotection, and more broadly, light-to-heat conversion, is retained; we found it is. Considering sunscreens as a specific application, we have performed transmission and reflection terahertz spectroscopy of the extract and glycerol to demonstrate how one can monitor stability in real-world applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail L Whittock
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- Analytical Science Centre for Doctoral Training, Senate House, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Xuefei Ding
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | | | - Nazia Auckloo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- Warwick Intergrative Synthetic Biology Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | | | - Jack M Woolley
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Krishnan Tamareselvy
- Lubrizol Advanced Materials Inc. 377 Hoes Lane, Suite 210 Piscataway New Jersey 08854 USA
| | - Marine Vincendet
- Lubrizol Life Science Beauty Calle Isaac Peral, 17 Pol. Ind. Camí Ral 08850 Barcelona Spain
| | - Christophe Corre
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- Warwick Intergrative Synthetic Biology Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | | | - Vasilios G Stavros
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT UK
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González Moreno A, Woolley JM, Domínguez E, de Cózar A, Heredia A, Stavros VG. Synergic photoprotection of phenolic compounds present in tomato fruit cuticle: a spectroscopic investigation in solution. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:12791-12799. [PMID: 37129056 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp00630a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Coumaric acids and flavonoids play pivotal roles in protecting plants against ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure. In this work, we focus our photoprotection studies on p-coumaric acid and the flavonoid naringenin chalcone. Photoprotection is well-understood in p-coumaric acid; in contrast, information surrounding photoprotection in naringenin chalcone is lacking. Additionally, and vitally, how these two species work in unison to provide photoprotection across the UV-B and UV-A is unknown. Herein, we employ transient absorption spectroscopy together with steady-state irradiation studies to unravel the photoprotection mechanism of a solution of p-coumaric acid and naringenin chalcone. We find that the excited state dynamics of p-coumaric acid are significantly altered in the presence of naringenin chalcone. This finding concurs with quenching of the p-coumaric acid fluorescence with increasing concentration of naringenin chalcone. We propose a Förster energy transfer mechanism is operative via the formation of dipole-dipole interactions between p-coumaric acid and naringenin chalcone. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration in plants of a synergic effect between two classes of phenolics to bypass the potentially damaging effects of UVR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana González Moreno
- IHSM-UMA-CSIC La Mayora, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), 29071, Málaga, Spain.
| | - Jack M Woolley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
| | - Eva Domínguez
- IHSM-UMA-CSIC La Mayora, Plant breeding and Biotechnology, CSIC, 29750 Algarrobo-Costa, Málaga, Spain
| | - Abel de Cózar
- Departamento de Química Orgánica I/Kimika Organikoa I Saila, Facultad de Química/Kimika Fakultatea, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (UPV/EHU) and Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), P. K, 1072, 20018 San Sebastián - Donostia, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Plaza Euskadi 5, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Antonio Heredia
- IHSM-UMA-CSIC La Mayora, Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Universidad de Málaga (UMA), 29071, Málaga, Spain.
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Whittock AL, Cowden AM, Wills M, Stavros VG. Examining the substituent effect on mycosporine-inspired ultraviolet filters. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:7401-7406. [PMID: 36846923 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp05934g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Current organic ultraviolet (UV) filters found in sunscreen formulations suffer a number of drawbacks. In this work, we have synthesised four biomimetic molecules built on the mycosporine molecular scaffold (a natural UV filter) with varying substituents at one of the carbons on the ring and investigated their photoprotective properties. From our findings, we infer design guidelines which may have a direct result on the production of next generation UV filters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail L Whittock
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK. .,Analytical Science Centre for Doctoral Training, Senate House, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Adam M Cowden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK. .,Molecular Analytical Science Centre for Doctoral Training, Senate House, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Martin Wills
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
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Rastogi RP, Shree A, Patel HM, Chaudhry S, Madamwar D. Characterization, UV-induction, antioxidant function and role in photo-protection of mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) in a unicellular cyanobacterium, Euhalothece sp.WR7. ALGAL RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
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Abiola TT, Rioux B, Johal S, Mention MM, Brunissen F, Woolley JM, Allais F, Stavros VG. Insight into the Photodynamics of Photostabilizer Molecules. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:8388-8397. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c05580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Temitope T. Abiola
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7ALUnited Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Rioux
- URD Agro-Biotechnologies Industrielles (ABI), CEBB, AgroParisTech, 51110, Pomacle, France
| | - Sharanjit Johal
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7ALUnited Kingdom
| | - Matthieu M. Mention
- URD Agro-Biotechnologies Industrielles (ABI), CEBB, AgroParisTech, 51110, Pomacle, France
| | - Fanny Brunissen
- URD Agro-Biotechnologies Industrielles (ABI), CEBB, AgroParisTech, 51110, Pomacle, France
| | - Jack M. Woolley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7ALUnited Kingdom
| | - Florent Allais
- URD Agro-Biotechnologies Industrielles (ABI), CEBB, AgroParisTech, 51110, Pomacle, France
| | - Vasilios G. Stavros
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7ALUnited Kingdom
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Hatakeyama M, Nakamura S. Intrinsic Nature of the Ultrafast Deexcitation Pathway of Mycosporine-like Amino Acid Porphyra-334. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:7460-7467. [PMID: 36205073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c05034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Porphyra-334 is a member of natural UV-screening compounds named mycosporine-like amino acids found in several marine organisms. The UV excited porphyra-334 has been identified to deexcite quickly by puckering the intramolecular cyclohexenimine ring; however, the reason for such a ring-puckering occurrence is yet unclear. In this study, we show the ring-puckering to be the relaxation pathway of the UV excited π electron which shifts from the in-ring bond to the out-of-ring bond. The ring-puckering is characterized by the torsion among the in-ring and out-of-ring bonds. Since the π electron shift is possible in two different directions at the Franck-Condon UV excited state, it enables two ring-puckering pathways: the previously reported pathway and another one newly identified at present. We also examine the ring-unpuckering pathways which are an analogy of cis/trans photoisomerization, and we find them to be not suited for the π electron shift character of the UV excited state and thus not related to the deexcitation pathway. The present study provides insight into how porphyra-334 exerts the UV-screening ability based on its cyclohexenimine ring structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Hatakeyama
- Sanyo-Onoda City University, 1-1-1 Daigakudori, Sanyo-Onoda, Yamaguchi 756-0884, Japan
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Whittock AL, Abiola TT, Stavros VG. A Perspective on Femtosecond Pump-Probe Spectroscopy in the Development of Future Sunscreens. J Phys Chem A 2022; 126:2299-2308. [PMID: 35394773 PMCID: PMC9036518 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.2c01000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Given
the negative impacts of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation
(UVR) on humans, sunscreens have become a widely used product. Certain
ingredients within sunscreens are responsible for photoprotection
and these are known, collectively herein, as ultraviolet (UV) filters.
Generally speaking, organic UV filters work by absorbing the potentially
harmful UVR and dissipating this energy as harmless heat. This process
happens on picosecond time scales and so femtosecond pump–probe
spectroscopy (FPPS) is an ideal technique for tracking this energy
conversion in real time. Coupling FPPS with complementary techniques,
including steady-state spectroscopy and computational methods, can
provide a detailed mechanistic picture of how UV filters provide photoprotection.
As such, FPPS is crucial in aiding the future design of UV filters.
This Perspective sheds light on the advancements made over the past
two years on both approved and nature-inspired UV filters. Moreover,
we suggest where FPPS can be further utilized within sunscreen applications
for future considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail L Whittock
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom.,Analytical Science Centre for Doctoral Training, Senate House, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Temitope T Abiola
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Vasilios G Stavros
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
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Investigating the Ultrafast Dynamics and Long-Term Photostability of an Isomer Pair, Usujirene and Palythene, from the Mycosporine-like Amino Acid Family. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27072272. [PMID: 35408670 PMCID: PMC9000306 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27072272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Mycosporine-like amino acids are a prevalent form of photoprotection in micro- and macro-organisms. Using a combination of natural product extraction/purification and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we studied the relaxation pathway for a common mycosporine-like amino acid pair, usujirene and its geometric isomer palythene, in the first few nanoseconds following photoexcitation. Our studies show that the electronic excited state lifetimes of these molecules persist for only a few hundred femtoseconds before the excited state population is funneled through an energetically accessible conical intersection with subsequent vibrational energy transfer to the solvent. We found that a minor portion of the isomer pair did not recover to their original state within 3 ns after photoexcitation. We investigated the long-term photostability using continuous irradiation at a single wavelength and with a solar simulator to mimic a more real-life environment; high levels of photostability were observed in both experiments. Finally, we employed computational methods to elucidate the photochemical and photophysical properties of usujirene and palythene as well as to reconcile the photoprotective mechanism.
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Chang XP, Zhang TS, Cui G. Theoretical Studies on the Excited-State Decay Mechanism of Homomenthyl Salicylate in a Gas Phase and an Acetonitrile Solution. J Phys Chem A 2021; 126:16-28. [PMID: 34963284 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.1c07108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Here, we employ the CASPT2//CASSCF and QM(CASPT2//CASSCF)/MM approaches to explore the photochemical mechanism of homomenthyl salicylate (HMS) in vacuum and an acetonitrile solution. The results show that in both cases, the excited-state relaxation mainly involves a spectroscopically "bright" S1(1ππ*) state and the lower-lying T1 and T2 states. In the major relaxation pathway, the photoexcited S1 keto system first undergoes an essentially barrierless excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) to generate the S1 enol minimum, near which a favorable S1/S0 conical intersection decays the system to the S0 state followed by a reverse ground-state intramolecular proton transfer (GSIPT) to repopulate the initial S0 keto species. In the minor one, an S1/T2/T1 three-state intersection in the keto region makes the T1 state populated via direct and T2-mediated intersystem crossing (ISC) processes. In the T1 state, an ESIPT occurs, which is followed by ISC near a T1/S0 crossing point in the enol region to the S0 state and finally back to the S0 keto species. In addition, a T1/S0 crossing point near the T1 keto minimum can also help the system decay to the S0 keto species. However, small spin-orbit couplings between T1 and S0 at these T1/S0 crossing points make ISC to the S0 state very slow and make the system trapped in the T1 state for a while. The present work rationalizes not only the ultrafast excited-state decay dynamics of HMS but also its low quantum yield of phosphorescence at 77 K.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ping Chang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, P. R. China
| | - Teng-Shuo Zhang
- College of Chemical Engineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, P. R. China
| | - Ganglong Cui
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, P. R. China
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