Polarized site-selective fluorescence spectroscopy of the long-wavelength emitting chlorophylls in isolated Photosystem I particles of Synechococcus elongatus

High-Resolution Frequency-Domain Spectroscopic and Modeling Studies of Photosystem I (PSI), PSI Mutants and PSI Supercomplexes

Photosystem I (PSI) is one of the two main pigment-protein complexes where the primary steps of oxygenic photosynthesis take place. This review describes low-temperature frequency-domain experiments (absorption, emission, circular dichroism, resonant and non-resonant hole-burned spectra) and modeling efforts reported for PSI in recent years. In particular, we focus on the spectral hole-burning studies, which are not as common in photosynthesis research as the time-domain spectroscopies. Experimental and modeling data obtained for trimeric cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PSI3), PSI3 mutants, and PSI3-IsiA18 supercomplexes are analyzed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of their excitonic structure and excitation energy transfer (EET) processes. Detailed information on the excitonic structure of photosynthetic complexes is essential to determine the structure-function relationship. We will focus on the so-called "red antenna states" of cyanobacterial PSI, as these states play an important role in photochemical processes and EET pathways. The high-resolution data and modeling studies presented here provide additional information on the energetics of the lowest energy states and their chlorophyll (Chl) compositions, as well as the EET pathways and how they are altered by mutations. We present evidence that the low-energy traps observed in PSI are excitonically coupled states with significant charge-transfer (CT) character. The analysis presented for various optical spectra of PSI3 and PSI3-IsiA18 supercomplexes allowed us to make inferences about EET from the IsiA18 ring to the PSI3 core and demonstrate that the number of entry points varies between sample preparations studied by different groups. In our most recent samples, there most likely are three entry points for EET from the IsiA18 ring per the PSI core monomer, with two of these entry points likely being located next to each other. Therefore, there are nine entry points from the IsiA18 ring to the PSI3 trimer. We anticipate that the data discussed below will stimulate further research in this area, providing even more insight into the structure-based models of these important cyanobacterial photosystems.

Formation of gel and solid phases in acrylic cuvettes upon exposure to DMSO, oxygen and light: implications for fluorescence spectroscopy

We here report the formation of a turbid-gel phase in acrylic cuvettes upon exposure to pure Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) at room temperature. The observed phenomenon occurred over a 10 h to 14 h incubation in the presence of environmental oxygen. After the turbid gel was removed from the cuvette, it became a white solid exhibiting unique emission behavior. The formation of the turbid-gel phase was accelerated upon exposure to UV 295 LED pulses of light from 6 h to 8 h. Surprisingly, subsequent exposure of the white solid to a few microliters of pure DMSO and vortexing resulted in its transformation into a transparent gel state in just a few minutes, eventually acquiring transparent and liquid properties. Additionally, the white-solid phase can load other molecules, such as Resveratrol and Quercetin, leading to shifts in the respective emission spectra compared with the same molecule in liquid and pure DMSO. These novel findings highlight the interaction between UV photons, oxygen, DMSO and Acrylic, and potentially distort fluorescence spectroscopy experiments.

Structural basis for the absence of low-energy chlorophylls in a photosystem I trimer from Gloeobacter violaceus

Photosystem I (PSI) is a multi-subunit pigment-protein complex that functions in light-harvesting and photochemical charge-separation reactions, followed by reduction of NADP to NADPH required for CO₂ fixation in photosynthetic organisms. PSI from different photosynthetic organisms has a variety of chlorophylls (Chls), some of which are at lower-energy levels than its reaction center P700, a special pair of Chls, and are called low-energy Chls. However, the sites of low-energy Chls are still under debate. Here, we solved a 2.04-Å resolution structure of a PSI trimer by cryo-electron microscopy from a primordial cyanobacterium Gloeobacter violaceus PCC 7421, which has no low-energy Chls. The structure shows the absence of some subunits commonly found in other cyanobacteria, confirming the primordial nature of this cyanobacterium. Comparison with the known structures of PSI from other cyanobacteria and eukaryotic organisms reveals that one dimeric and one trimeric Chls are lacking in the Gloeobacter PSI. The dimeric and trimeric Chls are named Low1 and Low2, respectively. Low2 is missing in some cyanobacterial and eukaryotic PSIs, whereas Low1 is absent only in Gloeobacter. These findings provide insights into not only the identity of low-energy Chls in PSI, but also the evolutionary changes of low-energy Chls in oxyphototrophs.

Cryo-EM structure of a functional monomeric Photosystem I from Thermosynechococcus elongatus reveals red chlorophyll cluster

A high-resolution structure of trimeric cyanobacterial Photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus was reported as the first atomic model of PSI almost 20 years ago. However, the monomeric PSI structure has not yet been reported despite long-standing interest in its structure and extensive spectroscopic characterization of the loss of red chlorophylls upon monomerization. Here, we describe the structure of monomeric PSI from Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1. Comparison with the trimer structure gave detailed insights into monomerization-induced changes in both the central trimerization domain and the peripheral regions of the complex. Monomerization-induced loss of red chlorophylls is assigned to a cluster of chlorophylls adjacent to PsaX. Based on our findings, we propose a role of PsaX in the stabilization of red chlorophylls and that lipids of the surrounding membrane present a major source of thermal energy for uphill excitation energy transfer from red chlorophylls to P700.

Generation of ion-radical chlorophyll states in the light-harvesting antenna and the reaction center of cyanobacterial photosystem I

The energy and charge-transfer processes in photosystem I (PS I) complexes isolated from cyanobacteria Thermosynechococcus elongatus and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 were investigated by pump-to-probe femtosecond spectroscopy. The formation of charge-transfer (CT) states in excitonically coupled chlorophyll a complexes (exciplexes) was monitored by measuring the electrochromic shift of β-carotene in the spectral range 500-510 nm. The excitation of high-energy chlorophyll in light-harvesting antenna of both species was not accompanied by immediate appearance of an electrochromic shift. In PS I from T. elongatus, the excitation of long-wavelength chlorophyll (LWC) caused a pronounced electrochromic effect at 502 nm assigned to the appearance of CT states of chlorophyll exciplexes. The formation of ion-radical pair P₇₀₀⁺A₁^- at 40 ps was limited by energy transfer from LWC to the primary donor P₇₀₀ and accompanied by carotenoid bleach at 498 nm. In PS I from Synechocystis 6803, the excitation at 720 nm produced an immediate bidentate bleach at 690/704 nm and synchronous carotenoid response at 508 nm. The bidentate bleach was assigned to the formation of primary ion-radical state P_B⁺Chl_2B^-, where negative charge is localized predominantly at the accessory chlorophyll molecule in the branch B, Chl_2B. The following decrease of carotenoid signal at ~ 5 ps was ascribed to electron transfer to the more distant molecule Chl_3B. The reduction of phylloquinone in the sites A_1A and A_1B was accompanied by a synchronous blue-shift of the carotenoid response to 498 nm, pointing to fast redistribution of unpaired electron between two branches in favor of the state P_B⁺A_1A^-.

The structure of a red-shifted photosystem I reveals a red site in the core antenna

Photosystem I coordinates more than 90 chlorophylls in its core antenna while achieving near perfect quantum efficiency. Low energy chlorophylls (also known as red chlorophylls) residing in the antenna are important for energy transfer dynamics and yield, however, their precise location remained elusive. Here, we construct a chimeric Photosystem I complex in Synechocystis PCC 6803 that shows enhanced absorption in the red spectral region. We combine Cryo-EM and spectroscopy to determine the structure⁻function relationship in this red-shifted Photosystem I complex. Determining the structure of this complex reveals the precise architecture of the low energy site as well as large scale structural heterogeneity which is probably universal to all trimeric Photosystem I complexes. Identifying the structural elements that constitute red sites can expand the absorption spectrum of oxygenic photosynthetic and potentially modulate light harvesting efficiency.

Cyanobacterial photosystem I has a highly conserved core antenna consisting of eleven subunits and more than 90 chlorophylls. Here via CryoEM and spectroscopy, the authors determine the location of a red-shifted low-energy chlorophyll that allows harvesting of longer wavelengths of light.

Control of electron transfer by protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers

Trehalose and glycerol are low molecular mass sugars/polyols that have found widespread use in the protection of native protein states, in both short- and long-term storage of biological materials, and as a means of understanding protein dynamics. These myriad uses are often attributed to their ability to form an amorphous glassy matrix. In glycerol, the glass is formed only at cryogenic temperatures, while in trehalose, the glass is formed at room temperature, but only upon dehydration of the sample. While much work has been carried out to elucidate a mechanistic view of how each of these matrices interact with proteins to provide stability, rarely have the effects of these two independent systems been directly compared to each other. This review aims to compile decades of research on how different glassy matrices affect two types of photosynthetic proteins: (i) the Type II bacterial reaction center from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and (ii) the Type I Photosystem I reaction center from cyanobacteria. By comparing aggregate data on electron transfer, protein structure, and protein dynamics, it appears that the effects of these two distinct matrices are remarkably similar. Both seem to cause a "tightening" of the solvation shell when in a glassy state, resulting in severely restricted conformational mobility of the protein and associated water molecules. Thus, trehalose appears to be able to mimic, at room temperature, nearly all of the effects on protein dynamics observed in low temperature glycerol glasses.

Redox-state dependent blinking of single photosystem I trimers at around liquid-nitrogen temperature

Efficient light harvesting in a photosynthetic antenna system is disturbed by a ragged and fluctuating energy landscape of the antenna pigments in response to the conformation dynamics of the protein. This situation is especially pronounced in Photosystem I (PSI) containing red shifted chlorophylls (red Chls) with the excitation energy much lower than the primary donor. The present study was conducted to clarify light-harvesting dynamics of PSI isolated from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 by using single-molecule spectroscopy at liquid‑nitrogen temperatures. Fluorescence emission at around 720 nm from the red Chls in single PSI trimers was monitored at 80-100 K. Intermittent variations in the emission intensities, so-called blinking, were frequently observed. Its time scale lay in several tens of seconds. The blinking amplitude depended on the redox state of the phylloquinone (A₁). Electrochromic shifts of Chls induced by the negative charge on A₁ were calculated based on the X-ray crystallographic structure. A Chl molecule, Chl-A839 (numbering according to PDB 5OY0), bound near A₁ was found to have a large electrochromic shift. This Chl has strong exciton coupling with neighboring Chl (A838) whose site energy was predicted to be determined by interaction with an arginine residue (ArgF84) [Adolphs et al., 2010]. A possible scenario of the blinking was proposed. Conformational fluctuations of ArgF84 seesaw the excitation-energy of Chl-A838, which perturbs the branching ratio of excitation-energy between the red Chl and the cationic form of P700 as a quencher. The electrochromic shift of Chl-A839 enhances the effect of the conformation dynamics of ArgF84.

Temperature dependence of metal-enhanced fluorescence of photosystem I from Thermosynechococcus elongatus

We report the temperature dependence of metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) of individual photosystem I (PSI) complexes from Thermosynechococcus elongatus (T. elongatus) coupled to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). A strong temperature dependence of shape and intensity of the emission spectra is observed when PSI is coupled to AuNPs. For each temperature, the enhancement factor (EF) is calculated by comparing the intensity of individual AuNP-coupled PSI to the mean intensity of 'uncoupled' PSI. At cryogenic temperature (1.6 K) the average EF was 4.3-fold. Upon increasing the temperature to 250 K the EF increases to 84-fold. Single complexes show even higher EFs up to 441.0-fold. At increasing temperatures the different spectral pools of PSI from T. elongatus become distinguishable. These pools are affected differently by the plasmonic interactions and show different enhancements. The remarkable increase of the EFs is explained by a rate model including the temperature dependence of the fluorescence yield of PSI and the spectral overlap between absorption and emission spectra of AuNPs and PSI, respectively.

Diode-pumped continuous-wave dual-wavelength c-cut Pr³⁺:LiYF₄ laser at 696 and 719 nm

A continuous-wave, InGaN-LD-pumped dual-wavelength laser is demonstrated with simultaneous emission at 696 (3P03F(→)3) and 719 nm (3P03F(→)4) using a c-cut Pr(3+):LiYF4, for the first time to our knowledge. Maximum output power of 102 mW at these two wavelengths is achieved with slope efficiency of about 15.6% with respect to the absorbed pump power. The beam propagation factors in x and y directions are measured to be 1.50 and 1.32, respectively.

A novel high light-inducible carotenoid-binding protein complex in the thylakoid membranes of Synechocystis PCC 6803

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a model cyanobacterium extensively used to study photosynthesis. Here we reveal a novel high light-inducible carotenoid-binding protein complex (HLCC) in the thylakoid membranes of Synechocystis PCC 6803 cells exposed to high intensity light. Zeaxanthin and myxoxanthophyll accounted for 29.8% and 54.8%, respectively, of the carotenoids bound to the complex. Using Blue-Native PAGE followed by 2D SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry, we showed that the HLCC consisted of Slr1128, IsiA, PsaD, and HliA/B. We confirmed these findings by SEAD fluorescence cross-linking and anti-PsaD immuno-coprecipitation analyses. The expression of genes encoding the protein components of the HLCC was enhanced by high light illumination and artificial oxidative stress. Deletion of these proteins resulted in impaired state transition and increased sensitivity to oxidative and/or high light stress, as indicated by increased membrane peroxidation. Therefore, the HLCC protects thylakoid membranes from extensive photooxidative damage, likely via a mechanism involving state transition.

Long-wavelength chlorophylls in photosystem I of cyanobacteria: origin, localization, and functions

The structural organization of photosystem I (PSI) complexes in cyanobacteria and the origin of the PSI antenna long-wavelength chlorophylls and their role in energy migration, charge separation, and dissipation of excess absorbed energy are discussed. The PSI complex in cyanobacterial membranes is organized preferentially as a trimer with the core antenna enriched with long-wavelength chlorophylls. The contents of long-wavelength chlorophylls and their spectral characteristics in PSI trimers and monomers are species-specific. Chlorophyll aggregates in PSI antenna are potential candidates for the role of the long-wavelength chlorophylls. The red-most chlorophylls in PSI trimers of the cyanobacteria Arthrospira platensis and Thermosynechococcus elongatus can be formed as a result of interaction of pigments peripherally localized on different monomeric complexes within the PSI trimers. Long-wavelength chlorophylls affect weakly energy equilibration within the heterogeneous PSI antenna, but they significantly delay energy trapping by P700. When the reaction center is open, energy absorbed by long-wavelength chlorophylls migrates to P700 at physiological temperatures, causing its oxidation. When the PSI reaction center is closed, the P700 cation radical or P700 triplet state (depending on the P700 redox state and the PSI acceptor side cofactors) efficiently quench the fluorescence of the long-wavelength chlorophylls of PSI and thus protect the complex against photodestruction.

Development of a novel cryogenic microscope with numerical aperture of 0.9 and its application to photosynthesis research

A novel cryogenic optical-microscope system was developed in which the objective lens is set inside of the cryostat adiabatic vacuum space. Being isolated from the sample when it was cooled, the objective lens was maintained at room temperature during the cryogenic measurement. Therefore, the authors were able to use a color-aberration corrected objective lens with a numerical aperture of 0.9. The lens is equipped with an air vent for compatibility to the vacuum. The theoretically expected spatial resolutions of 0.39μm along the lateral direction and 1.3μm along the axial direction were achieved by the developed system. The system was applied to the observations of non-uniform distributions of the photosystems in the cells of a green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, at 94K. Gaussian decomposition analysis of the fluorescence spectra at all the pixels clearly demonstrated a non-uniform distribution of the two photosystems, as reflected in the variable ratios of the fluorescence intensities assigned to photosystem II and to those assigned to photosystem I. The system was also applied to the fluorescence spectroscopy of single isolated photosystem I complexes at 90K. The fluorescence, assigned to be emitted from a single photosystem I trimer, showed an intermittent fluctuation called blinking, which is typical for a fluorescence signal from a single molecule. The vibronic fluorescence bands at around 790nm were observed for single photosystem I trimers, suggesting that the color aberration is not serious up to the 800nm spectral region.

Effect of TMAO and betaine on the energy landscape of photosystem I

The accumulation of organic co-solvents in cells is a basic strategy for organisms from various species to increase stress tolerance in extreme environments. Widespread representatives of this class of co-solvents are trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and betaine; these small molecules are able to stabilize the native conformation of proteins and prevent their aggregation. Despite their importance, detailed experimental studies on the impact of these co-solvents on the energy landscape of proteins have not yet been carried out. We use single-molecule spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures to examine the influence of these physiological relevant co-solvents on photosystem I (PSI) from Thermosynechococcus elongatus. In contrast to PSI ensemble spectra, which are almost unaffected by the addition of TMAO and betaine, statistical analysis of the fluorescence emission from individual PSI trimers yields insight into the interaction of the co-solvents with PSI. The results show an increased homogeneity upon addition of TMAO or betaine. The number of detectable zero-phonon lines (ZPLs) is reduced, indicating spectral diffusion processes with faster rates. In the framework of energy landscape model these findings indicate that co-solvents lead to reduced barrier heights between energy valleys, and thus efficient screening of protein conformations can take place.

Red antenna states of Photosystem I trimers from Arthrospira platensis revealed by single-molecule spectroscopy

Single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy at 1.4K was used to investigate the spectral properties of red (long-wavelength) chlorophylls in trimeric Photosystem I (PSI) complexes from the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis. Three distinct red antenna states could be identified in the fluorescence spectra of single PSI trimers from A. platensis in the presence of oxidized P700. Two of them are responsible for broad emission bands centered at 726 and 760nm. These bands are similar to those found in bulk fluorescence spectra measured at cryogenic temperatures. The broad fluorescence bands at ≅726 and ≅760nm belong to individual emitters that are broadened by strong electron-phonon coupling giving rise to a large Stokes-shift of about 20nm and rapid spectral diffusion. An almost perpendicular orientation of the transition dipole moments of F726 and F760 has to be assumed because direct excitation energy transfer does not occur between F726 and F760. For the first time a third red state assigned to the pool absorbing around 708nm could be detected by its zero-phonon lines. The center of the zero-phonon line distribution is found at ≅714nm. The spectral properties of the three red antenna states show a high similarity to the red antenna states found in trimeric PSI of Thermosynechoccocus elongatus. Based on these findings a similar organization of the red antenna states in PSI of these two cyanobacteria is discussed.

Structure and function of intact photosystem 1 monomers from the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus

Until now, the functional and structural characterization of monomeric photosystem 1 (PS1) complexes from Thermosynechococcus elongatus has been hampered by the lack of a fully intact PS1 preparation; for this reason, the three-dimensional crystal structure at 2.5 A resolution was determined with the trimeric PS1 complex [Jordan, P., et al. (2001) Nature 411 (6840), 909-917]. Here we show the possibility of isolating from this cyanobacterium the intact monomeric PS1 complex which preserves all subunits and the photochemical activity of the isolated trimeric complex. Moreover, the equilibrium between these complexes in the thylakoid membrane can be shifted by a high-salt treatment in favor of monomeric PS1 which can be quantitatively extracted below the phase transition temperature. Both monomers and trimers exhibit identical posttranslational modifications of their subunits and the same reaction centers but differ in the long-wavelength antenna chlorophylls. Their chlorophyll/P700 ratio (108 for the monomer and 112 for the trimer) is slightly higher than in the crystal structure, confirming mild preparation conditions. Interaction of antenna chlorophylls of the monomers within the trimer leads to a larger amount of long-wavelength chlorophylls, resulting in a higher photochemical activity of the trimers under red or far-red illumination. The dynamic equilibrium between monomers and trimers in the thylakoid membrane may indicate a transient monomer population in the course of biogenesis and could also be the basis for short-term adaptation of the cell to changing environmental conditions.

Protein dynamics-induced variation of excitation energy transfer pathways

Strong anticorrelation between the fluorescence emission of different emitters is observed by employing single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy on photosystem I at cryogenic temperatures. This anticorrelation demonstrates a time-dependent interaction between pigments participating in the exciton transfer chain, implying that uniquely defined energy transfer pathways within the complex do not exist. Fluctuations of the chromophores themselves or their immediate protein surroundings induce changes in their site energy, and, as a consequence, these fluctuations change the coupling within the excitation transfer pathways. The time scales of the site energy fluctuations of the individual emitters do not meet the time scales of the observed correlated emission behavior. Therefore, the emitters must be fed individually by energetically higher lying states, causing the observed intensity variations. This phenomenon is shown for photosystem I pigment-protein complexes from 2 different cyanobacteria (Thermosynechococcus elongatus and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803) with strongly different spectral properties underlining the general character of the findings. The variability of energy transfer pathways might play a key role in the extreme robustness of light-harvesting systems in general.

Far-red fluorescence: a direct spectroscopic marker for LHCII oligomer formation in non-photochemical quenching

Time-resolved fluorescence on oligomers of the main light-harvesting complex from higher plants indicate that in vitro oligomerization leads to the formation of a weakly coupled inter-trimer chlorophyll-chlorophyll (Chl) exciton state which converts in tens of ps into a state which is spectrally broad and has a strongly far-red enhanced fluorescence spectrum. Both its lifetime and spectrum show striking similarity with a 400ps fluorescence component appearing in intact leaves of Arabidopsis when non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is induced. The fluorescence components with high far-red/red ratio are thus a characteristic marker for NPQ conditions in vivo. The far-red emitting state is shown to be an emissive Chl-Chl charge transfer state which plays a crucial part in the quenching.

Trap-limited charge separation kinetics in higher plant photosystem I complexes

Time-resolved fluorescence measurements were performed on isolated core and intact Photosystem I (PS I) particles and stroma membranes from Arabidopsis thaliana to characterize the type of energy-trapping kinetics in higher plant PS I. Target analysis confirms the previously proposed "charge recombination" model. No bottleneck in the energy flow from the bulk antenna compartments to the reaction center has been found. For both particles a trap-limited kinetics is realized, with an apparent charge separation lifetime of approximately 6 ps. No red chlorophylls (Chls) are found in the PS I-core complex from A. thaliana. Rather, the observed red-shifted fluorescence (700-710 nm range) originates from the reaction center. In contrast, two red Chl compartments, located in the peripheral light-harvesting complexes, are resolved in the intact PS I particles (decay lifetimes 33 and 95 ps, respectively). These two red states have been attributed to the two red states found in Lhca 3 and Lhca 4, respectively. The influence of the red Chls on the slowing of the overall trapping kinetics in the intact PS I complex is estimated to be approximately four times larger than the effect of the bulk antenna enlargement.

The low-energy forms of photosystem I light-harvesting complexes: spectroscopic properties and pigment-pigment interaction characteristics

In this work the spectroscopic properties of the special low-energy absorption bands of the outer antenna complexes of higher plant Photosystem I have been investigated by means of low-temperature absorption, fluorescence, and fluorescence line-narrowing experiments. It was found that the red-most absorption bands of Lhca3, Lhca4, and Lhca1-4 peak, respectively, at 704, 708, and 709 nm and are responsible for 725-, 733-, and 732-nm fluorescence emission bands. These bands are more red shifted compared to "normal" chlorophyll a (Chl a) bands present in light-harvesting complexes. The low-energy forms are characterized by a very large bandwidth (400-450 cm(-1)), which is the result of both large homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening. The observed optical reorganization energy is untypical for Chl a and resembles more that of BChl a antenna systems. The large broadening and the changes in optical reorganization energy are explained by a mixing of an Lhca excitonic state with a charge transfer state. Such a charge transfer state can be stabilized by the polar residues around Chl 1025. It is shown that the optical reorganization energy is changing through the inhomogeneous distribution of the red-most absorption band, with the pigments contributing to the red part of the distribution showing higher values. A second red emission form in Lhca4 was detected at 705 nm and originates from a broad absorption band peaking at 690 nm. This fluorescence emission is present also in the Lhca4-N-47H mutant, which lacks the 733-nm emission band.

Assignment of Red Antenna States in Photosystem I from Thermosynechoccocus elongatus by Single-Molecule Spectroscopy

Single-molecule spectroscopy at cryogenic temperatures was used to elucidate spectral properties, heterogeneities, and dynamics of the chlorophyll a (Chla) molecules responsible for the fluorescence in photosystem I (PSI) from the cyanobacteria Thermosynechococcus elongatus. Absorption and hole burning data suggest the presence of three pools absorbing at wavelengths greater than 700 nm with their absorption maxima at 708, 715, and 719 nm. The responsible Chla molecules are termed C708, C715, and C719. In the emission spectra of single PSI complexes, zero-phonon lines (ZPLs) were observed over the whole red emission range of PSI. The spectral region of the C708 pool is dominated by intense ZPLs; on the other hand, the broad emission of C715/C719 is unstructured and ZPLs are seen in this region much less frequently. Spectral jumps of ZPLs were observed. The dynamics as well as the spectral range covered by such jumps differ for C708 and C715/C719. This heterogeneity is likely caused by differences in the close environment of the chromophores. A tentative assignment of C708 and C715/C719 to Chla dimers and a Chla trimer is discussed, which is based on the remarkable structural differences in the environment of the most probable candidates for the red-most fluorescence.

Red Antenna States of Photosystem I from Cyanobacteria Synechocystis PCC 6803 and Thermosynechococcus elongatus: Single-Complex Spectroscopy and Spectral Hole-Burning Study

Hole-burning and single photosynthetic complex spectroscopy were used to study the excitonic structure and excitation energy-transfer processes of cyanobacterial trimeric Photosystem I (PS I) complexes from Synechocystis PCC 6803 and Thermosynechococcus elongatus at low temperatures. It was shown that individual PS I complexes of Synechocystis PCC 6803 (which have two red antenna states, i.e., C706 and C714) reveal only a broad structureless fluorescence band with a maximum near 720 nm, indicating strong electron-phonon coupling for the lowest energy C714 red state. The absence of zero-phonon lines (ZPLs) belonging to the C706 red state in the emission spectra of individual PS I complexes from Synechocystis PCC 6803 suggests that the C706 and C714 red antenna states of Synechocystis PCC 6803 are connected by efficient energy transfer with a characteristic transfer time of approximately 5 ps. This finding is in agreement with spectral hole-burning data obtained for bulk samples of Synechocystis PCC 6803. The importance of comparing the results of ensemble (spectral hole burning) and single-complex measurements was demonstrated. The presence of narrow ZPLs near 710 nm in addition to the broad fluorescence band at approximately 730 nm in Thermosynechococcus elongatus (Jelezko et al. J. Phys. Chem. B 2000, 104, 8093-8096) has been confirmed. We also demonstrate that high-quality samples obtained by dissolving crystals of PS I of Thermosynechococcus elongatus exhibit stronger absorption in the red antenna region than any samples studied so far by us and other groups.

One- and Two-Color Photon Echo Peak Shift Studies of Photosystem I

Wavelength-dependent one- and two-color photon echo peak shift spectroscopy was performed on the chlorophyll Qy band of trimeric photosystem I from Thermosynechococcus elongatus. Sub-100 fs energy transfer steps were observed in addition to longer time scales previously measured by others. In the main PSI absorption peak (675-700 nm), the peak shift decays more slowly with increasing wavelength, implying that energy transfer between pigments of similar excitation energy is slower for pigments with lower site energies. In the far-red region (715 nm), the decay of the peak shift is more rapid and is complete by 1 ps, a consequence of the strong electron-phonon coupling present in this spectral region. Two-color photon echo peak shift data show strong excitonic coupling between pigments absorbing at 675 nm and those absorbing at 700 nm. The one- and two-color peak shifts were simulated using the previously developed energy transfer model (J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 10251; Biophysical Journal 2003, 85, 140). The simulations agree well with the experimental data. Two-color photon echo peak shift is shown to be far more sensitive to variations in the molecular Hamiltonian than one-color photon echo peak shift spectroscopy.

Red Pool Chlorophylls of Photosystem I of the Cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus: A Single-Molecule Study

Photosystem I reaction centers of the cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus have been investigated using single-molecule spectroscopy. Single-molecule fluorescence emission spectra reveal a new fluorescence band located at 745 nm. Fluorescence polarization spectroscopy and fluorescence autocorrelation analysis show that only a few chlorophylls are responsible for the photoemission from the Photosystem I trimer at low temperature. Intersystem crossing parameters of the red pool chlorophylls have been determined via fluorescence autocorrelation measurements. The triplet yield of the red chlorophylls is strongly reduced in comparison to chlorophyll a in solution. Strong quenching of the triplet state indicates that the red chlorophylls are located in close contact to carotenoids.

Red chlorophylls in the exciton model of photosystem I

Structural arrangement of pigment molecules of Photosystem I of photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus is used for theoretical modeling of the excitation energy spectrum. It is demonstrated that a straightforward application of the exciton theory with the assumption of the same molecular transition energy does not describe the red side of the absorption spectrum. Since the inhomogeneity in the molecular transition energies caused by a dispersive interaction with the molecular surrounding cannot be identified directly from the structural model, the evolutionary search procedure is used for fitting the low temperature absorption and circular dichroism spectra. As a result, one dimer, three trimers and one tetramer of chlorophyll molecules responsible for the red side of the absorption spectrum with their assignment to the spectroscopically established three bands at 708, 714 and 719 nm are determined. All of them are found to be situated not in the very close vicinity of the reaction center but are encircling it almost at the same distance. In order to explain the unusual broadening on the red side of the spectrum the exciton state mixing with the charge transfer (CT) states is considered. It is shown that two effects can be distinguished as caused by mixing of those states: (i) the oscillator strength borrowing by the CT state from the exciton transition and (ii) the borrowing of the high density of the CT state by the exciton state. The intermolecular vibrations between two counter-charged molecules determine the high density in the CT state. From the broad red absorption wing it is concluded that the CT state should be the lowest state in the complexes under consideration. Such mixing effect enables resolving the diversity in the molecular transition energies as determined by different theoretical approaches.

Modelling of the electron transfer reactions in Photosystem I by electron tunnelling theory: The phylloquinones bound to the PsaA and the PsaB reaction centre subunits of PS I are almost isoenergetic to the iron–sulfur cluster FX

Photosystem I is a large macromolecular complex located in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts and in cyanobacteria that catalyses the light driven reduction of ferredoxin and oxidation of plastocyanin. Due to the very negative redox potential of the primary electron transfer cofactors accepting electrons, direct estimation by redox titration of the energetics of the system is hampered. However, the rates of electron transfer reactions are related to the thermodynamic properties of the system. Hence, several spectroscopic and biochemical techniques have been employed, in combination with the classical Marcus theory for electron transfer tunnelling, in order to access these parameters. Nevertheless, the values which have been presented are very variable. In particular, for the case of the tightly bound phylloquinone molecule A(1), the values of the redox potentials reported in the literature vary over a range of about 350 mV. Previous models of Photosystem I have assumed a unidirectional electron transfer model. In the present study, experimental evidence obtained by means of time resolved absorption, photovoltage, and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements are reviewed and analysed in terms of a bi-directional kinetic model for electron transfer reactions. This model takes into consideration the thermodynamic equilibrium between the iron-sulfur centre F(X) and the phylloquinone bound to either the PsaA (A(1A)) or the PsaB (A(1B)) subunit of the reaction centre and the equilibrium between the iron-sulfur centres F(A) and F(B). The experimentally determined decay lifetimes in the range of sub-picosecond to the microsecond time domains can be satisfactorily simulated, taking into consideration the edge-to-edge distances between redox cofactors and driving forces reported in the literature. The only exception to this general behaviour is the case of phylloquinone (A(1)) reoxidation. In order to describe the reported rates of the biphasic decay, of about 20 and 200 ns, associated with this electron transfer step, the redox potentials of the quinones are estimated to be almost isoenergetic with that of the iron sulfur centre F(X). A driving force in the range of 5 to 15 meV is estimated for these reactions, being slightly exergonic in the case of the A(1B) quinone and slightly endergonic, in the case of the A(1A) quinone. The simulation presented in this analysis not only describes the kinetic data obtained for the wild type samples at room temperature and is consistent with estimates of activation energy by the analysis of temperature dependence, but can also explain the effect of the mutations around the PsaB quinone binding pocket. A model of the overall energetics of the system is derived, which suggests that the only substantially irreversible electron transfer reactions are the reoxidation of A(0) on both electron transfer branches and the reduction of F(A) by F(X).

Interaction of pigment-protein complexes within aggregates stimulates dissipation of excess energy

Pigment-protein complexes in photosynthetic membranes exist mainly as aggregates that are functionally active as monomers but more stable due to their ability to dissipate excess energy. Dissipation of energy in the photosystem I (PSI) trimers of cyanobacteria takes place with a contribution of the long-wavelength chlorophylls whose excited state is quenched by cation radical of P700 or P700 in its triplet state. If P700 in one of the monomer complexes within a PSI trimer is oxidized, energy migration from antenna of other monomer complexes to cation radical of P700 via peripherally localized long-wavelength chlorophylls results in energy dissipation, thus protecting PSI complex of cyanobacteria against photodestruction. It is suggested that dissipation of excess absorbed energy in aggregates of the light-harvesting complex LHCII of higher plants takes place with a contribution of peripherally located chlorophylls and carotenoids.

Bridging the gap between structural and lattice models: a parameterization of energy transfer and trapping in Photosystem I

In the absence of an accurate structural model, the excited state dynamics of energy-transferring systems are often modeled using lattice models. To demonstrate the validity and other potential merits of such an approach we present the results of the modeling of the energy transfer and trapping in Photosystem I based upon the 2.5 A structural model, and show that these results can be reproduced in terms of a lattice model with only a few parameters. It has recently been shown that at room temperature the dynamics of a hypothetical Photosystem I particle, not containing any red chlorophylls (chls), are characterized by a longest (trapping) lifetime of 18 ps. The structure-based modeling of the dynamics of this particle yields an almost linear relationship between the possible values of the intrinsic charge-separation time at P700, 1/gamma, and the average single-site lifetime in the antenna, tauss. Lattice-based modeling, using the approach of a perturbed two-level model, reproduces this linear relation between tauss and 1/gamma. Moreover, this approach results in a value of the (modified) structure-function corresponding to a structure exhibiting a mixture of the characteristics of both a square and a cubic lattice, consistent with the structural model. These findings demonstrate that the lattice model describes the dynamics of the system appropriately. In the lattice model, the total trapping time is the sum of the delivery time to the reaction center and the time needed to quench the excitation after delivery. For the literature value of tauss=150 fs, both these times contribute almost equally to the total trapping time of 18 ps, indicating that the system is neither transfer- nor trap-limited. The value of approximately 9 ps for the delivery time is basically equal to the excitation-transfer time from the bulk chls to the red chls in Synechococcus elongatus, indicating that energy transfer from the bulk to the reaction center and to the red chls are competing processes. These results are consistent with low-temperature time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence measurements. We conclude that lattice models can be used to describe the global energy-transfer properties in complex chromophore networks, with the advantage that such models deal with only a few global, intuitive parameters rather than the many microscopic parameters obtained in structure-based modeling.

Excitation wavelength dependence of the fluorescence kinetics in Photosystem I particles from Synechocystis PCC 6803 and Synechococcus elongatus

The excitation-wavelength dependence of the excited-state dynamics of monomeric and trimeric Photosystem I (PSI) particles from Synechocystis PCC 6803 as well as trimeric PSI particles from Synechococcus elongatus has been studied at room temperature using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. For aselective (400 nm), carotenoid (505 nm), and bulk chlorophyll (approximately 650 nm) excitation in all species, a downhill energy-transfer component is observed, corresponding to a lifetime of 3.4-5.5 ps. For selective red excitation (702-719 nm) in all species, a significantly faster, an approximately 1-ps, uphill transfer component was recorded. In Synechococcus PSI, an additional approximately 10-ps downhill energy-transfer component is found for all wavelengths of excitation, except 719 nm. Each of the species exhibits its own characteristic trap spectrum, the shape of which is independent of the wavelength of excitation. This trap spectrum decays in approximately 23 ps in both monomeric and trimeric Synechocystis PSI and in approximately 35 ps in trimeric Synechococcus PSI. The data were simulated based on the 2.5 A structural model of PSI of Synechococcus elongatus using the Förster equation for energy transfer, and using the 0.6-1-ps charge-separation time and the value of 1.2-1.3 for the index of refraction that were obtained from the dynamics of a hypothetical PSI particle without red chls. The experimentally obtained lifetimes and spectra were reproduced well by assigning three of the chlorophyll-a (chla) dimers observed in the structure to the C708/C702RT pool of red chls present in PSI from both species. Essential for the simulation of the dynamics of Synechococcus PSI is the assignment of the single chla trimer in the structure to the C719/C708RT pool present in this species.

Excitonic interactions in wild-type and mutant PSI reaction centers

Femtosecond excitation of the red edge of the chlorophyll a Q(Y) transition band in photosystem I (PSI), with light of wavelength > or = 700 nm, leads to wide transient (subpicosecond) absorbance changes: positive DeltaA between 635 and 665 nm, and four negative DeltaA bands at 667, 675, 683, and 695 nm. Here we compare the transient absorbance changes after excitation at 700, 705, and 710 nm at 20 K in several PSI preparations of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii where amino acid ligands of the primary donor, primary acceptor, or connecting chlorophylls have been mutated. Most of these mutations influence the spectrum of the absorbance changes. This supports the view that the chlorophylls of the electron transfer chain as well as the connecting chlorophylls are engaged in the observed absorbance changes. The wide absorption spectrum of the electron transfer chain revealed by the transient measurements may contribute to the high efficiency of energy trapping in photosystem 1. Exciton calculations, based on the recent PSI structure, allow an assignment of the DeltaA bands to particular chlorophylls: the bands at 675 and 695 nm to the dimers of primary acceptor and accessory chlorophyll and the band at 683 nm to the connecting chlorophylls. The subpicosecond transient absorption bands decay may reflect rapid charge separation in the PSI reaction center.

Energy transfer and trapping in the Photosystem I complex of Synechococcus PCC 7942 and in its supercomplex with IsiA

The cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC 7942 grown under iron starvation assembles a supercomplex consisting of a trimeric Photosystem I (PSI) complex encircled by a ring of 18 CP43' or IsiA complexes. It has previously been shown that PSI of Synechococcus PCC 7942 contains less special long-wavelength ('red') chlorophylls than PSI of most other cyanobacteria. Here we present a comparative analysis by time-resolved absorption difference and fluorescence spectroscopy of the processes of energy transfer and trapping in trimeric PSI and PSI-IsiA supercomplexes from Synechococcus PCC 7942. All experiments were performed with the primary electron donor of PSI (P700) in the oxidized state. Our data suggest that in the PSI complex the excitation energy is equilibrated with a lifetime of 0.6 ps among the so-called bulk chlorophylls, is distributed in 3-4 ps between the bulk and red chlorophylls, and is trapped in the reaction center in 19 ps. This trapping time is shorter than that observed for other cyanobacteria, which we attribute to the lower content of red chlorophylls in PSI of this organism. In the PSI-IsiA supercomplexes, the distribution of excited states is blue-shifted compared to that in PSI, leading to a lengthening of the equilibration processes. We attributed a phase of about 1 ps to initial energy equilibration steps among the IsiA and PSI core bulk chlorophylls, a 5-7 ps phase to equilibration between bulk and red chlorophylls within the PSI core, and a 38 ps phase to trapping in the reaction center. The data suggest that the excitation energy is equilibrated among the IsiA and PSI core antenna chlorophylls before trapping occurs. Data analysis based on a simple kinetic model revealed an intrinsic rate constant for energy transfer from IsiA to PSI in the range of 2+/-1 ps. Based on this value we suggest the presence of one or more linker chlorophylls between the IsiA and PSI core complexes. These results confirm that IsiA acts as an effective light-harvesting antenna for PSI.