ABSTRACT
Stark (electroabsorption) spectra of the M100A mutant of photoactive yellow protein reveal that the neutral, cis cofactor of the pB intermediate undergoes a strikingly large change in the static dipole moment (|Deltamu| = 19 Debye) on photon absorption. The formation of this charge-separated species, in the excited state, precedes the cis --> trans isomerization of the pB cofactor and the regeneration of pG. The large |Deltamu|, reminiscent of that produced on the excitation of pG, we propose, induces twisting of the cis cofactor as a result of translocation of negative charge, from the hydroxyl oxygen, O1, toward the C7-C8 double bond. The biological significance of this photoinduced charge transfer reaction underlies the significantly faster regeneration of pG from pB in vitro, on the absorption of blue light.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/chemistry , Bacterial Proteins/radiation effects , Light , Photoreceptors, Microbial/chemistry , Photoreceptors, Microbial/radiation effects , Adaptation, Physiological/physiology , Adaptation, Physiological/radiation effects , Amino Acid Substitution , Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation , Mutagenesis, Site-Directed , Radiation DosageABSTRACT
The change in the electrostatic properties on excitation of the cofactor of wild-type photoactive yellow protein (WT-PYP) have been directly determined using Stark-effect spectroscopy. We find that, instantaneously on photon absorption, there is a large change in the permanent dipole moment, /Delta(-->)mu/, (26 Debye) and in the polarizability, (-)Deltaalpha, (1000 A(3)). We expect such a large degree of charge motion to have a significant impact on the photocycle that is associated with the important blue-light negative phototactic response of Halorhodospira halophila. Furthermore, changing E46 to Q in WT-PYP does not significantly alter its electrostatic properties, whereas, altering the chromophore to prevent it from undergoing trans-cis isomerization results in a significant diminution of /Delta(-->)mu/ and (-)Deltaalpha. We propose that the enormous charge motion that occurs on excitation of 4-hydroxycinnamyl thioester, the chromophore in WT-PYP, plays a crucial role in initiating the photocycle by translocation of the negative charge, localized on the phenolate oxygen in the ground state, across the chromophore. We hypothesize that this charge motion would consequently increase the flexibility of the thioester tail thereby decreasing the activation barrier for the rotation of this moiety in the excited state.
