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Photodynamics of the Bacteriochlorophyll–Carotenoid System. 1. Bacteriochlorophyll‐photosensitized Oxygenation of β‐Carotene in Acetone ¶
Author(s) -
Fiedor Joanna,
Fiedor Leszek,
Winkler Johannes,
Scherz Avigdor,
Scheer Hugo
Publication year - 2001
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 - 10.1562/0031-8655(2001)0740064potbcs2.0.co2
Subject(s) - bacteriochlorophyll , carotenoid , carotene , photochemistry , chemistry , acetone , pigment , biochemistry , food science , organic chemistry
Carotenoids are well‐known physical quenchers of chlorophyll excited states and reactive oxygen species both in vivo and in vitro. They may also be involved in chemical quenching undergoing, e.g. isomerizations or oxidations. We have found that β‐carotene (Car) in aerobic acetone is rapidly oxygenated under strong illumination with red light (λ exc ≥ 630 nm) in the presence of bacteriopheophytin a. At the same time the photosensitizer undergoes only slight (<10%) photodegradation. By preparative high‐performance liquid chromatography as many as seven major products of oxygen attachment to Car have been isolated. Their molecular masses show that Car sequentially accumulates up to six oxygen atoms while its C 40 ‐skeleton remains intact.