flavin-adenine-dinucleotide and 7-8-dimethylalloxazine

Lumichrome (LC) is the major photodegradation product of biologically important flavin cofactors. Since LC serves as a structural comparison with the flavins; understanding excited states of LC is fundamentally important to establish a connection with photophysics of different flavins, such as lumiflavin (LF), riboflavin (RF), flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Herein, we deduce the initial excited state structural dynamics of LC using UV resonance Raman (UVRR) intensity analysis. The UVRR spectra at wavelengths across the 260 nm absorption band of LC were measured and resulting Raman excitation profiles and absorption spectrum were self-consistently simulated using a time-dependent wave packet formalism to extract the initial excited state structural and solvent broadening parameters. These results are compared with those obtained for other flavins following UV excitations. We find that LC undergoes a very distinct instantaneous charge redistribution than flavins, which is attributed to the extended π-conjugation present in flavins but missing in LC. The homogeneous broadening linewidth of LC appears to be lower than that of LF, while the inhomogeneous broadening values are comparable, indicating greater solvent interaction with excited flavin on ultrafast timescale compared with LC, whereas on longer timescale these interactions are almost similar.

Topics: Dinitrocresols; Flavin Mononucleotide; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide; Flavins; Organic Chemicals; Riboflavin; Solvents

Riboflavin is an important water soluble vitamin (B2) required for metabolic reactions, normal cellular growth, differentiation and function. Mammalian brain cells cannot synthesize riboflavin and must import from systemic circulation. However, the uptake mechanism, cellular translocation and intracellular trafficking of riboflavin in brain capillary endothelial cells are poorly understood. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the existence of a riboflavin-specific transport system and delineate the uptake and intracellular regulation of riboflavin in immortalized rat brain capillary endothelial cells (RBE4). The uptake of [3H]-riboflavin is sodium, temperature and energy dependent but pH independent. [3H]-Riboflavin uptake is saturable with K(m) and V(max) values of 19 ± 3 μM and 0.235 ± 0.012 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. The uptake process is inhibited by unlabelled structural analogs (lumiflavin, lumichrome) but not by structurally unrelated vitamins. Ca(++)/calmodulin and protein kinase A (PKA) pathways are found to play an important role in the intracellular regulation of [3H]-riboflavin. Apical and baso-lateral uptake of [3H]-riboflavin clearly indicates that a riboflavin specific transport system is predominantly localized on the apical side of RBE4 cells. A 628 bp band corresponding to a riboflavin transporter is revealed in RT-PCR analysis. These findings, for the first time report the existence of a specialized and high affinity transport system for riboflavin in RBE4 cells. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major obstacle limiting drug transport inside the brain as it regulates drug permeation from systemic circulation. This transporter can be utilized for targeted delivery in enhancing brain permeation of highly potent drugs on systemic administration.

Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Brain; Cells, Cultured; Dinitrophenols; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelial Cells; Flavin Mononucleotide; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide; Flavins; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ouabain; Rats; Riboflavin; Signal Transduction; Sodium; Sodium Azide; Substrate Specificity; Temperature; Time Factors; Tritium; Vitamin B Complex

Previously we demonstrated that proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) causes a five-fold increase in cellular uptake of biotin; this increase is mediated by an increased number of biotin transporters on the PBMC surface. In the present study, we investigated the specificity of this phenomenon by determining whether the cellular uptake of riboflavin also increases in proliferating PBMC and whether the increase is also mediated by an increased number of transporters per cell. We characterized [3H]riboflavin uptake in both quiescent and proliferating PBMC. In quiescent PBMC, [3H]riboflavin uptake exhibited saturation kinetics and was reduced by addition of unlabeled riboflavin (P < 0.05) or lumichrome (P < 0.01). These observations are consistent with transporter-mediated uptake. [3H]Riboflavin uptake was reduced at 4 degrees C compared with 37 degrees C (P < 0.01) and by 2, 4-dinitrophenol (P < 0.05) but not by ouabain or incubation in sodium-free medium. These data provide evidence for an energy-dependent but sodium-independent transporter. Proliferating PBMC accumulated approximately four times more [3H]riboflavin than quiescent PBMC (P < 0.05). Because both transporter affinity and transporter number per cell (as judged by maximal transport rate) were similar in quiescent and proliferating PBMC, we hypothesize that the increased riboflavin uptake by proliferating PBMC reflects only increased cellular volume. To test this hypothesis, PBMC volume was reduced using hyperosmolar medium; [3H]riboflavin uptake decreased to about 50% of isotonic controls (P < 0.01). Thus we conclude that proliferating PBMC increase cellular content of riboflavin and biotin by two different mechanisms.

Topics: Adult; Binding, Competitive; Cell Division; Concanavalin A; Female; Flavin Mononucleotide; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide; Flavins; Humans; Kinetics; Leukocytes, Mononuclear; Male; Middle Aged; Osmolar Concentration; Pokeweed Mitogens; Regression Analysis; Riboflavin; Ribose; Thymidine; Tritium

The effects of riboflavin and its derivatives such as FAD, FMN and lumichrome on the levels of high energy phosphate compounds (ATP and creatine phosphate) and intracellular pH in ischemic reperfused rat hearts were investigated using a Langendorff perfusion technique. 31P-NMR study showed a decrease in the levels of high energy phosphate compounds and pH values in myocardium after 30 min global ischemia and a slight recovery of these levels after a 30 min reperfusion following ischemia. However, in all the hearts perfused with riboflavin and its derivatives during ischemia-reperfusion, a marked recovery of high energy phosphate compounds and pH values were observed. In addition, the cardiac mitochondrial respiratory function was protected from ischemia-reperfusion injury. These results suggest that riboflavin, FAD, FMN, and lumichrome have a protective effect against ischemia-reperfusion injury to rat myocardium in vitro. It is assumed that these substances exert their effect directly in the extracellular space.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Animals; Flavin Mononucleotide; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide; Flavins; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Myocardial Ischemia; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury; Myocardium; Phosphocreatine; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Riboflavin

Although milk is one of the primary sources of riboflavin in the North American diet, the amounts of riboflavin and other flavin derivatives in milk have not been accurately quantified. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of milk was performed to identify and quantify greater than 95% of the flavins in this food. Riboflavin and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) were the predominant flavins in all milk samples; 10-(2'-hydroxyethyl)flavin was next most common. The latter is potentially an antivitamin that may exert its effect at either the absorption or utilization level. Therefore, the presence of this analog should be considered when evaluating the riboflavin efficiency of milk. The large quantity of FAD indicates that precautions against underestimating FAD are warranted when determining total flavin content by fluorescence. This is particularly important because the fluorescence of FAD at pH 7.0 is only 10-20% of that for riboflavin. The presence of 7 alpha-hydroxyriboflavin (7-hydroxymethylriboflavin) in milk was ascertained by extensive testing. Traces of 8 alpha-hydroxyriboflavin (8-hydroxymethylriboflavin) were also detected. These metabolites may serve as indicators of cellular biochemical activity.

Topics: Animals; Cattle; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide; Flavins; Milk; Riboflavin; Spectrometry, Fluorescence