title: Effect of visible light on selected enzymes, vitamins and amino acids.
abstract: In most cases, the presence of an endogenous photosensitizer is a requirement for visible light modification of biomolecules in animal tissues. Riboflavin (RF) is present in all aerobic cells and is a very efficient photosensitizer, presenting a complex photochemistry with a mixed type I-type II mechanisms. Visible light irradiation in the presence of RF diminished the enzymatic activity of horse radish peroxidase (HRP) only when this glyco-enzyme was deglycosilated. In contrast, the activity of catalase is inactivated via singlet oxygen, and that of lysozyme was efficiently inactivated by a mixed type I-type II mechanisms. The reactive species involved in the RF sensitized photoconversion of lysozyme and the aromatic amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine (both free in solution) is discussed. The role of ascorbate and the effect of RF photosensitized processes in biological complex systems, such as the ocular lens and tumoral cell in culture, is analyzed.
authors.affiliation: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Facultad de Química, Departamento de Química Física, Casilla 306, Correo 22, Santiago, Chile. aedwards@puc.cl
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D024322:Amino Acids, Aromatic / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D004798:Enzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000378:metabolism; D014815:Vitamins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D024322:Amino Acids, Aromatic; D000975:Antioxidants; D004798:Enzymes; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D014815:Vitamins; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D012256:Riboflavin