A full conformational space analysis of bilirubin

Conformational Control of the Photodynamics of a Bilirubin Dipyrrinone Subunit: Femtosecond Spectroscopy Combined with Nonadiabatic Simulations

The photochemistry of bilirubin has been extensively studied due to its importance in the phototherapy of hyperbilirubinemia. In the present work, we investigated the ultrafast photodynamics of a bilirubin dipyrrinone subunit, vinylneoxanthobilirubic acid methyl ester. The photoisomerization and photocyclization reactions of its (E) and (Z) isomers were studied using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy and by multireference electronic structure theory, where the nonadiabatic dynamics was modeled with a Landau-Zener surface hopping technique. The following picture has emerged from the combined theoretical and experimental approach. Upon excitation, dipyrrinone undergoes a very fast vibrational relaxation, followed by an internal conversion on a picosecond time scale. The internal conversion leads either to photoisomerization or regeneration of the starting material. Further relaxation dynamics on the order of tens of picoseconds was observed in the ground state. The nonadiabatic simulations revealed a strong conformational control of the photodynamics. The ultrafast formation of a cyclic photochemical product from a less-populated conformer of the studied subunit was predicted by our calculations. We discuss the relevance of the present finding for the photochemistry of native bilirubin. The work has also pointed to the limits of semiclassical nonadiabatic simulations for simulating longer photochemical processes, probably due to the zero-point leakage issue.

On the aggregation of bilirubinoids in solution as evidenced by VCD and ECD spectroscopy and DFT calculations

Vibrational and electronic circular dichroism (VCD and ECD) spectra of 3 optically active bilirubin analogs with propionic acid groups replaced by (1) 1-(S)-methylpropyl groups, (2) 3-acetoxy-1-(S)-methylpropyl groups, and (3) 1-(S)-2-(R)-dimethyl-2-(methoxycarbonyl)ethyl groups have been recorded at different concentrations in chloroform. The aliphatic chains attached to C-8 and C-12 of the 3 chosen mesobilirubins were modified so as to possess no OH group. The variation of the VCD spectra with concentration is consistent with the formation of dimers at high concentration. Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory calculations on monomeric and dimeric forms support such a conclusion. Comparing with previous VCD (ECD) and IR (UV) studies of other mesobilirubin molecules, it is concluded that here, the key feature for aggregation is the missing OH groups on the propionic acid chains. The latter, in synergy with the polar groups of lactam moieties, appear to be involved in intramolecular phenomena and thus favor monomeric forms. Investigation of ECD and UV spectra of the same compounds in mixed DMSO/chloroform solutions provide further clues to the proposed picture.

Computational chemical analysis of unconjugated bilirubin anions and insights into pKa values clarification

The pKa, the negative logarithm of the acid dissociation equilibrium constant, of the carboxylic acid groups of unconjugated bilirubin in water is a discussed issue because there are quite different experimental values reported. Using quantum mechanical calculations we have studied the conformational behavior of unconjugated bilirubin species (in gas phase and in solution modeled implicitly and explicitly) to provide evidence that may clarify pKa values because of its pathophysiological relevance. Our results show that rotation of carboxylate group, which is not restricted, settles it in a suitable place to establish stronger interactions that stabilizes the monoanion and the dianion to be properly solvated, demonstrating that the rationalization used to justify the high pKa values of unconjugated bilirubin is inappropriate. Furthermore, low unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) pKa values were estimated from a linear regression analysis.