Identification of clinically useful predictive genetic variants in pachyonychia congenita.

BACKGROUND: Pachyonychia congenita (PC) refers to a group of autosomal dominant disorders caused by mutations in five keratin genes (KRT16,KRT6A,KRT17,KRT6B or KRT6C). Current disease classification is based on the gene harbouring disease-causing variants. AIMS: We harnessed the International Pachyonychia Congenita Research Registry (IPCRR) containing both clinical and molecular data on patients with PC worldwide, to identify genetic variants predicting disease severity. METHODS: We ascertained 815 individuals harbouring keratin mutations registered in the IPCRR. We looked for statistically significant associations between genetic variants and clinical manifestations in a subgroup of patients carrying mutations found in at least 10% of the cohort. Data were analysed using χ2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: We identified five mutations occurring in at least 10% of the patients registered in the IPCRR. The KRT16 p.L132P mutation was significantly associated with younger age of onset, presence of palmar keratoderma oral leucokeratosis and a higher number of involved nails. By contrast, the KRT16 p.N125S and p.R127C mutations resulted in a milder phenotype featuring a decreased number of involved nails and older age of onset. Patients carrying the p.N125S mutation were less likely to develop palmar keratoderma while p.R127C was associated with an older age of palmoplantar keratoderma onset. Moreover, the KRT17 p.L99P mutation resulted in an increased number of involved fingernails and patients demonstrating 20-nail dystrophy, while the opposite findings were observed with KRT17 p.N92S mutation. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified novel and clinically useful genetic predictive variants in the largest cohort of patients with PC described to date.

Palmoplantar keratoderma caused by a missense variant in CTSB encoding cathepsin B.

BACKGROUND: Palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) refers to a large group of disorders characterized by extensive genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity. PPK diagnosis therefore increasingly relies upon genetic analysis. AIM: To delineate the genetic defect underlying a case of diffuse erythematous PPK associated with peeling of the skin. METHODS: Whole exome and direct sequencing, real-time quantitative PCR, protein modelling and a cathepsin B enzymatic assay were used. RESULTS: The patient studied had severe diffuse erythematous PPK transgrediens. Pedigree analysis suggested an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Whole exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous missense mutation in the CTSB gene, encoding the cysteine protease cathepsin B. Genomic duplications in a noncoding region, which regulates the expression of CTSB, were recently found to cause erythrokeratolysis hiemalis, a rare autosomal dominant disorder of cornification. This mutation affects a highly conserved residue, and is predicted to be pathogenic. Protein modelling indicated that the mutation is likely to lead to increased endopeptidase cathepsin B activity. Accordingly, the CTSB variant was found to result in increased cathepsin B proteolytic activity. CONCLUSION: In summary, we report the identification of the first gain-of-function missense mutation in CTSB, which was found to be associated in one individual with a dominant form of diffuse PPK.

Linker proteins enable ultrafast excitation energy transfer in the phycobilisome antenna system of Thermosynechococcus vulcanus.

We applied a femtosecond flash method, using induced transient absorption changes, to obtain a time-resolved view of excitation energy transfer in intact phycobilisomes of Thermosynechococcus vulcanus at room temperature. Our measurement of an excitation energy transfer rate of 888 fs in phycobilisomes shows the existence of ultrafast kinetics along the phycocyanin rod subcomplex to the allophycocyanin core that is faster than expected for previous excitation energy transfer based on Förster theory in phycobilisomes. Allophycocyanin in the core further transfers energy to the terminal emitter(s) in 17 ps. In the phycobilisome, rod doublets composed of hexameric phycocyanin discs and internal linker proteins are arranged in a parallel fashion, facilitating direct rod-rod interactions. Excitonic splitting likely drives rod absorption at 635 nm as a result of strong coupling between ß84 chromophores (20 ± 1 Å) in adjacent hexamers. In comparison to the absorbance of the phycobilisome antenna system of the cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina, which possesses a single rod structure, the linkers in T. vulcanus rods induce a 17 nm red shift in the absorbance spectrum. Furthermore, the kinetics of 888 fs indicates that the presence of the linker protein induces ultrafast excitation energy transfer between phycocyanin and allophycocyanin inside the phycobilisome, which is faster than all previous excitation energy transfer in phycobilisome subunits or sub-complexes reported to date.

Evidence of additional excitation energy transfer pathways in the phycobiliprotein antenna system of Acaryochloris marina.

To improve the energy conversion efficiency of solar organic cells, the clue may lie in the development of devices inspired by an efficient light harvesting mechanism of some aquatic photosynthetic microorganisms that are adapted to low light intensity. Consequently, we investigated the pathways of excitation energy transfer (EET) from successive light harvesting pigments to the low energy level inside the phycobiliprotein antenna system of Acaryochloris marina, a cyanobacterium, using a time resolved absorption difference spectroscopy with a resolution time of 200 fs. The objective was to understand the actual biochemical process and pathways that determine the EET mechanism. Anisotropy of the EET pathway was calculated from the absorption change trace in order to determine the contribution of excitonic coupling. The results reveal a new electron energy relaxation pathway of 14 ps inside the phycocyanin component, which runs from phycocyanin to the terminal emitter. The bleaching of the 660 nm band suggests a broader absorption of the terminal emitter between 660 nm and 675 nm. Further, there are trimer depolarization kinetics of 450 fs and 500 fs in high and low ionic strength, respectively, which arise from the relaxation of the ß84 and α84 in adjacent monomers of phycocyanin. Under conditions of low ionic strength buffer solution, the evolution of the kinetic amplitude during the depolarization of the trimer is suggestive of trimer conservation within the phycocyanin hexamer. The anisotropy values were 0.38 and 0.40 in high and in low ionic strength, respectively, indicating that there is no excitonic delocalization in the high energy level of phycocyanin hexamers.

Activation and deactivation of vibronic channels in intact phycocyanin rods.

We investigated the excitation modes of the light-harvesting protein phycocyanin (PC) from Thermosynechococcus vulcanus in the crystalline state using UV and near-infrared Raman spectroscopy. The spectra revealed the absence of a hydrogen out-of-plane wagging (HOOP) mode in the PC trimer, which suggests that the HOOP mode is activated in the intact PC rod, while it is not active in the PC trimer. Furthermore, in the PC trimer an intense mode at 984 cm(-1) is assigned to the C-C stretching vibration while the mode at 454 cm(-1) is likely due to ethyl group torsion. In contrast, in the similar chromophore phytochromobilin the C5,10,15-D wag mode at 622 cm(-1) does not come from a downshift of the HOOP. Additionally, the absence of modes between 1200 and 1300 cm(-1) rules out functional monomerization. A correlation between phycocyanobilin (PCB) and phycoerythrobilin (PEB) suggests that the PCB cofactors of the PC trimer appear in a conformation similar to that of PEB. The conformation of the PC rod is consistent with that of the allophycocyanin (APC) trimer, and thus excitonic flow is facilitated between these two independent light-harvesting compounds. This excitonic flow from the PC rod to APC appears to be modulated by the vibration channels during HOOP wagging, C = C stretching, and the N-H rocking in-plan vibration.

Mutagenesis of Gln294 of the reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus type-2 and its effects on the ribonuclease H activity.

Despite the high homology between human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) and human immunodeficiency virus type-2 (HIV-2) reverse transcriptases (RTs), the ribonuclease H (RNase H) level of HIV-2 RT is lower than that of HIV-1 RT, while the DNA polymerase of both RTs is similar. We conducted mutagenesis of HIV-2 RT Gln294 (shown to control the RNase H activity level when modified to a Pro in the smaller p54 subunit and not in the larger p68 subunit) to various residues, and assayed the activities of all mutants. All exhibited an RNase H that is higher than the wild-type (WT) HIV-2 RT level, although the DNA polymerase of all mutants equals WT HIV-2 RT level. These results represent a unique case, where every mutation induces an increase rather than a decrease in an enzyme's activity.

Protein-induced, previously unidentified twin form of calcite.

Using single-crystal x-ray diffraction, we found a formerly unknown twin form in calcite crystals grown from solution to which a mollusc shell-derived 17-kDa protein, Caspartin, was added. This intracrystalline protein was extracted from the calcitic prisms of the Pinna nobilis shells. The observed twin form is characterized by the twinning plane of the (108)-type, which is in addition to the known four twin laws of calcite identified during 150 years of investigations. The established twin forms in calcite have twinning planes of the (001)-, (012)-, (104)-, and (018)-types. Our discovery provides additional evidence on the crucial role of biological macromolecules in biomineralization.

Two newly identified membrane-associated and plastidic tomato HXKs: characteristics, predicted structure and intracellular localization.

Two new tomato hexokinase genes, LeHXK3 and LeHXK4, were cloned and characterized, placing tomato as the first plant with four characterized HXK genes. Based on their sequence, LeHXK3 is the third membrane-associated (type-B) and LeHXK4 is the first plastidic (type-A) HXK identified in tomato. Expression of HXK-GFP fusion proteins in protoplasts indicated that the LeHxk3 enzyme is associated with the mitochondria while LeHxk4 is localized in plastids. Furthermore, LeHxk4::GFP fusion protein is found within stromules, suggesting transport of LeHxk4 between plastids. Structure prediction of the various plant HXK enzymes suggests that unlike the plastidic HXKs, the predicted membrane-associated HXKs are positively charged near their putative N-terminal membrane anchor domain, which might enhance their association with the negatively charged membranes. LeHxk3 and LeHxk4 were analyzed following expression in yeast. Both enzymes have higher affinity for glucose relative to fructose and are inhibited by ADP. Yet, unlike the other HXKs, the stromal HXK has higher Vmax with glucose than with fructose. Expression analysis of the four HXK genes in tomato tissues demonstrated that LeHXK1 and LeHXK4 are the dominant HXKs in all tissues examined. Notably, the plastidic LeHXK4 is expressed in all tissues including starchless, non-photosynthetic sink tissues, such as pink and red fruits, implying phosphorylation of imported hexoses in plastids. It has been suggested that trehalose 6-phosphate (T6P) might inhibit HXK activity. However, none of the yeast-expressed tomato HXK genes was sensitive either to T6P or to trehalose, suggesting that unlike fungi HXKs, plant HXKs are not regulated by T6P.

The ribonuclease H activity of the reverse transcriptases of human immunodeficiency viruses type 1 and type 2 is modulated by residue 294 of the small subunit.

Reverse transcriptases (RTs) exhibit DNA polymerase and ribonuclease H (RNase H) activities. The RTs of human immunodeficiency viruses type 1 and type 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2) are composed of two subunits, both sharing the same N-terminus (which encompasses the DNA polymerase domain). The smaller subunit lacks the C-terminal segment of the larger one, which contains the RNase H domain. The DNA polymerase domain of RTs resembles a right hand linked to the RNase H domain by a connection subdomain. Despite the high homology between HIV-1 and HIV-2 RTs, the RNase H activity of the latter is substantially lower than that of HIV-1 RT. The thumb subdomain of the small subunit controls the level of RNase H activity. We show here that Gln294, located in this thumb, is responsible for this difference in activity. A HIV-2 RT mutant, where Gln294 in the small subunit was replaced by a proline (present in HIV-1 RT), has an activity almost 10-fold higher than that of the wild-type RT. A comparative in vitro study of the kinetic parameters of the RNase H activity suggests that residue 294 affects the K(m) rather than the kcat value, influencing the affinity for the RNA.DNA substrate.

Tomato SP-interacting proteins define a conserved signaling system that regulates shoot architecture and flowering.

Divergent architecture of shoot models in flowering plants reflects the pattern of production of vegetative and reproductive organs from the apical meristem. The SELF-PRUNING (SP) gene of tomato is a member of a novel CETS family of regulatory genes (CEN, TFL1, and FT) that controls this process. We have identified and describe here several proteins that interact with SP (SIPs) and with its homologs from other species: a NIMA-like kinase (SPAK), a bZIP factor, a novel 10-kD protein, and 14-3-3 isoforms. SPAK, by analogy with Raf1, has two potential binding sites for 14-3-3 proteins, one of which is shared with SP. Surprisingly, overexpression of 14-3-3 proteins partially ameliorates the effect of the sp mutation. Analysis of the binding potential of chosen mutant SP variants, in relation to conformational features known to be conserved in this new family of regulatory proteins, suggests that associations with other proteins are required for the biological function of SP and that ligand binding and protein-protein association domains of SP may be separated. We suggest that CETS genes encode a family of modulator proteins with the potential to interact with a variety of signaling proteins in a manner analogous to that of 14-3-3 proteins.

Structure of c-phycocyanin from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus vulcanus at 2.5 A: structural implications for thermal stability in phycobilisome assembly.

The crystal structure of the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein, c-phycocyanin from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechochoccus vulcanus has been determined by molecular replacement to 2.5 A resolution. The crystal belongs to space group R32 with cell parameters a=b=188.43 A, c=61.28 A, alpha=beta=90 degrees, gamma=120 degrees, with one (alphabeta) monomer in the asymmetric unit. The structure has been refined to a crystallographic R factor of 20.2 % (R-free factor is 24.4 %), for all data to 2.5 A. The crystals were grown from phycocyanin (alphabeta)(3) trimers that form (alphabeta)(6) hexamers in the crystals, in a fashion similar to other phycocyanins. Comparison of the primary, tertiary and quaternary structures of the S. vulcanus phycocyanin structure with phycocyanins from both the mesophilic Fremyella diplsiphon and the thermophilic Mastigocladus laminosus were performed. We show that each level of assembly of oligomeric phycocyanin, which leads to the formation of the phycobilisome structure, can be stabilized in thermophilic organisms by amino acid residue substitutions. Each substitution can form additional ionic interactions at critical positions of each association interface. In addition, a significant shift in the position of ring D of the B155 phycocyanobilin cofactor in the S. vulcanus phycocyanin, enables the formation of important polar interactions at both the (alphabeta) monomer and (alphabeta)(6) hexamer association interfaces.

Crystal structures of KDOP synthase in its binary complexes with the substrate phosphoenolpyruvate and with a mechanism-based inhibitor.

The crystal structures of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonate-8-phosphate synthase (KDOPS) from Escherichia coli complexed with the substrate phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and with a mechanism-based inhibitor (K(d) = 0.4 microM) were determined by molecular replacement using X-ray diffraction data to 2.8 and 2.3 A resolution, respectively. Both the KDOPS.PEP and KDOPS.inhibitor complexes crystallize in the cubic space group I23 with cell constants a = b = c = 117.9 and 117.6 A, respectively, and one subunit per asymmetric unit. The two structures are nearly identical, and superposition of their Calpha atoms indicates an rms difference of 0.41 A. The PEP in the KDOPS.PEP complex is anchored to the enzyme in a conformation that blocks its si face and leaves its re face largely devoid of contacts. This results from KDOPS's selective choice of a PEP conformer in which the phosphate group of PEP is extended toward the si face. Furthermore, the structure reveals that the bridging (P-O-C) oxygen atom and the carboxylate group of PEP are not strongly hydrogen-bonded to the enzyme. The resulting high degree of negative charge on the carboxylate group of PEP would then suggest that the condensation step between PEP and D-arabinose-5-phosphate (A5P) should proceed in a stepwise fashion through the intermediacy of a transient oxocarbenium ion at C2 of PEP. The molecular structural results are discussed in light of the chemically similar but mechanistically distinct reaction that is catalyzed by the enzyme 3-deoxy-D-arabino-2-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase and in light of the preferred enzyme-bound states of the substrate A5P.

Identification of residues important both for primary receptor binding and specificity in fibroblast growth factor-7.

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) mediate a multitude of physiological and pathological processes by activating a family of tyrosine kinase receptors (FGFRs). Each FGFR binds to a unique subset of FGFs and ligand binding specificity is essential in regulating FGF activity. FGF-7 recognizes one FGFR isoform known as the FGFR2 IIIb isoform or keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR), whereas FGF-2 binds well to FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR4 but interacts poorly with KGFR. Previously, mutations in FGF-2 identified a set of residues that are important for high affinity receptor binding, known as the primary receptor-binding site. FGF-7 contains this primary site as well as a region that restricts interaction with FGFR1. The sequences that confer on FGF-7 its specific binding to KGFR have not been identified. By utilizing domain swapping and site-directed mutagenesis we have found that the loop connecting the beta4-beta5 strands of FGF-7 contributes to high affinity receptor binding and is critical for KGFR recognition. Replacement of this loop with the homologous loop from FGF-2 dramatically reduced both the affinity of FGF-7 for KGFR and its biological potency but did not result in the ability to bind FGFR1. Point mutations in residues comprising this loop of FGF-7 reduced both binding affinity and biological potency. The reciprocal loop replacement mutant (FGF2-L4/7) retained FGF-2 like affinity for FGFR1 and for KGFR. Our results show that topologically similar regions in these two FGFs have different roles in regulating receptor binding specificity and suggest that specificity may require the concerted action of distinct regions of an FGF.

Crystallization of dimers of the manganese-stabilizing protein of Photosystem II.

The manganese-stabilizing protein (MSP) of Photosystem II was purified from spinach photosynthetic membranes. The MSP was crystallized in the presence of calcium. Despite the apparent purity of the isolated protein, the crystals grew to only about 0.05 mm in their largest dimension. The MSP was analyzed to identify possible sources of protein heterogeneity that could hinder crystal growth. Tandem reverse-phase HPLC/ electronspray ionization mass spectrometry analysis of the MSP showed a major peak and four smaller peaks. All five peaks had molecular masses of 26 535, as expected for mature MSP, indicating the absence of heterogeneities due to covalent modifications. MALDI mass spectroscopy was utilized to identify heterogeneities in the MSP oligomeric state. These measurements showed that purified MSP in solution is a mixture of monomers and dimers, while solubilized MSP crystals contained only dimers. Size-exclusion chromatography and dynamic light scattering were used to probe the effect of the crystallization conditions on the MSP. Size-exclusion chromatography of concentrated MSP showed the presence of aggregates and monomers, while dilute MSP contained monomers. Dynamic light scattering experiments in the absence, or in the presence of 10-50 mM or 100 mM calcium, yielded calculated molecular mass values of 34 kDa, 48 kDa and 68 kDa, respectively. These changes in the observed molecular mass of the MSP could have been caused by the formation of dimers and higher oligomers and/or significant conformational changes. Based on the results reported in this study, a model is presented which details the effect of oligomeric heterogeneity on the inhibition of MSP crystal growth.

Analysis of the role of detergent mixtures on the crystallization of the reaction center of Photosystem II.

We have recently reported the crystallization of the reaction center of Photosystem II in the presence of detergent mixtures [Adir N (1999) Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr D55: 891-894]. We have used high performance liquid chromatography, dynamic light scattering, native gel electrophoresis and thermoluminescence measurements to characterize the interaction between these detergent mixtures and RC II, to try and understand their role in the crystallization process. Size exclusion HPLC and dynamic light scattering confirmed that the isolated RC II used for crystallization was exclusively monomeric. Dynamic light scattering measurements show that the detergent mixtures formed single micelles within a limited range of hydrodynamic radii. Both size exclusion HPLC and dynamic light scattering were used to follow the interaction between the detergent mixtures and monomeric RC II. These techniques revealed a decrease in the detergent mixture treated RC II particle size (with respect with the untreated RC II), and that RC II from solubilized crystals contained particles of the same size. Native gel electrophoresis showed that this change in apparent size is not due to the disintegration of the internal structure of the RC II complex. Thermoluminescence measurements of solubilized RC II crystals showed charge recombination from the S(2,3)Q(A) (-) state, indicating that RC II remains functionally viable following detergent mixture treatment and crystallization. The role of the detergent mixtures in the crystallization of RC II is discussed.

Mutations uncouple human fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-7 biological activity and receptor binding and support broad specificity in the secondary receptor binding site of FGFs.

The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family plays a key role in a multitude of physiological and pathological processes. The activities of FGFs are mediated by a family of tyrosine kinase receptors, designated FGFRs. The mechanism by which FGFs induce receptor activation is controversial. Despite their structural similarity, FGFs display distinct receptor binding characteristics and cell type specificity. Previous studies with FGF-2 identified a low affinity receptor binding site that is located within a loop connecting its 9th and 10th beta-strands. The corresponding residues in the other family members are highly variable, and it was proposed that the variability might confer on FGFs unique receptor binding characteristics. We studied the role of this loop in FGF-7 by both site-directed mutagenesis and loop replacement. Unlike the other members of the FGF family, FGF-7 recognizes only one FGFR isoform and is, therefore, ideal for studies of how the specificity in the FGF-FGFR interaction is conferred at the structural level. Point mutations in the loop of FGF-7 did not change receptor binding affinity but resulted in reduced mitogenic potency and reduced ability to induce receptor-mediated phosphorylation events. These results suggest that the loop of FGF-7 fulfills the role of low affinity binding site required for receptor activation. The observation that it is possible to uncouple FGF-7 receptor binding and biological activity favors a bivalent model for FGFR dimerization, and it may be clinically relevant to the design of FGF-7 antagonists. Reciprocal loop replacement between FGF-7 and FGF-2 had no effect on their known receptor binding affinities nor did it alter their known specificity in eliciting a mitogenic response. In conclusion, these results suggest that, despite the diversity in the loop structure of FGF-2 and FGF-7, the loop has a similar function in both growth factors.

Crystallization of the oxygen-evolving reaction centre of photosystem II in nine different detergent mixtures.

Oxygen-evolving photosystem II reaction centres (RCII) isolated from both spinach and pea have been crystallized. A single crystal form grew from RCII monomers in the presence of nine different three-component mixtures of non-ionic detergents and heptane-1,2, 3-triol. The crystals grew as hexagonal rods with dimensions of up to 1 x 0.3 x 0.3 mm. The crystals diffracted to a maximum resolution of 6.5 A and belong to a hexagonal space group with unit-cell parameters a = 495, b = 495, c = 115 A, alpha = beta = 90, gamma = 120 degrees. The growth of a single crystal form in the presence of such a large variety of detergents suggests a very limited range of crystal lattice formation sites in the RCII complex.

Co-crystallization and characterization of the photosynthetic reaction center-cytochrome c2 complex from Rhodobacter sphaeroides.

The photosynthetic reaction center (RC) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides and cytochrome c2 (cyt c2), its physiological secondary electron donor, have been co-crystallized. The molar ratio of RC/cyt c2 was found by SDS-PAGE and optical absorbance changes in the co-crystals to be 4. The crystals diffracted X-rays to 3.5 angstroms. However, the resolution degraded during data collection. A data set, 82.5% complete, was collected to 4.5 angstroms. The crystals belong to the tetragonal space group P4(3)2(1)2, with unit cell dimensions of a = b = 142.7 angstroms and c = 254.8 angstroms. The positions of the RCs in the unit cell were determined by molecular replacement. A comparable search for the cyt c2 by this method was unsuccessful because of the small contribution of the cytochrome to the total scattering and because of its low occupancy. The cyt c2 was positioned manually into patches of difference electron density, adjacent to the periplasmic surface of the M polypeptide subunit of the RC. The difference electron density was not sufficient for precise positioning of the cyt c2, and its orientation was modeled by placing the exposed edge of the heme toward the primary donor of the reaction center D and by forming pairs for electrostatically interacting RC and cyt c2 amino acid residues. The RC-cyt c2 structure derived from the co-crystal data was supported by use of omit maps and structure refinement analyses. Cyt c2 reduces the photooxidized primary donor D+ in 0.9 +/- 0.1 micros in the co-crystals, which is the same as the fast electron transfer rate in vivo and in solution. This result provides strong evidence that the structure of the complex in the co-crystal is the same as in solution. Two additional methods were used to investigate the structure of the RC-cyt c2 complex: (i) Docking calculations based on interprotein electrostatic interactions identified possible binding positions of the cyt c2 on the RC. The cyt c2 position with the lowest electrostatic energy is very similar to that of the cyt c2 in the proposed co-crystal structure. (ii) Site-directed mutagenesis was used to modify two aspartic acid residues (M184 and L155) on the periplasmic surface of the RC. Cyt c2 binding affinity to these RCs and electron transfer rates to D+ in these RCs support the co-crystal structure of th RC-cyt c2 complex.

EPR and ENDOR studies of the water oxidizing complex of Photosystem II.

A comparative study of X-band EPR and ENDOR of the S2 state of photosystem II membrane fragments and core complexes in the frozen state is presented. The S2 state was generated either by continuous illumination at T=200 K or by a single turn-over light flash at T=273 K yielding entirely the same S2 state EPR signals at 10 K. In membrane fragments and core complex preparations both the multiline and the g=4.1 signals were detected with comparable relative intensity. The absence of the 17 and 23 kDa proteins in the core complex preparation has no effect on the appearance of the EPR signals. (1)H-ENDOR experiments performed at two different field positions of the S2 state multiline signal of core complexes permitted the resolution of four hyperfine (hf) splittings. The hf coupling constants obtained are 4.0, 2.3, 1.1 and 0.6 MHz, in good agreement with results that were previously reported (Tang et al. (1993) J Am Chem Soc 115: 2382-2389). The intensities of all four line pairs belonging to these hf couplings are diminished in D2O. A novel model is presented and on the basis of the two largest hfc's distances between the manganese ions and the exchangeable protons are deduced. The interpretation of the ENDOR data indicates that these hf couplings might arise from water which is directly ligated to the manganese of the water oxidizing complex in redox state S2.