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Photoconversion of Riboflavin to Lumichrome in Plant Tissues ¹

^a Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50010

Free flavins have been extracted from shoots of etiolated corn (Zea mays L., var. Burpee Snowcross) and from yeast cells and separated from other substances by absorption on resorcinol-formaldehyde resin and talc columns and by thin layer chromatography. Riboflavin was the only free flavin present. Extracts of etiolated shoots of oats (Avena sativa L., var. Multiline E-69 and Clinford) yielded riboflavin plus a second free flavin previously demonstrated in oats. The areas of the chromatograms expected to contain lumichrome were completely clear. After illumination of any of the three organisms with artificial light (1100 ft-c) or sunlight for 6 hours, lumichrome (7,8-dimethylalloxazine) was found. In corn shoots after irradiation by sunlight, the amount of lumichrome present was equivalent to 2.5% of the total free flavin. Lumichrome was identified by thin layer chromatography in six solvent systems (including two two-dimensional systems), by its characteristic fluorescence in acetic acid, by its absorption spectrum, and by formation of a characteristic hydrate in ammonia-containing solutions. A comparison was made with in vitro photolysis of riboflavin and the possible role of photolysis of riboflavin (either free or bound) and of lumichrome formation in photo-responses of plants is discussed. Placing the shoots in the dark for 4 hours after irradiation in sunlight for 6 hours led to no detectable loss of the lumichrome which had been formed.

¹ This work was supported by a Grant GB-7889 from the National Science Foundation.

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