Open AccessPhotobilirubin: an early bilirubin photoproduct detected by absorbance difference spectroscopy.
Author(s) -
David A. Lightner,
Timothy A. Wooldridge,
Antony F. McDonagh
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.76.1.29
Subject(s) - absorbance , photochemistry , chemistry , trifluoroacetic acid , bile pigments , spectroscopy , absorption (acoustics) , bilirubin , ultraviolet visible spectroscopy , absorption spectroscopy , chromatography , organic chemistry , materials science , pigment , optics , composite material , gastroenterology , medicine , physics , quantum mechanics
Absorption of light converts bilirubin-IXalpha in solution to a mixture of what are probably cis-trans geometric isomers. This reaction is much faster than other photochemical reactions of bilirubin and reaches photoequilibrium before losses due to photooxidation are significant. At room temperature in the dark in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid or iodine or simply on standing, the photoproducts revert to the natural isomer. They also revert under visible light. Their formation and reversion can be followed by chromatography on polyamide and by absorbance difference spectroscopy.