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Fluorescence Studies of Lens Epithelial Cells and Their Constituents
Author(s) -
Atherton Stephen J.,
Lambert Chris,
Schultz Joanne,
Williams Natalie,
Zigman Seymour
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1999.tb08289.x
Subject(s) - fluorescence , absorption (acoustics) , photochemistry , lens (geology) , excited state , biophysics , chemistry , excitation , cell damage , kinetics , materials science , optics , biochemistry , atomic physics , biology , physics , electrical engineering , quantum mechanics , composite material , engineering
Steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence measurements have been made of human and rabbit lens epithelial cells and their total soluble protein. Excitation at 350 nm results in broad fluorescence spectra peaking at 450 nm and stretching into the visible past 650 nm. The fluorescence excitation spectra peak around 350 nm. We assign the species responsible for this absorption and fluorescence as NADPH. Because the absorption of near‐UV light (300–400 nm) is responsible for cell damage and death, we postulate that excited states of NADPH are implicated in the mechanisms of cell damage. Preirradia‐tion with 355 nm light leads to a loss of NADPH fluorescence but with no change in decay kinetics. Possible mechanisms for cell damage are explored.