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Revealing competitive Forster-type resonance energy-transfer pathways in single bichromophoric molecules.

We demonstrate measurements of the efficiency of competing Förster-type energy-transfer pathways in single bichromophoric systems by monitoring simultaneously the fluorescence intensity, fluorescence lifetime, and the number of independent emitters with time. Peryleneimide end-capped fluorene trimers, hexamers, and polymers with interchromophore distances of 3.4, 5.9, and on average 42 nm, respectively, served as bichromophoric systems. Because of different energy-transfer efficiencies, variations in the interchromophore distance enable the switching between homo-energy transfer (energy hopping), singlet-singlet annihilation, and singlet-triplet annihilation. The data suggest that similar energy-transfer pathways have to be considered in the analysis of single-molecule trajectories of donor/acceptor pairs as well as in natural and synthetic multichromophoric systems such as light-harvesting antennas, oligomeric fluorescent proteins, and dendrimers. Here we report selectively visualization of different energy-transfer pathways taking place between identical fluorophores in individual bichromophoric molecules.

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer↗

Tumor initiators and promoters in the induction of Epstein-Barr virus.

The effect of various tumor initiators and promoters on induction of persisting Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in different lines of lymphoblastoid cells was analyzed. Neither five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, amongst them potent tumor initiators (e.g., 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene), nor the potent (ultimate) liver carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylamino-fluorene induced EBV. A series of compounds, representing three classes of tumor-promoting diterpene esters (e.g., 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate), efficiently induced EBV in persistently infected cells. The concentration required for maximal induction ranged between 0.5 and 100 nM. Some nonpromoting diterpenes (phorbol, 4alpha-phorbol-12,13-didecanoate, and ingenol) did not induce EBV. However, the nonpromoters, resiniferatoxin and 12-deoxyphorbol-13-decatrienoate, were effective, whereas anthralin, a tumor promoter, did not induce EBV. In three lines of EBV genome-carrying cells (Raji, NC-37, and RPMI 64-10) only abortive induction was noted, leading exclusively to synthesis of early antigen. In cells of lines with low spontaneous virus release (P3HR-1, B95-8, and QIMR-Wil), upon treatment with tetradecanoylphorbol acetate, approximately 20-40 times more viral DNA was recovered as compared to untreated controls. Viral DNA from tetradeca-noylphorbol acetate-induced cultures revealed the same restriction endonuclease cleavage pattern as viral DNA obtained from noninduced cells. Within 10 days after induction, release of infectious virus increased approximately by one order of magnitude. Prostaglandins, reported to be released after treatment with tumor promoters, were ineffective in virus induction under the conditions tested.

Carcinogens↗

Effect of acetylated and deacetylated 2-aminofluorene adducts on in vitro DNA synthesis.

We have constructed primed phi X174 DNA templates containing either acetylated or deacetylated aminofluorene adducts at the C-8 position of guanine. T4 DNA polymerase terminates synthesis one nucleotide before the acetylated adducts but incorporates an additional nucleotide opposite the deacetylated guanylaminofluorene. These observations can be explained by the known preferred conformations of the acetylated and deacetylated guanosinylaminofluorene nucleosides--the former favoring the syn conformation (so that in DNA the guanine is displaced from the helix by the fluorene ring) and the latter preferring the anti conformation (which allows normal base pairing of the guanine with cytosine). A similar differentiation between the two adducts was found with Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I. In contrast, avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV) reverse transcriptase, which terminated with a nucleotide inserted opposite the acetylated adducts, was less able to do so at the deacetylated adducts. The nucleoside incorporated by AMV reverse transcriptase opposite the acetylated adduct was exclusively cytidine, which suggests regular base pairing with the reacted guanosine nucleoside in the anti conformation; however, synthesis was completely blocked and unable to continue beyond this point. The differences between the termination patterns of the prokaryotic enzymes and AMV reverse transcriptase indicates that specific properties of a replicating polymerase can influence the conformation of a reacted nucleoside in the DNA, thus altering its recognition and possibly its mutagenic activity.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Stimulation of recombination between homologous sequences on plasmid DNA and chromosomal DNA in Escherichia coli by N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene.

A plasmid containing a wild-type lac operon and a tetracycline-resistance gene was covalently modified by N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and used to transform two series of Lac- Escherichia coli cell types. Each set contained wild-type and repair-deficient mutants. One set of cells contained a lacY mutation and the other a deletion of the entire lac operon. Survival and mutagenesis of the plasmid were measured as a function of the N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene concentration. The results indicate that when no homologous sequences are present in the chromosomal DNA, mutations occur at a low frequency: at 10% survival the frequency was 1-2 X 10(-4) mutants per transformant. When homologous sequences, the lacY allele, are present in the chromosomal DNA, Lac- plasmids are found at a high frequency in a recA-dependent, lexA-independent fashion: at 10% survival the frequency was 5-10 X 10(-2) mutants per transformant. Southern blot analysis of the restriction enzyme profiles of the resulting plasmid and host-cell DNA sequences showed recombinational transfer of host sequences to the N-acetoxy-2-acetylamino-fluorene-treated plasmid had occurred. When the host chromosomes contained Lac+ homologous sequences no mutants were found, indicating that the results were not caused by error-prone recombination.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Targeted mutations induced by a single acetylaminofluorene DNA adduct in mammalian cells and bacteria.

Mutagenic specificity of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) has been established in mammalian cells and several strains of bacteria by using a shuttle plasmid vector containing a single N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)acetylaminofluorene (C8-dG-AAF) adduct. The nucleotide sequence of the gene conferring tetracycline resistance was modified by conservative codon replacement so as to accommodate the sequence d(CCTTCGCTAC) flanked by two restriction sites, Bsm I and Xho I. The corresponding synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide underwent reaction with 2-(N-acetoxy-N-acetylamino)-fluorene (AAAF), forming a single dG-AAF adduct. This modified oligodeoxynucleotide was hybridized to its complementary strand and ligated between the Bsm I and Xho I sites of the vector. Plasmids containing the C8-dG-AAF adduct were used to transfect simian virus 40-transformed simian kidney (COS-1) cells and to transform several AB strains of Escherichia coli. Colonies containing mutant plasmids were detected by hybridization to 32P-labeled oligodeoxynucleotides. Presence of the single DNA adduct increased the mutation frequency by 8-fold in both COS cells and E. coli. Over 80% of mutations detected in both systems were targeted and represented G.C----C.G or G.C----T.A transversions or single nucleotide deletions. We conclude that modification of a deoxyguanosine residue with AAF preferentially induces mutations targeted at this site when a plasmid containing a single C8-dG-AAF adduct is introduced into mammalian cells or bacteria.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Activity of synthetic peptides from the Tat protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

To determine which of the 86 amino acids in the Tat protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) are important for transactivation, peptides from Tat were synthesized and their activity was measured in cells containing a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene under control of the HIV long terminal repeat promoter. Although the Tat sequence contains arginine- and cysteine-rich stretches that are difficult to synthesize, it was possible to prepare pure peptides in good yield by using fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) chemistry. A peptide containing residues 1-58 had 5-10% the activity of full-length Tat. Deleting 4 amino acids from the N terminus of this peptide further reduced activity, while peptides with more extensive N-terminal deletions and peptides missing the basic region at the C terminus had no detectable activity. A peptide previously reported to transactivate, Tat-(37-62), was completely inactive in our assays. Inactive peptides were also tested as possible inhibitors of transactivation. Tat-(21-38), which contains the cysteine-rich region and can form heterodimers with intact Tat in vitro, showed inhibition at high peptide concentrations. However, this effect was not specific for Tat or for the HIV promoter, since the peptide also inhibited expression from the simian virus 40 early promoter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A general strategy for random insertion and substitution mutagenesis: substoichiometric coupling of trinucleotide phosphoramidites.

Results from a number of recent studies suggest that amino acid insertion mutations may provide an important alternative to substitution mutations for modifying protein structures and functional activities. To facilitate the use of single-amino acid insertions, we have developed a general strategy for inducing random, in-phase codon insertions across a defined segment of a cloned gene. In brief, a mixture of blocked and protected trinucleotide phosphoramidites is coupled at substoichiometric levels after every third monomer coupling on a conventional solid-state synthesizer. From the heterogeneous mixture of oligonucleotide sequences thus generated, those oligonucleotides that have acquired a single additional codon are purified by urea/PAGE. By using equimolar amounts of GCT and GGT trinucleotides in the oligonucleotide synthesis plus standard oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis techniques, we have induced as many as 13 different single alanine and glycine insertion mutations into the gene for staphylococcal nuclease in one experiment. On replacement of the 5'-dimethoxytrityl blocking group on the trinucleotide phosphoramidite with an acid-stable blocking group, such as levulinate or fluoren-9-ylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc), this same strategy of substoichiometric couplings at codon boundaries should permit the synthesis of complex pools of oligonucleotides for the introduction, with constant efficiency, of every type of amino acid substitution at each codon across a gene segment.

Base Sequence↗

Repair by human cell extracts of single (6-4) and cyclobutane thymine-thymine photoproducts in DNA.

One cis-syn cyclobutane thymine dimer or one (6-4) thymine-thymine photoproduct was built into an identical sequence of a closed-circular M13 duplex DNA, and nucleotide excision repair synthesis carried out by human cell extracts in the area containing each lesion was determined. Extracts from normal cells repaired the (6-4) photoproduct with a patch size of approximately 20-30 nucleotides, but repair was at least 10-fold lower at the cyclobutane dimer. The (6-4) lesion was repaired with comparable efficiency to a single acetylamino-fluorene-guanine adduct in a similar location. Extract from nucleotide excision repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum group A cells could not remove any of these adducts but could complete repair of the lesions after incision with Escherichia coli UvrABC proteins. This direct comparison of repair of two UV photoproducts, in an in vitro system where chromatin assembly and transcription are absent, suggests that the more rapid repair of the (6-4) lesion observed in the mammalian cell genome overall is due in part to a significant difference in the ability of the repair complex to locate and incise these lesions in DNA.

Bacteriophage M13↗

Synthesis and coupling reactions of alpha,alpha-dialkylated amino acids with nucleobase side chains.

Several di- and tripeptides containing protected purine (adenine) and pyrimidine (thymine) residues on their side chains were synthesized. The parent amino acids alpha, alpha-dialkylated in a symmetrical manner. An effective coupling procedure was developed for these sterically hindered amino acids: the fluoren-9-ylmethyloxycarbonyl-protected amino acid was dehydrated to its oxazolinone form, which was coupled in good yields with amino esters in hot tetrachloroethane.

Adenine↗

Intramolecular vibrational dephasing obeys a power law at intermediate times.

Experimental intramolecular vibrational dephasing transients for several large organic molecules are reanalyzed. Fits to the experimental data, as well as full numerical quantum calculations with a factorized potential surface for all active degrees of freedom of fluorene indicate that power law decays, not exponentials, occur at intermediate times. The results support a proposal that power law decays describe vibrational dephasing dynamics in large molecules at intermediate times because of the local nature of energy flow.

Journal Article↗

Preferential binding of yeast Rad4.Rad23 complex to damaged DNA.

The yeast Rad4 and Rad23 proteins form a complex that is involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER). Their function in this process is not known yet, but genetic data suggest that they act in an early step in NER. We have purified an epitope-tagged Rad4.Rad23 (tRad4. Rad23) complex from yeast cells, using a clone overproducing Rad4 with a hemagglutinin-tag at its C terminus. tRad4.Rad23 complex purified by both conventional and immuno-affinity chromatography complements the in vitro repair defect of rad4 and rad23 mutant extracts, demonstrating that these proteins are functional in NER. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we show preferential binding of the tRad4.Rad23 complex to damaged DNA in vitro. UV-irradiated, as well as N-acetoxy-2-(acetylamino)fluorene-treated DNA, is efficiently bound by the protein complex. These data suggest that Rad4.Rad23 interacts with DNA damage during NER and may play a role in recognition of the damage.

Acetoxyacetylaminofluorene↗

Observing translesion synthesis of an aromatic amine DNA adduct by a high-fidelity DNA polymerase.

Aromatic amines have been studied for more than a half-century as model carcinogens representing a class of chemicals that form bulky adducts to the C8 position of guanine in DNA. Among these guanine adducts, the N-(2'-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-aminofluorene (G-AF) and N-2-(2'-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-acetylaminofluorene (G-AAF) derivatives are the best studied. Although G-AF and G-AAF differ by only an acetyl group, they exert different effects on DNA replication by replicative and high-fidelity DNA polymerases. Translesion synthesis of G-AF is achieved with high-fidelity polymerases, whereas replication of G-AAF requires specialized bypass polymerases. Here we have presented structures of G-AF as it undergoes one round of accurate replication by a high-fidelity DNA polymerase. Nucleotide incorporation opposite G-AF is achieved in solution and in the crystal, revealing how the polymerase accommodates and replicates past G-AF, but not G-AAF. Like an unmodified guanine, G-AF adopts a conformation that allows it to form Watson-Crick hydrogen bonds with an opposing cytosine that results in protrusion of the bulky fluorene moiety into the major groove. Although incorporation opposite G-AF is observed, the C:G-AF base pair induces distortions to the polymerase active site that slow translesion synthesis.

Amines↗

Effects of different mitogens on intrasplenic liver tissue transplants in comparison to orthotopic liver.

Ectopic liver cell transplants, when compared to orthotopic liver, can serve as a tool to study topic influences on liver cell differentiation, multiplication, function and responsiveness to xenobiotics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, if characteristic effects of mitogens are exerted in both liver and intrasplenic liver cell transplants in a similar manner. Fetal liver tissue suspensions were transplanted into the spleens of adult male syngenic rats. Four months later, transplant recipients and controls were treated with fluorene (FEN), fluorenone (FON), 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), N-nitrosodibenzylamine (NDBA) or the solvent 48 hours before sacrifice. The following parameters were assessed within livers and spleens: mitotic activity of hepatocytes, glycogen content, cytochrome P450 (P450) isoforms expression, P450 mediated monooxygenase functions, tissue content of lipid peroxides (LPO) and of reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH; GSSG). In both orthotopic livers and intrasplenic transplants FEN, FON or NDBA administration increased the mitotic activity of the hepatocytes. Treatment with the mitogens caused a distinct and characteristic induction of the P450 isoforms expression and of the respective monooxygenase functions in the livers and (with certain differences) also in the transplants. FEN and FON slightly increased, AAF and NDBA reduced liver glycogen content. The latter effect was also seen in the transplants. NDBA administration caused a slight increase in tissue LPO content in livers, but not in spleens. Additionally, AAF or NDBA treatment led to an elevation of liver (but not of spleen) GSH and GSSG concentrations. The results of the present investigation show that characteristic effects of mitogens on orthotopic liver occur with certain differences also in ectopic liver cell transplants.

2-Acetylaminofluorene↗

Study of the genotoxicity of toluene.

Chromosome analysis was conducted for peripheral lymphocytes of 23 printers exposed to toluene concentrations of 590 mg/m3 in a rotary machine workshop and to rotogravure printing inks. The percentages of aberrant cells were 2.30 in the printers and 1.46 in the control group (n = 22) (p < .05). The concentration of hippuric acid in printers was significantly higher than in the control group (p < .01), and the level of blood toluene at the end of the workshift was 0.500 mg/l. The authors also examined rotogravure printing inks-considered a potential source of genotoxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons because they contained carbon black-their use in printing plants, and previous documentation of increased chromosomal aberrations in rotogravure printers. Only milligrams of fluorene and phenanthrene per gram of the printing inks were found; no polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with carcinogenic properties were discovered in the inks. The authors used Salmonella typhimurium indicator strains TA 98, TA 100, TA 1537, and YG 1041 in spot tests and indicator strains TA 98 and TA 100 in plate-incorporation assays to determine that there was no bacterial mutagenicity of all four colors of rotogravure inks. Urinary mutagenicity, which was evaluated with a microsuspension assay containing YG 1041 indicator strain both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation, was also studied. No significant difference in bacterial mutagenicity was found between the exposed and control groups. The increased percentage of aberrant cells in printers can be explained by exposure to genotoxicants that are not excreted in urine. Toluene was the most likely cause of the aberration.

Adult↗

Symptom clusters in a community with chronic exposure to chemicals in two superfund sites.

Sikes and French, Ltd., two National Priority List sites that are proximal to one another, are located approximately 20 mi (32 km) east of Houston, Texas. Dumping at Sikes occurred during the early 1960s and continued until 1967. Benzene, 1,2-dichloroethane, toluene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, naphthalene, lead, fluorene, and pyrene are chemicals that pose a particular public health concern. French, Ltd., commenced operations in 1966, and dumping ceased in 1973. Chemicals of potential public health impact at the French, Ltd., site are benzene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, copper, chrysene, chromium, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, heptachlor, lead, nickel, polychlorinated biphenyls, tetrachloroethylene, trichloroethylene, and zinc. During the 1980s, both sites were placed on the National Priority List. Barrett Station is a stable black community located near the two sites. The question of whether levels of exposure to dumpsite chemicals were related to health complaints in the Barrett Station population was examined. The prevalence of 29 symptoms reported by 321 individuals who had been highly exposed was compared with symptoms reported by a group of 351 persons from the same community who had limited exposure. A meaningful difference between the two groups emerged for some of the symptoms, the most notable of which symptoms were neurologic. Almost twice as many subjects in the high-exposure group reported five or more neurologic symptoms, compared with the low-exposure group. This excess of neurological symptoms is consistent with the known toxic properties of the chemicals at the sites.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

Quantitative determination of trace concentration of organics in water by solvent extraction and fused silica capillary gas chromatography: aliphatic and polynuclear hydrocarbons.

Solvent extraction procedures with six different solvents on aqueous model systems of aliphatic (C12-C22) and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs: Naphthalene, acenaphtene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene) were studied for the analysis in the trace concentration range (20-50 ng ml-1) by fused silica capillary gas chromatography. Recovery efficiencies, reproducibilities and detection limits for each analyte and procedure are reported. The effect of the PAHs on the extracting rate of the aliphatic hydrocarbons at the trace concentration range is discussed.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Anaerobic degradation of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from river sediment in Taiwan.

This study investigated the anaerobic degradation of five polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from Erren River sediment in southern Taiwan. The degradation rates of PAH were in the order: acenaphthene > fluorene > phenanthrene > anthracene > pyrene. The degradation rate was enhanced when the five compounds were present simultaneously in river sediment. Comparison of the PAH degradation rates under three reducing conditions showed the following order: sulfate-reducing conditions > methanogenic conditions > nitrate-reducing conditions. The addition of electron donors (acetate, lactate and pyruvate) enhanced PAH degradation under methanogenic and sulfate-reducing conditions. However, the addition of acetate, lactate or pyruvate inhibited PAH degradation under nitrate-reducing conditions. The addition of heavy metals, nonylphenol and phthalate esters (PAEs) inhibited PAH degradation. Our results show that sulfate-reducing bacteria, methanogen and eubacteria are involved in the degradation of PAH; sulfate-reducing bacteria constitute a major microbial component in PAH degradation. Of the microorganism strains isolated from the sediment samples, we found that strain ER9 expressed the greatest biodegrading ability.

Anaerobiosis↗

Stereochemistry of (E)- and (Z)-1,1'-dichlorobifluorenylidenes, substituted overcrowded fullerene fragments.

X-ray crystallographic and semiempirical PM3 and AM1 studies of 1,1'-dichlorobi-9H-fluoren-9-ylidene (5) are reported. The X-ray molecular structure of (Z)-5 indicated an approximately C2 symmetric conformation with pure twist around C9 = C9' of 40.4 degrees. The fjord regions are somewhat overcrowded: r(C8...C8') = 315.3 pm, r(Cl(1)...Cl(1') = 341.7 pm, r(C(8)...H(8')) = 259.0 pm. The four chlorine atoms of two neighboring molecules of (Z)-5 form a chain. The PM3 calculations showed that the global minimum of 5 is the C2 symmetric twisted conformation t(E)-5, which is 2.4 kJ/mol more stable than its diastereomer C2-t(Z)-5. The corresponding AM1 relative stability is reversed: C2-t(Z)-5 is 1.1 kJ/mol more stable than C2-t(E)-5. The pure twists of t(Z)-5 and t(E)-5 are 37.0 degrees and 37.2 degrees (PM3) and 40.5 degrees and 39.1 degrees (AM1). The corresponding (E) --> (Z) (PM3) and (Z) --> (E) (AM1) energy barriers of diastereomerization are 80.6 kJ/mol (PM3) and 75.8 kJ/mol (AM1). Two anti-folded local minima conformations C2-a(Z)-5 and C(i)-a(E)-5 were found to be 21.2 and 29.5 kJ/mol (PM3) and 25.8 and 35.2 kJ/mol (AM1) less stable than t(E)-5. The syn-folded conformations C(S)-s(Z)-5 and C2-s(E)-5 are transition states for the enantiomerization processes of C2-tz-5 and C2-tE-5, respectively, and lay 79.8 and 94.1 kJ/mol (PM3) and 108.3 and 107.4 kJ/mol (AM1) higher in energy than their corresponding twisted conformations. An alternative pathway for enantiomerization of C2-t(E)-5 via the anti-folded achiral intermediate C(i)-a(E) has a barrier of 56.0 kJ/mol (PM3) and 68.5 (AM1). An alternative pathway for enantiomerization of C2-t(Z)-5 via C2-t(E) and C(i)-a(E) has a barrier of 80.6 (PM3) and 75.8 (AM1) kJ/mol.

Journal Article↗