Genes controlling carotenoid synthesis were cloned from Erwinia herbicola and expressed in an Escherichia coli strain. Carotenoids protect against high fluences of near-UV (NUV; 320 to 400 nm) but not against far-UV (200-300 nm). Protection of E. coli cells was not observed following treatment with either psoralen or 8-methoxypsoralen plus NUV. However, significant protection of cells producing carotenoids was observed with three photosensitizing molecules activated by NUV (alpha-terthienyl, harmine, and phenylheptatriyne) which are thought to have the membrane as an important lethal target. Protection of carotenoid-producing cells against inactivation was not observed with acridine orange plus visible light but was seen with toluidine blue O plus visible light.
Abstract— The photophysical and photochemical properties of thiophene derivatives have been studied by fluorescence and by 353 nm laser flash spectroscopy. α‐Terthienyl and its derivatives show a moderate fluorescence quantum yield (less than 0.1) in cyclohexane, ethanol, or TritonX–100 micelles. An additional thiophene ring increases this value to 0.2 in ethanol or micelles. The transient triplet state of the six thiophenes is characterized by strong absorptions (ε⋍ 50000 M‐1 cm‐1) in the visible region. These triplet states are very long lived. They react with oxygen, producing singlet oxygen very efficiently because of their high quantum yield of triplet formation (0.1 to 0.3). They do not react with excellent hydrogen or electron donors such as indole, N‐acetyl tryptophanamide or cysteine. The hydrophobic thiophenes investigated are, therefore, Type II photodynamic agents almost exclusively.
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