Com o objetivo de entendermos como as duas transições de fase, abaixo da temperatura ambiente, modificam o comportamento dos centros paramagnéticos formados em torno do Cu2+, estudamos o NH4BR:Cu2+ crescido em soluções cujo pH variou de zero a 8,26. Utilizando principalmente, a RPE nas bandas X e Q, realizamos um estudo térmico e angular desde 77 K à temperatura ambiente, com o qua1 verificamos que o NH4BR:Cu2+ forma três centros paramagnéticos distintos, de acordo com o pH das soluções, sendo um deles descrito pela primeira vez. Pelas simetrias apresentadas para cada uma das fases do cristal, pudemos propor modelos para estes centros compatíveis com as transições de fase. Mostramos que em virtude da forte covalência apresentada pelos centros, a interação superhiperfina supera a hiperfina. / In order to understand how the two phase transitions, below the room temperature, change the behavior of the paramagnetic centres formed around the Cu2+, we have been studying the NH4Br:Cu2+, grown in solutions with pH varying from zero to 8.26. Using mainly EPR at X and Q bands, we performed a thermal and angular study from 77 K to room temperature. We verified that the NH4Br:Cu2+ forms three distinct paramagnetic centres depending on the pH of the solution, one of them we described for the first time. According to the symmetries of each phase, satisfactory models have been proposed for these centres. As a result of the strong covalency exhibited by Cu2+ and its neighbourhood, we have shown that the superhyperfine interaction is greater than the hyperfine one.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2014-08-15T11:21:25Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertacao Sebastiao Antonio Mendanha Neto.pdf: 1242328 bytes, checksum: d0f39ae03faaec981292f99cefebb8ea (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-15T11:21:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Dissertacao Sebastiao Antonio Mendanha Neto.pdf: 1242328 bytes, checksum: d0f39ae03faaec981292f99cefebb8ea (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-26 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The oxidative stress effects promoted by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and 2,2 -Azobis(2- methylpropionamidine)dihydrochloride (AAPH) in proteins and lipids of the erythrocyte membrane were investigated by testing the oxidative hemolysis, the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) in addition to spectroscopic electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of lipid spin label 5-DOXIL stearic acid (5-DSA) and 3-maleimide proxyl (5-MSL) that binds covalently to erythrocyte s membrane proteins. The spectral parameter 2Ak obtained directly from the EPR spectra of spin label 5-DSA structured in the lipid bilayer of the erythrocyte membrane was sensitive to changes in the dynamics of lipids resulting on the oxidation of membrane proteins. The oxidation of proteins observed for very low concentrations of H2O2 (starting at 100 μM) were confirmed with spin label 5-MSL. Lipid peroxidation indicated the oxidative hemolysis and formation of MDA occurred at concentrations of H2O2 about 8 times larger (starting at 800 μM). Ascorbic acid and -tocopherol protect the membrane by hemolysis and MDA tests, but did not prevent the stiffening of the erythrocyte membrane. The spectra of the spin label 5-MSL revealed the existence of two distinct thiol groups in erythrocyte membrane proteins that differ in their structural configurations and sensitivity to oxidative attack. The SH site that has higher exposure to solvent and less reactivity to spin label 5-MSL was the most vulnerable to oxidation. It is well known that upon oxidation hemoglobin binds to the membrane and the results of this study suggest that this effect may be accompanied by a further increase in the parameter 2Ak of the spin label 5-DSA. Catalase present in erythrocytes proved to be an effective protector of lipid peroxidation and oxidation of membrane proteins induced by hydrogen peroxide. / Os efeitos do estresse oxidativo promovido pelo peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) e pelo 2,2 -Azobis(2-metilpropanamida) dicloridrato (AAPH) nas prote´ınas e lipídios da membrana de eritrócito foram investigados através do teste da hemólise oxidativa, da formação do malondialde ıdo (MDA) além da espectroscopia de ressonância paramagnética eletrônica (RPE) do marcador de spin lipídico 5-DOXIL estearato (5-DSA) e do marcador de spin 3-maleimida proxil (MAL-5) que se liga covalentemente `as proteínas da membrana de eritrócito. O parâmetro espectral 2Ak obtido diretamente dos espectros de RPE do marcador de spin 5-DSA estruturado na bicamada lipídica da membrana de eritrócito foi sensíıvel `as alterações na dinâmica dos lipídios resultantes da oxidação das proteínas da membrana. A oxidação das proteínas observada para concentrações baixas de H2O2 (a partir de 100 μM) foram confirmadas com o marcador MAL-5. A peroxidação lipídica indicada pela hemólise oxidativa e formação de MDA ocorreu em concentrações de H2O2 cerca de 8 vezes maiores (a partir de 800 μM). O ácido ascórbico e alfa-tocoferol protegem a membrana pelos testes de hemólise e MDA, mas não evitaram o enrijecimento da membrana do eritrócito. Os espectros do marcador MAL-5 revelaram a existência de dois grupos tióis distintos nas proteínas da membrana de eritrócito que diferem quanto a suas configurações estruturais e sensibilidade aos ataques oxidativos. O sítio SH de maior exposiçãoo ao solvente e menor reatividade ao marcador MAL-5 foi o mais vulnerável `a oxidação. É bem conhecido que neste processo oxidativo a hemoglobina se liga à membrana e os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que este efeito pode ser acompanhado por um aumento adicional no parâmetro 2Ak do marcador 5-DSA. A catalase presente nos eritrócitos se revelou como um eficiente protetor da oxidação lipídica e protéica da membrana induzidas por H2O2.

Neste trabalho investigamos as propriedades de TL, AO e RPE da rodonita natural, cuja fórmula química é (Mn, Ca, Fe, Mg)SiO3 e de amostras sintéticas de rodonita com variadas composições. O objetivo foi o de comparar as propriedades acima quando adicionados diferentes óxidos à estrutura do material. As amostras sintéticas foram obtidas através do método de fusão de componentes e resfriamento lento, o qual mostrou-se eficaz, prático e barato. Medidas de difração de raios x mostraram que a estrutura das amostras sintéticas concordavam com a da rodonita. As curvas de emissão da amostra natural irradiada com doses variando entre 0,1kGy e 50kGy apresentaram picos TL em 140 0C, 250 0C, 2800C, 335 0C e 460 0C, os quais crescem sublinearmente. Por outro lado, as curvas de emissão da amostra recozida em 6000C/1h e depois irradiadas com doses variando de 0,1 a 50 kGy apresentam picos TL em 140 0C, 180 0C, 260 0C, 300 0C, 340 0C e 460 0C, destacando-se um novo pico em 1800C. Esses picos crescem paralela e sublinearmente com a dose até cerca de 5 kGy, saturando-se, em seguida. O espectro da luz TL da amostra natural apresentou uma banda larga estendendo-se de 500nm até 625nm, para o pico de 2600C e uma banda levemente deslocada para o pico de 1400C, estendendo-se entre 500nm e 650nm. Isso indica que só há um centro de recombinação. Curvas de emissão TL das amostras sintéticas puras (MnSiO3) mostraram que todos os picos encontrados na amostra natural estão presentes nesta amostra sintética, indicando que tais picos TL são devidos a defeitos intrínsecos e não dependem de outros compostos ou impurezas. Amostras sintéticas obtidas com a adição de CaO, Fe2O3, MgO, TiO2 e Al2O3 isoladamente ou em combinações também foram obtidas e suas propriedades TL e RPE foram estudadas. Em termos de TL, a adição de Al2O3 causou grande aumento da sensibilidade, porém, ainda menor que a resposta TL da natural. A combinação de CaO e Al2O3 produziu os melhores resultados em termos de sensibilidade. Outros óxidos ou combinações pouco influenciaram a sensibilidade TL; no caso da adição de Fe2O3 houve uma diminuição da sensibilidade. A presença de Al2O3 mostrou-se muito importante na definição das propriedades TL, assim, propomos o seguinte mecanismo de emissão TL para a rodonita: inicialmente forma-se um centro segundo a reação: A irradiação remove M+ deixando [AlO4/h]0 que é conhecido como centro de buraco de alumínio. Durante o aquecimento para a leitura, M+ que se tornara M0 por captura de um elétron da ionização (irradiação), agora libera um elétron que se recombina com o buraco do centro de alumínio, produzindo a luz TL e regenerando o centro . No espectro de absorção óptica da rodonita natural identificamos várias bandas, sendo as mais proeminentes em 344nm, 357nm, 367nm, 410nm, 415nm e 542nm e em 1040nm. Esta última atribuída ao Fe2+,e uma fraca na região de 1500nm. Através de cálculos envolvendo teoria do campo cristalino, mostramos teoricamente que as bandas intensas em 410nm e 542nm podem ser melhor explicadas pela presença do Mn3+ em ambientes Oh e C4V, do que pela presença do Mn2+. A espectroscopia XPS da amostra natural antes do tratamento térmico indicou a presença das espécies cristalinas Mn3O4 e MnO2. Após tratamento térmico em 600 0C/1h, XPS indicou a presença das espécies cristalinas MnO e MnO2. O espectro de EPR mostrou uma larga e intensa linha em g = 1,988 com largura de linha de pico a pico de aproximadamente 1,35 KG que é característico de alargamento dipolar, devido a uma forte interação spin-spin entre os Mn2+. Após tratamento térmico acima de 7000C/1h ocorre um grande aumento da quantidade de Mn4+, que não pode explicar esse alargamento (teoria de Van Vleck). Atribuímos este alargamento à presença de agrupamentos de Fe3+, que vêm da oxidação de Fe2+ por aquecimento acima de 7000C e comprovado pela diminuição da banda em 1040nm de Fe2+ à medida que se aquece a rodonita acima dessa temperatura. / The optical absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance and thermoluminescence properties of natural silicate mineral, rhodonite with chemical formula (Mn,Ca,Fe,Mg)SiO3 as well as synthetic samples pure or doped have been investigated. Synthetic samples were obtained heating appropriated mixture of oxides components of rhodonite to above melting temperature and then cooling slowly. The x-ray diffract gram of these artificial rhodonites have shown rhodonite structure. A natural sample with additional radiation dose ranging 0.1 up to 50 kGy presented a glow curve with TL peaks at 1400C, 2500C, 2800C, 3350C and 4600C. These peaks glow sublinearly. A natural sample heat treated at 6000C for one hour then irradiated to 0.1 up to 50kGy presents almost the same TL peaks, except for 1800C new TL peak and splitting of 3350C into 300 and 3400C peaks. Their TL responses to radiation dose have same sublinear behavior. The spectrum of TL light at 2600C TL peak presented only one broad band extending from 500nm to 625nm and at 1400C TL peak, somewhat broader band from 500 to 650nm. This result shows that there is only one recombination center. The TL glow curves of synthetic pure (MnSiO3) and doped samples show the same TL peak found in natural sample. These results indicate that the intrinsic defects have an important role. Addition of impurities such as Ca, Fe, Mg and TL did not change much the peaks height. However, the addition of aluminum has enhanced greatly the TL responses, and however, low temperature and high temperature peaks have grown prominently so that all the peaks became hidden. The fact that Al impurity has striking effect on TL emission was interpreted as follows. In silica it has been demonstrated that the always present Al3+ substitutes for Si4+ in the SiO44- tetrahedron. Any neighboring alkaline metal ion M+ form a center according the reaction Under irradiation, M+ is removed leaving the defect [AlO4/h]0, known as aluminum hole center. During heating for TL reading, the alkali atom liberated in the formation of aluminum center releases an electron to recombine with the hole of the aluminum center regenerating the original [AlO4/M+] center. In the optical absorption spectrum of natural sample of rhodonite there are several absorption bands, the prominent being 344nm, 357nm, 367nm, 410nm, 415nm, 542nm in visible region and a broad band in 1040nm in the infrared region. A very weak band at 1500nm is also detected. The 1040nm is known to be due to Fe2+. The theory of crystal field calculation has shown that 410nm and 542nm bands can be explained assuming that Mn3+ in Oh and C4V sites are responsible rather than Mn2+. The XPS spectroscopy measurements of the natural sample indicated the presence of Mn3O4 and MnO2. An annealing at 6000C for one hour replaced Mn3O4 by MnO and MnO2. The EPR spectrum consists of a very broad line, about 1350 Gauss, of g 2.0. This due to spin-spin interaction. Van Vleck theory was used to shown that Mn dipole-dipole interaction above 7000C increases the microwave absorption width. The increase of the concentration due to conversion under strong heating, was shown by the observed decrease of Fe2+ absorption band above 7000C.

Foi realizado um estudo por espectroscopia de ressonancia paramagnetica eletronica de solucoes de complexos formados por melanina sintetica, obtida por auto-oxidacao de l-dopa (dihidroxi-l-fenilalanina), e albumina de soro bovino (bsa). Investigaram-se os efeitos devidos a alteracoes de ph, de concentracao e conformacao da bsa, e presenca de O IND.2, tomando como base as variacoes das formas e intensidades das linhas espectrais dos radicais livres intrinsecos da melanina e dos induzidos por radiacao visivel-uv. Verificou-se uma dependencia da intensidade do sinal com o estado de protonacao do pigmento. Na presenca da albumina a inducao de radicais livres por luz foi maior, o que nao observou-se quando esta foi denaturada. A inducao e decaimento dos radicais fotoinduzidos foi monitorada por espectro de varredura temporal, observando-se uma cinetica que envolveu processos mais lentos com o aumento da concentracao da proteina. A partir de medidas de saturacao progressiva, verificou-se um comportamento de saturacao homogeneo para a melanina pura e nao homogeneo quando bsa e O IND.2 estavam presentes, acompanhados de variacoes nos tempos de relaxacao. Os resultados foram interpretados com base em um modelo que supoe a existencia de processos de transferencia de eletrons da melanina excitada para o O IND.2 e transferencia de carga entre o pigmento e a proteína. / Synthetic melanin (obtained by L-DOPA auto-oxidation) and melanin-bovine serum albumin complexes were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). The melanin intrinsic and Iight-induced free radicals by visible-UV were studied. The dependence of the EPR line shapes on the pH value, albumin conformation and concentration, and O² presence was analyzed. It was found that the EPR signal intensity depended on the pigment protonation state. The light free radical induction in the melanin-albumin solutions was higher than in pure melanin solution. This effect was only observed when the protein was in its natural form. The induction and decay of the light-induced radicals were monitored by time-resolved experiments. A slower kinetic was observed with increasing of the albumin concentration. Progressive saturation measurements showed a homogeneous saturation behavior for pure melanin and inhomogeneous in the protein or O² presence, showing also changes in time relaxations. The results were interpreted assuming the existence of electron transfer processes from excited melanin to O² and charge exchange between the pigment and the protein.

Esta tese relata um estudo pormenorizado, efetuado através da técnica de Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônica (RPE) em bandas X (~ 9.5 GHz) e Q (~ 34.5 GHz), de amostras nas formas cristalina e pulverizada dos compostos dinucleares Cu2(TzTs)4, C40H36Cu2N8O8S8, e [Cu(flu)2DMF]2, C62H50Cu2F12N6O10. Tratamentos meticulosos dos espectros de RPE pertinentes a tais compostos propiciaram determinar tanto o parâmetro de interação antiferromagnética, J0, entre pares de íons Cu(II) existentes em uma unidade dinuclear (Hex = J0 S1·S2) como também os valores principais alusivos às matrizes g e D; onde a primeira refere-se à interação Zeeman [Hz = BB0(g1·S1 + g2·S2)] e a última reporta as interações spin-spin anisotrópicas (Hani = S1·D·S2) entre pares de íons Cu(II) presentes em uma unidade dinuclear. Ademais, medidas de RPE realizadas com um monocristal do composto Cu2(TzTs)4 permitiram detectar e estimar, no contexto interdinuclear, o fraco acoplamento de exchange, |J\'| = (0.060 ± 0.015) cm-1, existente entre unidades dinucleares vizinhas: este acoplamento existente entre uma unidade dinuclear e o meio randômico constituído pelas unidades dinucleares vizinhas conduz à decoerência (i.e. uma transição de fase quântica que colapsa a interação dipolar quando a magnitude do acoplamento de exchange isotrópico entre as unidades dinucleares vizinhas iguala-se à magnitude do acoplamento dipolar intradinuclear). No âmbito concernente ao composto [Cu(flu)2DMF]2, foi possível simular acuradamente as sete linhas de ressonância características do desdobramento hiperfino advindo de n = 2 núcleos equivalentes de centros paramagnéticos Cu2+ (I = 3/2) e, por conseguinte, os valores principais pertinentes à matriz de interação hiperfina A (Hhyper = S1·A·I1 + S2·A·I2) puderam ser precisamente determinados. / We report detailed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) studies at X-band (~ 9.5 GHz) and Q-band (~ 34.5 GHz) of powder and single-crystal samples of the dinuclear compounds Cu2(TzTs)4, C40H36Cu2N8O8S8, and [Cu(flu)2DMF]2, C62H50Cu2F12N6O10. Meticulous investigations of their EPR data allow determining the antiferromagnetic interaction parameter, J0, between Cu(II) ions in the dinuclear unit (Hex = J0 S1·S2) as well as the principal values of both matrices g and D, where the first one is related to the Zeeman interaction [Hz = BB0(g1·S1 + g2·S2)] and the latter is associated with the anisotropic spin-spin interactions (Hani = S1·D·S2) between Cu(II) ion pairs in a dinuclear unit. In addition, EPR measurements of single-crystal samples of the compound Cu2(TzTs)4 allow detecting and estimating very weak exchange couplings between neighbour dinuclear units with an estimated magnitude |J\'| = (0.060 ± 0.015) cm-1: this coupling with the environment leads to decoherence (i.e. a quantum phase transition that collapses the dipolar interaction when the isotropic exchange coupling with neighbor dinuclear units equals the magnitude of the intradinuclear dipolar coupling). With reference to [Cu(flu)2DMF]2 compound, it was possible to simulate precisely the seven-line copper hyperfine splitting arising from n = 2 nonequivalent nuclei related to paramagnetic Cu2+ (I = 3/2) centers and, as a consequence of these accurate simulations, the principal values of the hyperfine interaction matrix A (Hhyper = S1·A·I1 + S2·A·I2) could be reliably obtained.

0 objetivo do presente trabalho consistiu em estudar algumas propriedades físicas do mineral natural de silicato PIROPO, urn dos seis membros do Grupo Granada. A granada, que foi-nos vendida como sendo piropo, a análise por fluorescência de raios-x revelou-a ser uma solução de 54,8% de almandina, 43,9% de espessartita e 1,23% de piropo. Como há poucos estudos desses minerais e, como na natureza não é muito comum encontrar essas granadas com mais de 85 a 90% de urn só tipo, optamos pelo estudo dessa amostra. 0 espectro de absorção ótico é bern complexo, com várias bandas, desde a ultravioleta próxima a infravermelho próximo. Todas essa bandas foram identificadas comparando com aquelas identificadas na almandina, por Manning, e na espessartita por Slack. A irradiação, mesmo com doses de algumas centenas de kilograys (kGy), praticamente não mudou o espectro de absorção ótico. 0 tratamento acima de 850°C, por outro lado, afetou o espectro de duas maneiras: (1) a absorção do fundo cresceu muito e, a partir de 900°C, as bandas não visíveis desapareceram, (2) a banda de Fe 2+ em tomo de 1200 nm decresceu, indicando que houve a reação Fe2+ e-- + Fe3+ . As medidas de EPR produziram resultados inesperados. 0 sinal EPR é praticamente uma reta de inclinação de ~ 175°, varrendo o campo magnético todo experimental de 1000 Gauss a 6000 Gauss. A intensidade varia de +62 a -60 para 5 mW de potência de microondas, de +650 a -600 para a potência de 10 mW e de +1600 a -1000 para a potência de 20 mW. Note-se que, normalmente, um sinal simples típico aparece na forma de um S invertido e deitado (~). Numa série de experiências realizadas mantendo a potência de 10 mW foram registrados os sinais EPR de amostras recozidas em temperaturas variadas de 400°C a 1000°C. Em 400°C, a reta inicial agora passa a apresentar urn platô entre 3500 Gauss e 4200 Gauss; em 700°C em tomo de 3500 Gauss cai bruscamente de intensidade 45 ~55 para -125 e, em seguida, tem-se o patamar que se estende agora ate 4800 Gauss; em 800-850°C o sinal que começa com intensidade constante de 1000 Gauss a 3200-3400 Gauss onde a intensidade cai verticalmente ate -500 e, em seguida, a intensidade cresce gradualmente a -250 em torno de 4800 Gauss e se torna constante. Por fim de 900 a 950°C forma o sinal usual de S deitado e invertido, em tomo de g = 2,0. A intensidade varia de +1200 a -1500; em 1000°C essa variação da intensidade vai de +3500 a -3000. O sinal é gigante. Como é sabido, esse sinal é devido à interação dipolo magnético de Fe3+ . Porque o sinal aumenta de intensidade acima de 900°C? Como vimos na parte de absorção ótica, nessas temperaturas, uma quantidade grande de Fe2+ se converte em Fe3+ . Das poucas medidas de TL podemos dizer que, os picos TL em 150°C, 210°C, 270°C, 340-360°C compõem a curva de emissão. O último pico deve ser superposição de mais de dois picos, o que pode ser verificado por deconvolução. Não a fizemos. Em todo caso, o pico se desloca para temperaturas baixas a medida que a dose de radiação aumenta. / The aim of the present study consisted on investigating some of the physical properties of natural mineral of silicate called PYROPE, which is one of six members of Garnet Group. We purchased from a stone dealer a piece of garnet as being pyrope. However, an x-ray fluoresce analysis has shown that it is actually a solid solution of 54,8% almandine, 43,9% of spessartite (or spessartine) and 1,23% of pyrope. Since, there is scarce number of published articles in literature, and furthermore it is very rare to find any one of 85 to 90% pure garnet, we decided to study the properties of them mixture of almandine-spessartite. The optical absorption spectrum came out to be quite complex with several absorption bands in the range from near ultraviolet to near infrared. All these bands have been identified by comparison with absorption spectrum of almandine measured and identified by Manning and also with the absorption spectrum of spessartite by Slack. The irradiation with gamma-rays even with very high dose did not change the absorption spectrum. The heat treatment at high temperature, on the other hand, affected the spectrum. In first place, the background absorption increases such that starting around 900°C heating the bands in visible range disappear, secondly the Fe2+ bang around 1200 nm decreases indicating that Fe2+ liberates electron and Fe3+ ion result. And unexpected results have been obtained with EPR measurements. The EPR signal of natural sample is just a straight line extending from 1000 to 6000 Gauss magnetic field. The signal intensity varied from +62 (a.u.) to -60 for 5 mW microwaves power, from +650 to -600 for 10 mW power and from +1600 to -1000 for 20 mW microwave power. Note that, one usually obtain a simple typical signal,(~) therefore a straight line is very unusual. We then carried out a series of measurements keeping 10 mW microwaves power and submitting the samples to heat treatment from 400 to 1000°C. At 400°C annealing the EPR straight line signal present a plateau from 3500 to 4200 Gauss; at 700°C annealing a sharp decrease of signal around 3500 Gauss occurs with the intensity varying from 45 ~45 to -125 and then a plateau follows extending to 4800 Gauss; for 800 to 850°C annealing the signal is constant between 1000 at 3200, 3400 Gauss, at this point the EPR intensity drops; to -500 and then gradually increases becoming constant from around 4800 Gauss on above 900 to 950°C the signal now has normal form around g=2,0. However the EPR intensity increases such that it varies from +1200 to -1500. The annealing the sample to higher temperature produces a signal with intensity varying from +3500 to -3000 a really gigantic signal. This is related to the fact that at this temperature Fe2+ liberates electrons and becomes Fe3+, which contributes through magnetic dipole-magnetic dipole interaction to this large EPR signal.

Decabromodiphenylether (deca-BDE) and triclosan (2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenylether) are used in consumer products as flame retardant and bactericide, respectively. Dermal contact is a major human exposure pathway. Deca-BDE and triclosan are known to be photolytically degraded to compounds like lower-BDEs and dioxins. My hypothesis is that photolysis of deca-BDE and triclosan generates free radicals and degradation products which cause toxic effects including cytotoxicity, growth inhibition, oxidative stress and genotoxicity in skin. To test this hypothesis radical formation and photolytic products of deca-BDE and toxic effects of deca-BDE and triclosan alone/with UV-exposure were determined using immortal human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and primary human skin fibroblasts (HSF). My electron paramagnetic resonance and GC-MS studies indicate that deca-BDE is photoreactive and UV irradiation of deca-BDE in organic solvents generates free radicals and lower-BDEs. The free radical formation is wavelength-dependent and positively related to the irradiation time and deca-BDE concentration. In structure-activity relationship studies with deca-BDE, octa-BDE, PBB 209, PCB 209 and diphenyl ether, the presence of halogen atoms (Br > Cl), and/or an ether bond enhance free radical formation. Debromination and hydrogen abstraction from the solvents are the mechanism of radical formation with deca-BDE, which raises concerns about possible toxic effects in UV-exposed skin. In cell culture experiments high levels of triclosan plus UV irradiation and repetitive deca-BDE and UV exposures caused synergistic cytotoxicity in HaCaT. However, neither triclosan nor deca-BDE can be regarded as a phototoxicant following the OECD test and evaluation guidelines. In HSF, no synergistic cytotoxicity was observed, although HSF were more sensitive to deca-BDE and triclosan alone than HaCaT. Contrary to expectations, the photodegradation products of triclosan were less toxic than triclosan itself to HaCaT. However, UV irradiation of triclosan-exposed cells produced a dose dependent increase in intracellular oxidative stress (dichlorofluorescein formation). Comet experiments did not show consistent results of genotoxicity in HaCaT. Overall, deca-BDE and triclosan had no or weak phototoxic potential in cells with the experimental conditions employed. To my knowledge, my research is the first prove of free radical formation during UV irradiation of deca-BDE and the first investigation of phototoxicity of deca-BDE and triclosan in human skin cells.

Abstract not available

AcrA is the periplasmic component of an efflux system AcrA-AcrB-TolC, which can expel different classes of antibiotics. AcrB is the inner membrane (IM) pump that utilizes proton-motive force for the active transport, TolC is the outer membrane (OM) channel, and AcrA coordinates the actions of AcrB and TolC, so that substrates are expelled across the two membranes, bypassing the periplasm. It has been proposed that AcrA either provides a static seamless link between AcrB and TolC, or acts like its analogous viral membrane fusion protein (MFP) and actively brings the IM and OM closer for substrate transfer. To better understand the role of AcrA in the efflux mechanism, site-directed spin labeling (SDSL)/EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopy is used to investigate the structure and dynamics of AcrA in solution. My results demonstrated that AcrA is a dynamic protein that undergoes pH-dependent and reversible conformational changes. AcrA contains an interrupted alpha-helical, coiled-coil domain flanked by a pair of beta-stranded lipoyl motifs, and my SDSL/EPR analysis revealed that the pH-induced conformation change mainly involves the coiled-coil and the lipoyl domains. In addition, I found that each AcrA monomer folds into an intra-molecular hairpin and AcrA monomers oligomerize with their coiled-coil hairpins aligned in parallel. Unlike the pH-induced conformational rearrangement of a viral MFP, change in pH alters both intra- and inter-molecular interaction along the coiled-coil of AcrA without rearranging the hairpin fold. The organization of AcrA protomers and its pH-induced conformational switching are, however, congruent with the TolC coiled-coil hairpins in the iris-like opening of the TolC channel. Together, my studies suggest that rather than being a passive structural linkage between AcrB and TolC, AcrA plays an active role mediating the drug efflux. The reported AcrA dynamics provides new insights into the AcrA-TolC interactions for the channel opening during the efflux process.

AcrA is the periplasmic component of an efflux system AcrA-AcrB-TolC, which can expel different classes of antibiotics. AcrB is the inner membrane (IM) pump that utilizes proton-motive force for the active transport, TolC is the outer membrane (OM) channel, and AcrA coordinates the actions of AcrB and TolC, so that substrates are expelled across the two membranes, bypassing the periplasm. It has been proposed that AcrA either provides a static seamless link between AcrB and TolC, or acts like its analogous viral membrane fusion protein (MFP) and actively brings the IM and OM closer for substrate transfer. To better understand the role of AcrA in the efflux mechanism, site-directed spin labeling (SDSL)/EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopy is used to investigate the structure and dynamics of AcrA in solution. My results demonstrated that AcrA is a dynamic protein that undergoes pH-dependent and reversible conformational changes. AcrA contains an interrupted alpha-helical, coiled-coil domain flanked by a pair of beta-stranded lipoyl motifs, and my SDSL/EPR analysis revealed that the pH-induced conformation change mainly involves the coiled-coil and the lipoyl domains. In addition, I found that each AcrA monomer folds into an intra-molecular hairpin and AcrA monomers oligomerize with their coiled-coil hairpins aligned in parallel. Unlike the pH-induced conformational rearrangement of a viral MFP, change in pH alters both intra- and inter-molecular interaction along the coiled-coil of AcrA without rearranging the hairpin fold. The organization of AcrA protomers and its pH-induced conformational switching are, however, congruent with the TolC coiled-coil hairpins in the iris-like opening of the TolC channel. Together, my studies suggest that rather than being a passive structural linkage between AcrB and TolC, AcrA plays an active role mediating the drug efflux. The reported AcrA dynamics provides new insights into the AcrA-TolC interactions for the channel opening during the efflux process.