Unique spectroscopic properties of synthetic 15-cis beta-carotene, an important compound in photosynthesis, and a medicine for photoprotective function.
The (1(1)B(u)+) energy of synthetic 15-cis beta-carotene exhibits a linear dependence on (n(2)-1)/(n(2)+2) in non-polar and polar solvents; in this it is similar to (that of) all-trans beta-carotene. The point of intersection is at (n(2)-1)/(n(2)+2) = 0.3 for both isomers. The microenvironment of 15-cis beta-carotene in the Photosystem II reaction center was established as having a mean refractive index 1.473. Persistent spectral hole burning with a very broad (approximately 30 nm) hole observed around 500 nm (corresponding to an extremely short excited lifetime tau approximately 9 fs) indicates that 15-cis beta-carotene has/displays very efficient photoprotective quenching.
Białek-Bylka
Grazyna Ewa
GE
Faculty of Technical Physics, Poznań University of Technology, 60-965 Poznań, Nieszawska 13 a, Poland. bialek@phys.put.poznan.pl
Jazurek
Beata
B
Dedic
Roman
R
Hala
Jan
J
Skrzypczak
Andrzej
A
D003080:Cold Temperature; D006586:Hexanes / Q000378:metabolism; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010788:Photosynthesis; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000737:chemistry; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
D006586:Hexanes; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D019207:beta Carotene