Reductionist approach to identifying key cell components in assisting phytophotolysis

I&EC 76

Trey W. Rahn, rahn@mail.chem.sc.edu and John L. Ferry. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, 631 Sumter St., GSRC Rm 109, Columbia, SC 29208
Phytophotolysis occurs inadvertently during the phytodegradation of some contaminants and may be a significant pathway for their removal. In this work, we report the exploration of the molecular basis for this phenomenon with respect to abiotic interactions between photoexcited contaminants and cell components. This approach uses univariate and multivariate experimental techniques to determine which cytosol components are most effective at promoting the phytophotolysis of nitroaromatics so that this information may assist in plant selection strategies. Nitrobenzene solutions were exposed to a series of cytosol components found in herbaceous plants such as Menthas, Coleus, or Spinacia oleracea and the resulting solution irradiated by simulated sunlight (300nm-800nm, Xe vapor lamp, 655 W/m2). Cytosol components included glutathione (7.5 mM), ascorbate (25 mM), cysteine (5 mM), sucrose (25 mM), glutamine (12.5 mM), etc, at concentrations representative of those in vivo. Glutathione, cysteine, and ascorbate were the most effective at promoting photodegradation under these conditions.
 

Green Chemistry and Engineering Poster Session
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, 11 September 2006 Moscone Center -- Hall D, Sci-Mix

Division of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry

The 232nd ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, September 10-14, 2006