title: A light-induced tryptophan-riboflavin binding: biological implications.
abstract: We review here the covalent photo-binding induced by visible light between the essential amino acid tryptophan and the vitamin riboflavin. We discuss the biological implications of this photoadduct in relation to the hepatotoxic and cytotoxic effect associated to parenteral nutrients and to culture media exposed to the action of light, respectively. We also analyze the formation of a photo-binding between riboflavin and the residues of tryptophan present in the proteins of the eye lens, a tissue which is permanently exposed to visible light.
authors.affiliation: P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Facultad de Química, Santiago.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salim-Hanna
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: De Ioannes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D014364:Tryptophan; D012256:Riboflavin