title: Photochemical and thermal reactivity of kynurenine.
abstract: The thermal and photochemical reactivity of kynurenine (KN), a tryptophan metabolite found in human lenses, has been studied in aqueous solution. The decarboxylation reaction of KN, resulting in the formation of 4-hydroxyquinoline, is reported for the first time. Rate constants for KN deamination and decarboxylation were determined in the temperature range 50-90 degrees C. The quantum yields for KN photodecomposition under argon were measured to be Phi Ar=(2.0+/-0.2) x 10(-5) and under oxygen Phi O2=(1.1+/-0.1) x 10(-4).
authors.affiliation: Department of Multispin Coordination Compounds, International Tomography Center, Institutskaya 3a, Novosibirsk, Russia. yura@tomo.nsc.ru
authors.forename: Yuri P
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Tsentalovich
authors.forename: Olga A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Snytnikova
authors.forename: Malcolm D E
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Forbes
authors.forename: Elena I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Chernyak
authors.forename: Sergey V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Morozov
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D003641:Deamination; D003653:Decarboxylation; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010777:Photochemistry; D010782:Photolysis; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D007737:Kynurenine