A double-beam rapid-scanning stopped-flow spectrophotometer

Scanning spectrophotometry for the dynamic study of tissue respiration in intact organs

For use with intact perfused organs a spectrophotometer system has been developed, both for dual-wavelength absorption measurements and for spectral scanning. A monochromator is used for illumination and scanning in the visible and near infrared. Optic fibres conduct light to the specimen under examination and from the specimen to a detecting photomultiplier. System control is exercised by a microcomputer, which also processes the collected data. The performance of the system on isolated perfused rat heart is demonstrated, in the spectral scanning mode and in the dual-wavelength mode, by studying simultaneously the kinetics of cytochrome aa3, and myoglobin oxidation-reduction.

Reaction of Mixed Valence State Cytochrome Oxidase with Oxygen in Plant Mitochondria: A STUDY BY LOW TEMPERATURE FLASH PHOTOLYSIS AND RAPID WAVELENGTH SCANNING OPTICAL SPECTROMETRY

The reaction of mixed valence state cytochrome oxidase (Cu(A) (2+)a(3+) . Cu(B) (+)a(3) (2+)) with O(2) at 173 K has been investigated in purified potato mitochondria by low temperature flash photolysis and rad wavelength scanning optical spectrometry in the visible region. The kinetics of the reaction have been analyzed simultaneously at six wavelength pairs (586-630, 590-630, 594-630, 604-630, 607-630, and 610-630 nanometers) by nonlinear optimization techniques, and found to proceed by a two-species sequential mechanism. The "pure" difference spectra of the two species, I(M) and II(M), relative to unliganded mixed valence state cytochrome oxidase have been obtained. The difference spectrum of species I(M) is characterized by a peak at 591 nanometers, with a shoulder at 584 nanometers and a trough at 602 nanometers, and that of species II(M) by an alpha band split into a prominent peak at 607 nanometers and a small side peak at 594 nanometers. Evidence is presented to suggest that these two bands arise from O(2) (-) --> Cu(B) (2+) and O(2) (-) --> a(3) (2+) charge transfer transitions which would imply that O(2) (-) forms a bridging ligand between Cu(B) and the iron atom of cytochrome a(3) in species II(M). The kinetics of the reaction and the spectral characteristics of species I(M) and II(M) obtained with the potato mitochondrial system are compared and contrasted with data in the literature on the beef heart mitochondrial system.

Reaction of the aminic form of aspartate transaminase with difluoro-oxaloacetate

Addition of difluoro-oxaloacetate to the aminic form of aspartate transaminase causes a rapid shift of absorbance maximum of the enzyme from 332 nm to 328 nm, followed by a much slower shift to 360 nm corresponding to complete conversion of the aminic form of the enzyme into the aldimine form or a species with similar spectral parameters in rapid equilibrium with it. Kinetic analysis of both the initial fast reaction and the overall slow reaction by using repeated spectral scanning and stopped-flow techniques allows formulation of a basic reaction mechanism involving at least two intermediate enzyme complexes. Computer simulation of the progress curves of the initial fast reaction based on the suggested reaction mechanism gives kinetic parameters that are consistent with all the data obtained by other methods. A molecular reaction scheme involving a ketimine Schiff-base intermediate is proposed.

The reduction by dithionite of Fe(III) myoglobin derivatives with different ligands attached to the iron atom. A study by rapid-wavelength-scanning stopped-flow spectrophotometry

1. The reductions of a number of sperm whale Fe(III) myoglobin-ligand complexes by sodium dithionite in a phosphate buffer pH 6.4, were investigated by using rapid-wavelength-scanning stopped-flow spectrophotometry. The ligands were azide, cyanide, fluoride, imidazole, thiocyanate and water. 2. The reduction of Fe(III) myoglobin cyanide led to the transient formation of Fe(II) myoglobin cyanide but no intermediate species were observable during the reductions of the other derivatives. The final product of the reaction in all cases was unliganded Fe(II)myoglobin. 3. Invesigation of the effect of dithionite concentration on the rate of reduction indicated that the SO2- radical ion was the active species in reducing the azide, cyanide, fluoride and thiocyanate derivatives. 4. Comparison of the observed rates of reduction at different ligand concentrations with those predicted for a pathway of reduction involving prior dissociation of the ligand, allowed us to estimate the rate of reduction with the ligand in position (outer-sphere reduction). There was a large variation in the relative rates of outer-sphere reduction in the order imidazole greater than CN- greater than SCN- greater than N3- greater than F-. The fluoride derivative was so resistant to outer-sphere reduction that the reaction with SO2- proceeded only by a pathway involving dissociation of F- before reduction. It was calculated that any direct reduction of this complex was at least 100 times slower than that of the azide derivative. 5. The results are discussed in terms of the possible rôle of the axial ligands in haem proteins and it is suggested that the pathway of the electron to the Fe(III) centre may be via the ppi orbitals of these ligands.