Comparative study of phototoxicity of protoporphyrin IX synthetic and extracted from ssp Rattus novergicus albinus rats toward murine melanoma cells.

Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is a precursor of heme synthesis and is known to be an active photosensitizer and precursor of photosensitizers applied in photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photodynamic diagnostics (PDD). On irradiation with visible light, PpIX undergoes phototransformation, producing photoproducts which may also be phototoxic and increase its efficacy. The mechanism of PpIX phototransformation depends on environmental characteristics and can be different in vitro and in vivo. In this paper, we present a comparative study of the photoactivity of synthetic PpIX and PpIX extracted from the Harderian gland of ssp Rattus novergicus albinus rats, along with their photoproducts toward murine B16F-10 melanoma cells. It was observed that when irradiated with visible light the endogenous PpIX demonstrates photocytotoxicity ten times higher than the synthetic PpIX. The photoproduct of endogenous PpIX also possesses phototoxicity, though slightly lower than that of PpIX itself. The rate of cell internalization for both endogenous PpIX and its photoproduct was eightfold greater than that obtained for the synthetic porphyrin. This difference might result from a complexation of the native PpIX with some amphiphilic compounds during its synthesis within the Harderian glands, which facilitates the cell uptake of PpIX. Fluorescence microscopy images show that both endogenous and synthetic porphyrins are localized after uptake predominantly in the mitochondrial region of cells.

Identification of specific inhibitors for a trypanosomatid RNA editing reaction.

Several mitochondrial mRNAs of the trypanosomatid protozoa are edited through the post-transcriptional insertion and deletion of uridylates. The reaction has provided insights into basic cellular biology and is also important as a potential therapeutic target for the diseases caused by trypanosomatid pathogens. Despite this importance, the field has been hindered by the lack of specific inhibitors that could be used as probes of the reaction mechanism or developed into novel therapeutics. In this study, an electrochemiluminescent aptamer-switch was utilized in a high-throughput screen for inhibitors of a trypanosomatid RNA editing reaction. The screen identified GW5074, mitoxantrone, NF 023, protoporphyrin IX, and D-sphingosine as inhibitors of insertion editing, with IC(50) values ranging from 1 to 3 µM. GW5074 and protoporphyrin IX are demonstrated to inhibit at or before the endonuclease cleavage that initiates editing and will be valuable biochemical probes for the early events of the in vitro reaction. Since protoporphyrin IX and sphingosine are both naturally present within the trypanosomatids, their effectiveness as in vitro inhibitors is also suggestive of the potential for in vivo modulatory roles.

Double-resonance spectroscopy of the jet-cooled free base and Cu(II) complex of protoporphyrin IX.

The excited-state dynamics of porphyrins, and related compounds, impact on their applications as photosensitizers for tumor-targeting drugs and solar cells. Many researchers have examined the influence of non-planar distortions in the ground-state geometry on the properties of photoexcited states. We have identified the added importance of conformational changes in the excited state, relative to the initial geometry, on the resulting decay pathways. The ground-state structure and photodynamics of free-base and Cu(ii) complexes of protoporphyrin IX, laser desorbed into a cold supersonic expansion, have been investigated using infrared ion-dip spectroscopy combined with density-functional theory calculations. The vibrational bands associated with the N-H stretching mode of the free base are broader in the first electronically excited state, accessed via the Q band of protoporphyrin IX, than the corresponding bands in the ground-electronic state. This is attributed to rapid intersystem crossing in the excited state promoted by extension of the N-H bonds. Our calculations show that the stretching modes are highly anharmonic, which suggests the likelihood that other conformational changes are also taking place in the excited state.

Extraction and analysis of colourful eggshell pigments using HPLC and HPLC/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

The literature on the pigments of avian eggshells is critically reviewed. Methods using methanolic sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid to extract eggshell pigments are unsuitable to detect the occurrence of zinc protoporphyrin or zinc biliverdin because they demetallate these compounds. Extraction methods are described here using EDTA and acetonitrile-acetic acid or acetonitrile-dimethyl sulfoxide, which do not demetallate zinc protoporphyrin. Such extracts were prepared from eggshell of the common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor, and from another six bird species. Protoporphyrin and biliverdin were identified and fully characterized by HPLC/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-MS/MS) in all samples, but none contained zinc protoporphyrin. The zinc complex of biliverdin, claimed to be an additional pigment responsible for eggshell background colours, was labile to EDTA and acid pH and if occurring naturally could not be extracted intact by the published or the modified protocols. An explanation is advanced for the exceptional report that all porphyrins from uroporphyrin to protoporphyrin were found in eggshells of the fowl Gallus domesticus.

A new method for isolating physiologically active Mg-protoporphyrin monomethyl ester, the substrate of the cyclase enzyme of the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway.

Mg-protoporphyrin monomethyl ester (MPE) is a biosynthetic intermediate of chlorophyll and converted by MPE cyclase to protochlorophyllide. Limited availability of MPE has so far hampered cyclase research. In a new, simplified, method MPE was prepared from freeze dried bchE mutant Rhodobacter capsulatus DB575 cells by extraction with acetone/H(2)O/25% NH(3). Isolated MPE was identified by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, and its purity was analyzed by HPLC. The extracted MPE was dried and redissolved in buffered DMSO and its substrate activity is shown by enzymatic cyclase assays. A linear time course was observed for MPE conversion to protochlorophyllide by enzymes from barley etioplasts. Our innovation of freeze drying the R. capsulatus cells before extraction provides a high yield method for MPE, which is significantly faster and more reproducible than previous extraction methods.

Compositional analysis of endogenous porphyrins from Helicobacter pylori.

Bacteria able to accumulate porphyrins can be inactivated by visible light irradiation thanks to the photosensitizing properties of this class of aromatic pigments (photodynamic therapy, PDT). Since the bacterial resistance to antibiotic is growing, PDT is becoming a valid alternative. In this context, the pathogen Helicobacter pylori (Hp) is a suitable target for PDT since it spontaneously produces and accumulates porphyrins. It is then important to understand the spectroscopic behavior of these endogenous species to exploit them as photosensitizers, thus improving the results given by the application of PDT in the treatment of Hp infections. In this work we extracted porphyrins from both a laboratory-adapted and a virulent strain of Hp, and we performed spectroscopic and chromatographic experiments to collect information about the composition and the spectrophotometric features of the extracts. The main components of the porphyrin mixtures were identified and their relative contribution to the global red fluorescence was examined.

Transient erythropoietic protoporphyria associated with chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in a cohort of German shepherd dogs.

Over the course of one year, slight jaundice and ascites suggestive of chronic liver disease occurred in 17 German shepherd dogs from one breeding colony. Blood analyses, performed twice with a six-month interval, revealed elevated serum activities of liver enzymes in 13 dogs. In addition, four young adult German shepherd dogs that showed severe ascites, slight jaundice and increased serum liver enzyme activities were referred for further evaluation. Because of their poor prognosis these four dogs were euthanased. There were no signs of photosensitivity. Postmortem examinations revealed macronodular darkened livers, which were characterised histopathologically by cirrhosis associated with aggregates of brown pigments showing a striking orange birefringence in polarised light. Ultrastructurally, the crystalline pigments were typical of protoporphyrins. High-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of liver samples revealed very high levels of protoporphyrins (mean 9550 nmol/g wet liver, reference value 0.41 nmol/g wet liver) and low activities of ferrochelatase (mean 0.274 mmol/mg protein/hour, reference value 0.684 nmol/mg protein/hour). Twenty-six months after the onset of the hepatopathies, the clinical condition of the 13 surviving dogs had improved and their serum liver enzyme activities were normal. The clinical histories and pedigree analyses were not in concordance with an inherited form of protoporphyria. There was no known history of exposure to toxic substances or drugs. The findings are in accordance with a transient erythropoietic protoporphyria associated with hepatic complications, presumably caused by exposure to a porphyrinogenic, ferrochelatase-inhibitory substance of unknown origin.

[Biosynthesis of phorcabiline, blue-green biliary pigment of Actias selene (Lepidoptera, Attacidae)]. / Biosynthèse de la phorcabiline, pigment biliaire bleu d'Actias selene (Lepidoptera, Attacidae)

The blue-green bile pigments of Actias selene (Attacidae) have been investigated at different stages of its development. Coproporphyrinogen-14-C, protoporphyrin-IX3-H, and pterobilin-14-C, injected to larvae are metabolised into phorcabilin I, the main neopterobilin in this animal. It is concluded that phorcabilin I is a bile pigment of the IX gamma series and that pterobilin is its direct precursor. A method for the preparation of labelled protoporphyrin from quail egg-shell is reported.

Characterization of protoporphyrin in red blood cells of patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria.

It was investigated whether the protoporphyrin that can be extracted from red blood cells of erythropoietic protoporphyria (E.P.P.) patients is present in the cells as free molecules or protein-bound. With isoelectric focusing and with starch gel electrophoresis it could be shown that virtually all protoporphyrin in the erythrocytes is protein-bound. It is very likely that the protoporphyrin is bound to hemoglobin at heme-binding sites. This was indicated by several observations: 1. With isoelectric focusing the protoporphyrin-protein complex is focused at a pH only slightly higher than the isoelectric point of hemoglobin. 2. With chromatography on Sephadex columns it appeared that hemoglobin and the protopotphyrin-protein complex have the same molecular weight. 3. A Heme-protoporphyrin exchange occurred when the heme-globin bond was labialized by conversion to hemiglobin. The resulting protoporphyrin-hemoglobin complex had the same electrophoretic mobility with starch gel electrophoresis as the protoporphyrin-protein complex, extracted from red blood cells of E.P.P. patients.

Thin-layer chromatographic separation of the ferrochelatase-inhibitory ring A and ring B regioisomers of N-ethylprotoporphyrin from a mixture of the four regioisomers.

When N-alkylprotoporphyrins are prepared synthetically or biologically, a mixture of four regioisomers is obtained. For our studies, separation of the potent ferrochelatase-inhibitory ring A (NA) and ring B (NB) regioisomers from the ring C (NC) and ring D (ND) regioisomers of low potency is required. Previously this separation required two successive high-performance liquid chromatography procedures. We now report that the separation of the zinc complexes of the NA and NB regioisomers from the NC and ND regioisomers can be achieved by a rapid and inexpensive thin-layer chromatography procedure.

Extraction of protoporphyrin disodium and its inhibitory effects on HBV-DNA.

AIM: To explore an ideal method for extracting protoporphyrin disodium (PPN) from unanticoagulated animal blood, and to study the inhibitory effects of PPN on HBV-DNA duplication and its cytotoxicity to 2.2.15 cell strain. METHODS: Protoporphyrin methyl ester and other intermediate products were prepared with protoheme separated from protein hydrolysates of coagulated animal blood, which were finally made into PPN and detected quantitatively with an ultraviolet fluorescent analyzer. Ten microg/ml, 20 microg/ml, 40 microg/ml, 80 microg/ml and 160 microg/ml of PPN-aqueous solution were added into culture medium for 2.2.15 cells respectively. Eight days later, the drug concentration in supernatant from the culture medium was detected when inhibition rate of HBeAg, cell survival rate when inhibition rate of HBeAg was 50% (ID50), and when survival cells in experimental group were 50% of those in control group (CD50), and the therapeutic index (TI) was also detected. PPN with different concentration of 10 microg/ml, 20 microg/ml, 40 microg/ml, 80 microg/ml and 160 microg/ml was respectively mixed and cultivated with HepG2 2.2.15 cell suspension, and then the inhibition of PPN against HBV-DNA was judged by PCR. RESULTS: The extract of henna crystal was identified to be PPN. When the concentrations of PPN were 160 microg/ml and 80 microg/ml, the inhibition rates of HBeAg were 89.8% and 82.4%, and the cell survival rates were 98.7% and 99.2%. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that PPN can be extracted from unanticoagulated animal blood. PPN can inhibit HBV-DNA expression and duplication in vitro, and has no cytotoxicity to liver cells. Further study and application of PPN are warranted.

In situ assessment of porphyrin photosensitizers in Propionibacterium acnes.

Porphyrins are known to be efficient photosensitizer molecules and the combined action of light and porphyrins in Propionibacterium acnes have a lethal action on the cells. Identification and quantification of in situ porphyrins in P. acnes have been done using an integrating sphere connected to an ordinary absorption spectrophotometer, and the amounts of porphyrins in the cells were quantified by measuring scattering free absorption spectra of the cell suspensions. The concentration of porphyrins in P. acnes cells were increased in either of two ways; by the addition of delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which lead to the formation of coproporphyrin III under the incubation conditions used in these experiments, or by the addition of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) to the cell suspension. In the latter case, PPIX molecules are taken up by the cells in a membrane-mediated uptake mechanism, and accumulate in the cells either on a monomeric or a particular aggregate form. The fraction of porphyrins on aggregate form increased with increasing PPIX additions. In the case of ALA induced porphyrin production, only monomeric porphyrins were stored in the cells. In both cases, the cells have a limited binding capacity of monomeric porphyrins, which is estimated to be 3 x 10(5) molecules/cell, or one porphyrin molecule to every 100st lipid molecule in the cell membrane.

NMR study on the major components in hematoporphyrin derivative YHPD.

The hematoporphyrin derivative YHPD, a China-made product, has been clinically used in photodynamic therapy of tumors as a good photosensitizing drug. The NMR study on the structure of its major components is reported here. In terms of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) four major components A, B, C and D were isolated. The NMR results showed that the component A is O-acetylhematoporphyrin, B and C are two isomers of vinyldeuteroporphyrin. The spectra of 2-dimensional homonuclear correlation NMR, 2-dimensional NOE (nuclear overhauser enhancement), 13C-NMR and off-resonance as well as FAB (fast atom bombarding) mass spectrum of component D indicate that it is a protoporphyrin dimer linked by carbon-carbon bond. This finding may provide a chemical basis for understanding the difference in biological activity between YHPD and other foreign commercial HPD, as well as the composition of clinically used alkali-treated HPD and its effective component.

[The porphyrin content of the erythrocytes in cancer patients]. / Soderzhanie porfirinov v éritrotsitakh u onkologicheskikh bol'nykh.

Levels of copro- and protoporphyrin in red blood cells obtained from patients with tumors of the stomach, large bowel and thyroid are discussed. The levels of both porphyrins proved markedly increased in patients with gastric and intestinal cancer but were nearly normal in cases of benign tumor of various sites and thyroid cancer.

Structural analysis of haemin demetallation by L-chain apoferritins.

There are extensive structural similarities between eukaryotic and prokaryotic ferritins. However, there is one essential difference between these two types of ferritins: bacterioferritins contain haem whereas eukaryotic ferritins are considered to be non-haem proteins. In vitro experiments had shown that horse spleen apoferritin or recombinant horse L chain apoferritins, when co-crystallised with haemin, undergoes demetallation of the porphyrin. In the present study a cofactor has been isolated directly from horse spleen apoferritin and from crystals of the mutant horse L chain apoferritin (E53Q, E56Q, E57Q, E60Q and R59M) which had been co-crystallised with haemin. In both cases the HPLC/ESI-MS results confirm that the cofactor is a N-ethylprotoporphyrin IX. Crystal structures of wild type L chain horse apoferritin and its three mutants co-crystallised with haemin have been determined to high resolution and in all cases a metal-free molecule derived from haemin was found in the hydrophobic pocket, close to the two-fold axis. The X-ray structure of the E53Q, E56Q, E57Q, E60Q+R59M recombinant horse L-chain apoferritin has been obtained at a higher resolution (1.16Å) than previously reported for any mammalian apoferritins. Similar evidence for a metal-free molecule derived from haemin was found in the electron density map of horse spleen apoferritin (at a resolution of 1.5Å). The out-of-plane distortion of the observed porphyrin is clearly compatible with an N-alkyl porphyrin. We conclude that L-chain ferritins are capable of binding and demetallating haemin, generating in the process N-ethylprotoporphyrin IX both in vivo and in vitro.

Application of 5-aminolevulinic acid and its derivatives for photodynamic therapy in vitro and in vivo.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is the most widely used form of PDT in clinical practice. Topical application of ALA leads to overproduction of the endogenous photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). ALA-PDT is efficient treatment of superficial skin lesions, but not for thicker lesions. The main reason for this is suboptimal penetration of ALA molecules through cellular membranes and through stratum corneum of intact skin. Different approaches (formulations, mechanical and physical penetration enhancers, ALA derivatives) are currently used to increase the penetration. The content and distribution of ALA intracellularly and in tissues is difficult to measure, but PpIX content, on a relative scale, can be easily measured by fluorimetric assays.

Separation of protoporphyrins and related compounds by reversed-phase liquid chromatography.

We describe the separation of protoporphyrin and related porphyrins by reversed-phase "high-performance" liquid chromatography, with fluorometric detection. We used the method to demonstrate that acid hydrolysis of the dimethyl ester of protoporphyrin IX is complete in 2 to 3 h and is followed by the acid-catalyzed conversion of protoporphyrin IX to a chemical species that chromatographic evidence indicates to be hematoporphyrin IX. In addition, the method was used to evaluate the purity of a commercial preparation of protoporphyrin IX and was also demonstrated to have the sensitivity and specificity needed for measuring the protoporphyrin IX content of whole-blood.