Electron transfer in the isolated photosystem II reaction centre complex

How Can We Predict Accurate Electrochromic Shifts for Biochromophores? A Case Study on the Photosynthetic Reaction Center

Protein-embedded chromophores are responsible for light harvesting, excitation energy transfer, and charge separation in photosynthesis. A critical part of the photosynthetic apparatus are reaction centers (RCs), which comprise groups of (bacterio)chlorophyll and (bacterio)pheophytin molecules that transform the excitation energy derived from light absorption into charge separation. The lowest excitation energies of individual pigments (site energies) are key for understanding photosynthetic systems, and form a prime target for quantum chemistry. A major theoretical challenge is to accurately describe the electrochromic (Stark) shifts in site energies produced by the inhomogeneous electric field of the protein matrix. Here, we present large-scale quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations of electrochromic shifts for the RC chromophores of photosystem II (PSII) using various quantum chemical methods evaluated against the domain-based local pair natural orbital (DLPNO) implementation of the similarity-transformed equation of motion coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations (STEOM-CCSD). We show that certain range-separated density functionals (ωΒ97, ωΒ97X-V, ωΒ2PLYP, and LC-BLYP) correctly reproduce RC site energy shifts with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). The popular CAM-B3LYP functional underestimates the shifts and is not recommended. Global hybrid functionals are too insensitive to the environment and should be avoided, while nonhybrid functionals are strictly nonapplicable. Among the applicable approximate coupled cluster methods, the canonical versions of CC2 and ADC(2) were found to deviate significantly from the reference results both for the description of the lowest excited state and for the electrochromic shifts. By contrast, their spin-component-scaled (SCS) and particularly the scale-opposite-spin (SOS) variants compare well with the reference DLPNO-STEOM-CCSD and the best range-separated DFT methods. The emergence of RC excitation asymmetry is discussed in terms of intrinsic and protein electrostatic potentials. In addition, we evaluate a minimal structural scaffold of PSII, the D1-D2-CytB559 RC complex often employed in experimental studies, and show that it would have the same site energy distribution of RC chromophores as the full PSII supercomplex, but only under the unlikely conditions that the core protein organization and cofactor arrangement remain identical to those of the intact enzyme.

Low-temperature (77 K) phosphorescence of triplet chlorophyll in isolated reaction centers of photosystem II

Phosphorescence characterized by the main emission band at 952 ± 1 nm (1.30 eV), the lifetime of 1.5 ± 0.1 ms and the quantum yield nearly equal to that for monomeric chlorophyll a in aqueous detergent dispersions, has been detected in isolated reaction centers (RCs) of spinach photosystem II at 77 K. The excitation spectrum shows maxima corresponding to absorption bands of chlorophyll a, pheophytin a, and β-carotene. The phosphorescence intensity strongly depends upon the redox state of RCs. The data suggest that the phosphorescence signal originates from the chlorophyll triplet state populated via charge recombination in the radical pair [Formula: see text].

Dimeric and monomeric organization of photosystem II. Distribution of five distinct complexes in the different domains of the thylakoid membrane

The supramolecular organization of photosystem II (PSII) was characterized in distinct domains of the thylakoid membrane, the grana core, the grana margins, the stroma lamellae, and the so-called Y100 fraction. PSII supercomplexes, PSII core dimers, PSII core monomers, PSII core monomers lacking the CP43 subunit, and PSII reaction centers were resolved and quantified by blue native PAGE, SDS-PAGE for the second dimension, and immunoanalysis of the D1 protein. Dimeric PSII (PSII supercomplexes and PSII core dimers) dominate in the core part of the thylakoid granum, whereas the monomeric PSII prevails in the stroma lamellae. Considerable amounts of PSII monomers lacking the CP43 protein and PSII reaction centers (D1-D2-cytochrome b559 complex) were found in the stroma lamellae. Our quantitative picture of the supramolecular composition of PSII, which is totally different between different domains of the thylakoid membrane, is discussed with respect to the function of PSII in each fraction. Steady state electron transfer, flash-induced fluorescence decay, and EPR analysis revealed that nearly all of the dimeric forms represent oxygen-evolving PSII centers. PSII core monomers were heterogeneous, and a large fraction did not evolve oxygen. PSII monomers without the CP43 protein and PSII reaction centers showed no oxygen-evolving activity.

Comparison of the functional properties of the monomeric and dimeric forms of the isolated CP47-reaction center complex

Chlorophyll fluorescence, thermoluminescence, and EPR spectroscopy have been used to investigate the functional properties of the monomeric and dimeric forms of the photosystem II CP47-reaction center (CP47-RC) subcore complex that was isolated (Zheleva, D., Sharma, J., Panico, M., Morris, H. R., and Barber, J. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 16122-16127). Chlorophyll fluorescence yield changes induced either by the initiation of continuous actinic light or by repetitive light flashes indicated that the dimeric, but not the monomeric, form of the CP47-RC complex showed secondary electron transport properties indicative of QA reduction. Thermoluminescence measurements also clearly distinguished the monomer from the dimer in that the latter showed a ZV band, which appeared at -55 degreesC, following illumination at -80 degreesC. This band has been determined to be an indicator of the photoaccumulation of QA-. The ability of the dimeric CP47-RC to show secondary electron transport properties was clearly demonstrated by EPR studies. The dimer was characterized by organic radical signals at about g = 2 induced either by illumination or by the addition of dithionite. The dithionite-induced signal was attributed to QA-, but there was no indication of any interaction with non-heme iron. The signal induced by light was more complex, being composed not only of the QA- radical but also of radicals generated on the donor side. Difference analyses indicated that one of these radicals is likely to be due to a D1 tyrosine 161 or D2 tyrosine 161. In contrast, the monomeric CP47-RC complex did not show similar EPR-detectable radicals and instead was dominated by a high yield of the spin-polarized triplet signal generated by recombination reactions between the oxidized primary reductant, pheophytin, and the primary donor, P680. It is also concluded from EPR analyses that both the monomeric and dimeric forms of the CP47-RC subcore complex contain one cytochrome b559 per reaction center. Overall the results suggest that photosystem II normally functions as a dimer complex and that monomerization at the level of the CP47-RC subcore complex leads to destabilization of the bound plastoquinone, which functions as QA.

Location of chlorophyllZ in photosystem II

Saturation-recovery and progressive microwave power saturation EPR spectroscopies have been used to probe the location of the chlorophyllZ+ (ChlZ+) radical species in Mn-depleted photosystems II (PSII). The spin-lattice relaxation transients of ChlZ+ were non-single-exponential due to a dipole-dipole interaction with one of the other paramagnetic centers in PSII. Measurements on CN(-)-treated, Mn-depleted PSII membrane samples, in which the non-heme Fe(II) is converted into its low-spin, diamagnetic form, confirmed that the non-heme Fe(II) caused the dipolar relaxation enhancement of ChlZ+. The saturation-recovery EPR data were fit to a dipolar model [Hirsh, D. J., Beck, W. F., Innes, J. B., & Brudvig, G. W. (1992) Biochemistry 31, 532] which takes into account the isotropic (scalar) and orientation-dependent (dipolar) contributions to the spin-lattice relaxation of the radical. The temperature dependence of the dipolar rate constants of ChlZ+ was identical to the temperature dependencies recently observed for the stable tyrosine radical, YD., and the special pair bacteriochlorophyll radical, (BChla)2+, in PSII and in reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, respectively. Because the non-heme Fe(II) is known to cause a dipolar relaxation enhancement of the radicals in both of the latter cases, this result provides further evidence that the non-heme Fe(II) causes the dipolar relaxation enhancement of ChlZ+ and, moreover, demonstrates that the magnetic properties of the non-heme Fe(II) in PSII and in reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides are very similar. By using the known Fe(II)-(BChla)2+ distance for calibration, we estimate the Fe(II)-ChlZ+ distance to be 39.5 +/- 2.5 A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

ENDOR and special triple resonance studies of chlorophyll cation radicals in photosystem 2

Electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) and special triple (ST) resonance spectroscopies have been used to study the cation radicals of the primary donor, P680, and two secondary donor chlorophylls (Chl) in photosystem 2 (PS2). Two different preparations were employed, Tris-washed PS2 membranes and PS2 reaction centers (D1-D2-I-Cytb559 complex). One secondary donor Chl a cation radical, Chl1.+, was generated in the Tris-washed preparation, while the P680.+ radical cation and a further Chl a cation radical, Chl2.+, were produced in the reaction center preparation. The ENDOR spectrum of the primary donor radical cation of photosystem 1 (P700.+) is also presented for comparison. Hyperfine coupling constants for methyl groups have been measured for all three PS2 radical species and assigned by comparison with previously published spectra of Chl a radicals in vitro. Electron spin densities were calculated from these hyperfine couplings. Comparison of ENDOR spectral features with those of Chla.+ in vitro indicates similar values for Chl1.+ and Chl2.+ radicals but an apparent reduction in unpaired electron spin density for P680.+. It has been proposed from the more detailed studies of purple bacterial reaction centers that such a reduction in spin density can be interpreted as a delocalization over two Chl a molecules. Our calculations therefore suggest that P680.+ is a weakly coupled chlorophyll pair with 82% of the unpaired electron spin located on one chlorophyll of the pair at 15 K. Environmental or geometrical changes to the chlorin ring structure to give a novel monomeric primary donor are also possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Light-induced Fourier transform infrared spectrum of the cation radical P680+

The structure of the primary electron donor of photosystem II, P680, is still under debate. It is not decided if it is composed of a chlorophyll (Chl) monomer or dimer. In this study, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the changes in the vibration modes occurring upon photooxidation of P680 in a Mn-depleted PS II preparation. It is demonstrated that illumination of the above in the presence of artificial electron acceptors results in a light-minus-dark absorbance change typical of the formation of P680+. The light-minus-dark difference FTIR spectrum obtained under similar conditions is characterized by two negative peaks located at 1694 and 1652 or 1626 cm-1 that can be assigned to the 9-keto groups of the P680 Chl, the latter band being indicative of a strongly associated group. These vibrations are shifted to 1714 and 1676 cm-1, respectively, in the positive features of the difference spectrum attributed to P680+. The occurrence of two pairs of bands attributed to 9-keto groups is discussed in terms of P680 being formed of a Chl dimer.

A guide to electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of Photosystem II membranes

This guide is intended to aid in the detection and identification of paramagnetic species in Photosystem II membranes, by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The spectral features and occurrence of each of the electron paramagnetic resonance signals from Photosystem II are discussed, in relation to the nature of the moiety giving rise to the signal and the role of that species in photosynthetic electron transport. Examples of most of the signals discussed are shown. The electron paramagnetic resonance signals produced by the cytochrome b6f and Photosystem I complexes, as well as the signals from other common contaminants, are also reviewed. Furthermore, references to seminal experiments on bacterial reaction centers are included. By reviewing both the spectroscopic and biochemical bases for the electron paramagnetic resonance signals of the cofactors that mediate photosynthetic electron transport, this paper provides an introduction to the use and interpretation of electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in the study of Photosystem II.