Photochemical Intermediates of Arabidopsis Phototropin 2 LOV Domains Associated with Conformational Changes

Applications of Time-Resolved Thermodynamics for Studies on Protein Reactions

Thermodynamics and kinetics are two important scientific fields when studying chemical reactions. Thermodynamics characterize the nature of the material. Kinetics, mostly based on spectroscopy, have been used to determine reaction schemes and identify intermediate species. They are certainly important fields, but they are almost independent. In this review, our attempts to elucidate protein reaction kinetics and mechanisms by monitoring thermodynamic properties, including diffusion in the time domain, are described. The time resolved measurements are performed mostly using the time resolved transient grating (TG) method. The results demonstrate the usefulness and powerfulness of time resolved studies on protein reactions. The advantages and limitations of this TG method are also discussed.

Selective Photoinduced Dimerization and Slow Recovery of a BLUF Domain of EB1

The EAL-BLUF fragment from Magnetococcus marinus BldP1 (EB1) light-dependently hydrolyzes c-di-GMP. Herein, the photoreaction of the BLUF domain of EB1 (eBLUF) is studied. It is found for the first time that a monomeric BLUF domain forms a dimer upon illumination and its dark recovery is very slow. The dimer of light- and dark-state protomers (LD-dimer) is much more stable than that of two light-state protomers (LL-dimer), and the dark recovery of the LD-dimer is approximately 20 times slower than that of the LL-dimer, which is suitable for optogenetic tools. The secondary structure of the L-monomer is different from those of the D-monomer and the LD-dimer. The transient grating measurements reveal that this conformational change occurs simultaneously with dimerization. Although the W91A mutant exhibits a spectral red shift, it forms a heterodimer with the L-monomer of wild-type eBLUF with similar stability to the LD-dimer. This suggests that the conformation of the dimerization site of W91A is similar to that of the dark state (dark-mimic mutant); that is, the light-induced structural changes in the chromophore cavity are not transferred to the other part of the protein. The selective photoinduced dimerization of eBLUF is potentially useful to control interprotein interactions between two different effector domains bound to these proteins.

A Time-Resolved Diffusion Technique for Detection of the Conformational Changes and Molecular Assembly/Disassembly Processes of Biomolecules

Biological liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is driven by dynamic and multivalent interactions, which involves conformational changes and intermolecular assembly/disassembly processes of various biomolecules. To understand the molecular mechanisms of LLPS, kinetic measurements of the intra- and intermolecular reactions are essential. In this review, a time-resolved diffusion technique which has a potential to detect molecular events associated with LLPS is presented. This technique can detect changes in protein conformation and intermolecular interaction (oligomer formation, protein-DNA interaction, and protein-lipid interaction) in time domain, which are difficult to obtain by other methods. After the principle and methods for signal analyses are described in detail, studies on photoreactive molecules (intermolecular interaction between light sensor proteins and its target DNA) and a non-photoreactive molecule (binding and folding reaction of α-synuclein upon mixing with SDS micelle) are presented as typical examples of applications of this unique technique.

Circadian oscillator proteins across the kingdoms of life: structural aspects

Circadian oscillators are networks of biochemical feedback loops that generate 24-hour rhythms in organisms from bacteria to animals. These periodic rhythms result from a complex interplay among clock components that are specific to the organism, but share molecular mechanisms across kingdoms. A full understanding of these processes requires detailed knowledge, not only of the biochemical properties of clock proteins and their interactions, but also of the three-dimensional structure of clockwork components. Posttranslational modifications and protein–protein interactions have become a recent focus, in particular the complex interactions mediated by the phosphorylation of clock proteins and the formation of multimeric protein complexes that regulate clock genes at transcriptional and translational levels. This review covers the structural aspects of circadian oscillators, and serves as a primer for this exciting realm of structural biology.

Hydrogen Bonding Environment of the N3-H Group of Flavin Mononucleotide in the Light Oxygen Voltage Domains of Phototropins

The light oxygen voltage (LOV) domain is a flavin-binding blue-light receptor domain, originally found in a plant photoreceptor phototropin (phot). Recently, LOV domains have been used in optogenetics as the photosensory domain of fusion proteins. Therefore, it is important to understand how LOV domains exhibit light-induced structural changes for the kinase domain regulation, which enables the design of LOV-containing optogenetics tools with higher photoactivation efficiency. In this study, the hydrogen bonding environment of the N3-H group of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) of the LOV2 domain from Adiantum neochrome (neo) 1 was investigated by low-temperature Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Using specifically ¹⁵N-labeled FMN, [1,3-¹⁵N₂]FMN, the N3-H stretch was identified at 2831 cm^-1 for the unphotolyzed state at 150 K, indicating that the N3-H group forms a fairly strong hydrogen bond. The N3-H stretch showed temperature dependence, with a shift to lower frequencies at ≤200 K and to higher frequencies at ≥250 K from the unphotolyzed to the intermediate states. Similar trends were observed in the LOV2 domains from Arabidopsis phot1 and phot2. By contrast, the N3-H stretch of the Q1029L mutant of neo1-LOV2 and neo1-LOV1 was not temperature dependent in the intermediate state. These results seemed correlated with our previous finding that the LOV2 domains show the structural changes in the β-sheet region and/or the adjacent Jα helix of LOV2 domain, but that such structural changes do not take place in the Q1029L mutant or neo1-LOV1 domain. The environment around the N3-H group was also investigated.

Time-resolved fluctuation during the photochemical reaction of a photoreceptor protein: phototropin1LOV2-linker

Although the relationship between structural fluctuations and reactions is important for elucidating reaction mechanisms, experimental data describing such fluctuations of reaction intermediates are sparse. In order to investigate structural fluctuations during a protein reaction, the compressibilities of intermediate species after photoexcitation of a phot1LOV2-linker, which is a typical LOV domain protein with the C-terminal linker including the J-α helix and used recently for optogenetics, were measured in the time-domain by the transient grating and transient lens methods with a high pressure optical cell. The yield of covalent bond formation between the chromophore and a Cys residue (S state formation) relative to that at 0.1 MPa decreased very slightly with increasing pressure. The fraction of the reactive species that yields the T state (linker-unfolded state) decreased almost proportionally with pressure (0.1-200 MPa) to about 65%. Interestingly, the volume change associated with the reaction was much more pressure sensitive. By combining these data, the compressibility changes for the short lived intermediate (S state) and the final product (T state) formation were determined. The compressibility of the S state was found to increase compared with the dark (D) state, and the compressibility decreased during the transition from the S state to the T state. The compressibility change is discussed in terms of cavities inside the protein. By comparing the crystal structures of the phot1LOV2-linker at dark and light states, we concluded that the cavity volumes between the LOV domain and the linker domain increase in the S state, which explains the enhanced compressibility.

Photoinduced dimerization of a photosensory DNA-binding protein EL222 and its LOV domain

Blue light sensor protein EL222, which regulates DNA-binding affinity, exhibits photoinduced dimerization in the absence of target DNA.

The linker between LOV2-Jα and STK plays an essential role in the kinase activation by blue light in Arabidopsis phototropin1, a plant blue light receptor

Phototropin (phot), a blue light receptor in plants, is composed of several domains: LOV1, LOV2, and a serine/threonine kinase (STK). LOV2 is the main regulator of light activation of STK. However, the detailed mechanism remains unclear. In this report, we focused on the linker region between LOV2 and STK excluding the Jα-helix. Spectroscopy and a kinase assay for the substituents in the linker region of Arabidopsis phot1 LOV2-STK indicated that the linker is involved in the activation of STK. A putative module in the middle of the linker would be critical for intramolecular signaling and/or regulation of STK.

Essential role of the A'α/Aβ gap in the N-terminal upstream of LOV2 for the blue light signaling from LOV2 to kinase in Arabidopsis photototropin1, a plant blue light receptor

Phototropin (phot) is a blue light (BL) receptor in plants and is involved in phototropism, chloroplast movement, stomata opening, etc. A phot molecule has two photo-receptive domains named LOV (Light-Oxygen-Voltage) 1 and 2 in its N-terminal region and a serine/threonine kinase (STK) in its C-terminal region. STK activity is regulated mainly by LOV2, which has a cyclic photoreaction, including the transient formation of a flavin mononucleotide (FMN)-cysteinyl adduct (S390). One of the key events for the propagation of the BL signal from LOV2 to STK is conformational changes in a Jα-helix residing downstream of the LOV2 C-terminus. In contrast, we focused on the role of the A’α-helix, which is located upstream of the LOV2 N-terminus and interacts with the Jα-helix. Using LOV2-STK polypeptides from Arabidopsis thaliana phot1, we found that truncation of the A’α-helix and amino acid substitutions at Glu474 and Lys475 in the gap between the A’α and the Aβ strand of LOV2 (A’α/Aβ gap) to Ala impaired the BL-induced activation of the STK, although they did not affect S390 formation. Trypsin digested the LOV2-STK at Lys603 and Lys475 in a light-dependent manner indicating BL-induced structural changes in both the Jα-helix and the gap. The digestion at Lys603 is faster than at Lys475. These BL-induced structural changes were observed with the Glu474Ala and the Lys475Ala substitutes, indicating that the BL signal reached the Jα-helix as well as the A’α/Aβ gap but could not activate STK. The amino acid residues, Glu474 and Lys475, in the gap are conserved among the phots of higher plants and may act as a joint to connect the structural changes in the Jα-helix with the activation of STK.

Transient conformational fluctuation of TePixD during a reaction

Knowledge of the dynamical behavior of proteins, and in particular their conformational fluctuations, is essential to understanding the mechanisms underlying their reactions. Here, transient enhancement of the isothermal partial molar compressibility, which is directly related to the conformational fluctuation, during a chemical reaction of a blue light sensor protein from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 (TePixD, Tll0078) was investigated in a time-resolved manner. The UV-Vis absorption spectrum of TePixD did not change with the application of high pressure. Conversely, the transient grating signal intensities representing the volume change depended significantly on the pressure. This result implies that the compressibility changes during the reaction. From the pressure dependence of the amplitude, the compressibility change of two short-lived intermediate (I1 and I2) states were determined to be +(5.6 ± 0.6) × 10(-2) cm(3) ⋅ mol(-1) ⋅ MPa(-1) for I1 and +(6.6 ± 0.7) × 10(-2) cm(3) ⋅ mol(-1) ⋅ MPa(-1) for I2. This result showed that the structural fluctuation of intermediates was enhanced during the reaction. To clarify the relationship between the fluctuation and the reaction, the compressibility of multiply excited TePixD was investigated. The isothermal compressibility of I1 and I2 intermediates of TePixD showed a monotonic decrease with increasing excitation laser power, and this tendency correlated with the reactivity of the protein. This result indicates that the TePixD decamer cannot react when its structural fluctuation is small. We concluded that the enhanced compressibility is an important factor for triggering the reaction of TePixD. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing enhanced fluctuations of intermediate species during a protein reaction, supporting the importance of fluctuations.

Identification and molecular characterization of FKF1 and GI homologous genes in soybean

In Arabidopsis, FKF1 (FLAVIN BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX1) and GI (GIGANTEA) play important roles in flowering pathway through regulating daytime CO (CONSTANS) expression, and such a function is conserved across plants studied. But related reports are limited for soybean. In this study, we cloned FKF1 and GI homologs in soybean, and named as GmFKF1, GmFKF2, GmGI1, GmGI2, and GmGI3, respectively. GmGI1 had two alternative splicing forms, GmGI1α and GmGI1β. GmFKF1/2 transcripts were diurnally regulated, with a peak at zeitgeber time 12 (ZT12) in long days and at ZT10 in short days. The diurnal phases between GmGIs transcript levels greatly differed. GmGI2 expression was regulated by both the circadian clock and photoperiod. But the rhythmic phases of GmGI1 and GmGI3 expression levels were mainly conferred by long days. GmFKFs shared similar spatio-temporal expression profiles with GmGIs in all of the tissue/organs in different developmental stages in both LD and SD. Both GmFKF and GmGI proteins were targeted to the nucleus. Yeast two hybrid assays showed GmFKF1/GmFKF2 interacted with GmGI1/GmGI2/GmCDF1 (CYCLING DOF FACTOR CDF1 homolog in soybean); and the LOV (Light, Oxygen, or Voltage) domain in GmFKF1/GmFKF2 played an important role in these interactions. N-terminus of GmGI2 was sufficient to mediate its interaction with GmCDF1. Interestingly, N-terminus not full of GmGI3 interacted with GmFKF1/GmFKF2/GmCDF1. Ectopic over-expression of the GmFKF1 or GmFKF2 in Arabidopsis enhanced flowering in SD. Collectively, GmFKF and GmGI in soybean had conserved functional domains at DNA sequence level, but specific characters at function level with their homologs in other plants.

Dynamics of the amino-terminal and carboxyl-terminal helices of Arabidopsis phototropin 1 LOV2 studied by the transient grating

Recently, conformational changes of the amino-terminal helix (A'α helix), in addition to the reported conformational changes of the carboxyl-terminal helix (Jα helix), have been proposed to be important for the regulatory function of the light-oxygen-voltage 2 domain (LOV2) of phototropin 1 from Arabidopsis. However, the reaction dynamics of the A'α helix have not been examined. Here, the unfolding reactions of the A'α and Jα helices of the LOV2 domain of phototropin 1 from Arabidopsis thaliana were investigated by the time-resolved transient grating (TG) method. A mutant (T469I mutant) that renders the A'α helix unfolded in the dark state showed unfolding of the Jα helix with a time constant of 1 ms, which is very similar to the time constant reported for the wild-type LOV2-linker sample. Furthermore, a mutant (I608E mutant) that renders the Jα helix unfolded in the dark state exhibited an unfolding process of the A'α helix with a time constant of 12 ms. On the basis of these experimental results, it is suggested that the unfolding reactions of these helices occurs independently.

LOV domain-containing F-box proteins: light-dependent protein degradation modules in Arabidopsis

Plants constantly survey the surrounding environment using several sets of photoreceptors. They can sense changes in the quantity (=intensity) and quality (=wavelength) of light and use this information to adjust their physiological responses, growth, and developmental patterns. In addition to the classical photoreceptors, such as phytochromes, cryptochromes, and phototropins, ZEITLUPE (ZTL), FLAVIN-BINDING, KELCH REPEAT, F-BOX 1 (FKF1), and LOV KELCH PROTEIN 2 (LKP2) proteins have been recently identified as blue-light photoreceptors that are important for regulation of the circadian clock and photoperiodic flowering. The ZTL/FKF1/LKP2 protein family possesses a unique combination of domains: a blue-light-absorbing LOV (Light, Oxygen, or Voltage) domain along with domains involved in protein degradation. Here, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the function of the Arabidopsis ZTL/FKF1/LKP2 proteins. We summarize the distinct photochemical properties of their LOV domains and discuss the molecular mechanisms by which the ZTL/FKF1/LKP2 proteins regulate the circadian clock and photoperiodic flowering by controlling blue-light-dependent protein degradation.

Light-induced structural changes of the LOV2 domains in various phototropins revealed by FTIR spectroscopy

Phototropin (Phot), a blue-light photoreceptor in plants, consists of two FMN-binding domains (named LOV1 and LOV2) and a serine/threonine (Ser/Thr) kinase domain. We have investigated light-induced structural changes of LOV domains, which lead to the activation of the kinase domain, by means of light-induced difference FTIR spectroscopy. FTIR spectroscopy revealed that the reactive cysteine is protonated in both unphotolyzed and triplet-excited states, which is difficult to detect by other methods such as X-ray crystallography. In this review, we describe the light-induced structural changes of hydrogen-bonding environment of FMN chromophore and protein backbone in Adiantum neo1-LOV2 in the C=O stretching region by use of ¹³C-labeled samples. We also describe the comprehensive FTIR analysis of LOV2 domains among Arabidopsis phot1, phot2, and Adiantum neo1 with and without Jα helix domain.

Kinetics of conformational changes of the FKF1-LOV domain upon photoexcitation

The photochemical reaction dynamics of a light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) domain from the blue light sensor protein, FKF1 (flavin-binding Kelch repeat F-box) was studied by means of the pulsed laser-induced transient grating method. The observed absorption spectral changes upon photoexcitation were similar to the spectral changes observed for typical LOV domain proteins (e.g., phototropins). The adduct formation took place with a time constant of 6 μs. After this reaction, a significant conformational change with a time constant of 6 ms was observed as a change in the diffusion coefficient. An FKF1-LOV mutant without the conserved loop connecting helices E and F, which is present only in the FKF1/LOV Kelch protein 2/ZEITLUPE family, did not show these slow phase dynamics. This result indicates that the conformational change in the loop region represents a major change in the FKF1-LOV photoreaction.

Studies of photo-induced protein reactions by spectrally silent reaction dynamics detection methods: applications to the photoreaction of the LOV2 domain of phototropin from Arabidopsis thaliana

Biological function involves a series of chemical reactions of biological molecules, and during these reactions, there are numerous spectrally silent dynamic events that cannot be monitored by absorption or emission spectroscopic techniques. Such spectrally silent dynamics include changes in conformation, intermolecular interactions (hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions), inter-protein interactions (oligomer formation, dissociation reactions) and conformational fluctuations. These events might be associated with biological function. To understand the molecular mechanisms of reactions, time-resolved detection of such dynamics is essential. Recently, it has been shown that time-resolved detection of the refractive index is a powerful tool for measuring dynamic events. This technique is complementary to optical absorption detection methods and the signal contains many unique properties, which are difficult to obtain by other methods. The advantages and methods for signal analyses are described in detail in this review. A typical example of an application of time-resolved refractive index change detection is given in the second part: The photoreaction of the LOV2 domain of a blue light photoreceptor from Arabidopsis Thaliana (phototropin). This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Dynamics: Experimental and Computational Approaches.

The switch that does not flip: the blue-light receptor YtvA from Bacillus subtilis adopts an elongated dimer conformation independent of the activation state as revealed by a combined AUC and SAXS study

Photoreceptors play an important role in plants and bacteria by converting extracellular stimuli into intracellular signals. One distinct class are the blue-light-sensitive phototropins harboring a light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) domain coupled to various effector domains. Photon absorption by the chromophore within the LOV domain results in an activation of the output domain via mechanisms that are hitherto not well understood. The photoreceptor YtvA from Bacillus subtilis is a bacterial analog of phototropins, consists of an LOV and a sulfate transporter/anti-sigma factor antagonist domain, and is involved in the response of the bacterium to environmental stress. We present here analytical ultracentrifugation studies and small-angle X-ray scattering experiments, showing that YtvA is a dimer. On the basis of these results, we present a low-resolution model of the dimer in the dark and the lit state of the protein. In addition, we show that YtvA does not change its oligomerization state or its overall shape upon light activation.

Temperature-sensitive reaction of a photosensor protein YcgF: possibility of a role of temperature sensor

The spectrally silent photoreaction of a blue light sensor protein YcgF, composed of the N-terminal BLUF domain and the C-terminal EAL domain, was investigated by the time-resolved transient grating method. Comparing photoinduced reactions of full-length YcgF with that of the BLUF-linker construct, it was found that a major conformation change after photoinduced dimerization is predominantly localized on the EAL domain. Furthermore, the photoinduced conformational change displayed significant temperature dependence. This result is explained by an equilibrium of reactive and nonreactive YcgF species, with the population of photoreactive species decreasing as the temperature is lowered in the dark state. We consider that the dimer form is the nonreactive species and it is the dominant species at lower temperatures. The temperature sensitivity of the photoreaction of YcgF suggests that this protein could have a biological function as a temperature sensor as well as behaving as a light sensor.

Conformational heterogeneity and propagation of structural changes in the LOV2/Jalpha domain from Avena sativa phototropin 1 as recorded by temperature-dependent FTIR spectroscopy

Phototropins control phototropism, chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, and leaf expansion in plants. Phototropin 1 (phot1) is composed of a kinase domain linked to two blue light-sensing domains, LOV2 and LOV1, which bind flavin mononucleotide. Disruption of the interaction between the LOV2 domain and a helical segment named Jalpha, joining LOV to the kinase domain, induces the subsequent kinase activity of phototropin 1 and further-downstream signal transduction. Here we study the effects of temperature and hydration on the light-triggered signal propagation in the phot1 LOV2 domain of Avena sativa (AsLOV2/Jalpha), using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to unravel part of the molecular mechanism of phototropin 1. We report that AsLOV2/Jalpha shows an intense signal in the amide I and II regions, arising mainly from beta-sheet changes and the unbinding of the Jalpha helix from the Per-ARNT-Sim core and its subsequent partial unfolding. Importantly, these structural changes only occur under conditions of full hydration and at temperatures above 280 K. We characterized a newly isolated low-hydration intermediate that shows a downshift of high-frequency amide I signals and that possibly corresponds to loop tightening, without large beta-sheet or Jalpha structural changes. In addition, we report a heterogeneity in AsLOV2/Jalpha involving two different C(4)=O conformer populations, coexisting in the dark state and characterized by C(4)=O carbonyl frequencies at 1712 cm(-1) and 1694 cm(-1) that are attributable to a single H-bond and two H-bonds at this site, respectively. Such conformers display slightly shifted absorption spectra and cause a splitting of the 475-nm band in the ultraviolet/visible spectra of LOV domains at low temperature.

Oligomeric-state-dependent conformational change of the BLUF protein TePixD (Tll0078)

The photochemical reaction dynamics of a BLUF (sensors of blue light using FAD) protein, PixD, from a thermophilic cyanobacterium Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1 (TePixD, Tll0078) were studied by pulsed laser-induced transient grating method. After the formation of an intermediate species with a red-shifted absorption spectrum, two new reaction phases reflecting protein conformational changes were discovered; one reaction phase manifested itself as expansion of partial molar volume with a time constant of 40 micros, whereas the other reaction phase represented a change in the diffusion coefficient D [i.e., the diffusion-sensitive conformational change (DSCC)]. D decreased from 4.9 x 10(-11) to 4.4 x 10(-11) m2 s(-1) upon the formation of the first intermediate, and subsequently showed a more pronounced decrease to 3.2 x 10(-11) m2 s(-1) upon formation of the second intermediate. From a global analysis of signals at various grating wavenumbers, the time constant of D-change was determined to be 4 ms. Although the magnitude and rate constant of the faster volume change were independent of protein concentration, the amplitude of the signal that reflects the later DSCC significantly decreased as the protein concentration decreased. This concentration dependence suggests that two species exist in solution: a reactive species exhibiting the DSCC, and a second species that is nonreactive. The fraction of these species was found to be dependent on the concentration. The difference in reactivity was attributed to the different oligomeric states of TePixD (i.e., pentamer and decamer). The equilibrium of these states in the dark was confirmed by size-exclusion chromatography at various concentrations. These results demonstrated that only the decamer state is responsible for the conformational change. The results may suggest that the oligomeric state is functionally important in the signal transduction of this photosensory protein.

Light signal transduction pathway from flavin chromophore to the J alpha helix of Arabidopsis phototropin1

In the plant blue-light sensor phototropin, illumination of the chromophoric LOV domains causes activation of the serine/threonine kinase domain. Flavin mononucleotide (FMN) is a chromophore molecule in the two LOV domains (LOV1 and LOV2), but only LOV2 is responsible for kinase activation. Previous studies reported an important role of an additional helix connected to the C-terminal of LOV2 (Jalpha helix) for the function of phototropin; however, it remains unclear how the Jalpha helix affects light-induced structural changes in LOV2. In this study we compared light-induced protein structural changes of the LOV2 domain of Arabidopsis phot1 in the absence (LOV2-core) and presence (LOV2-Jalpha) of the Jalpha helix by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Prominent peaks were observed only in the amide-I region (1650 (-)/1625 (+) cm(-1)) of LOV2-Jalpha at physiological temperatures (>/=260 K), corresponding to structural perturbation of the alpha-helix. The peaks were diminished by point mutation of functionally important amino acids such as Phe-556 between FMN and the beta-sheet, Gln-575 being hydrogen-bonded with FMN, and Ile-608 on the Jalpha helix. We thus conclude that a light signal is relayed from FMN through these amino acids and eventually changes the interaction between LOV2-core and the Jalpha helix in Arabidopsis phot1.

Time-resolved Fourier transform infrared study on photoadduct formation and secondary structural changes within the phototropin LOV domain

Phototropins are plant blue-light photoreceptors containing two light-, oxygen-, or voltage-sensitive (LOV) domains and a C-terminal kinase domain. The two LOV domains bind noncovalently flavin mononucleotide as a chromophore. We investigated the photocycle of fast-recovery mutant LOV2-I403V from Arabidopsis phototropin 2 by step-scan Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The reaction of the triplet excited state of flavin with cysteine takes place with a time constant of 3 micros to yield the covalent adduct. Our data provide evidence that the flavin is unprotonated in the productive triplet state, disfavoring an ionic mechanism of bond formation. An intermediate adduct species was evident that displayed changes in secondary structure in the helix or loop region, and relaxed with a time constant of 120 micros. In milliseconds, the final adduct state is formed by further alterations of secondary structure, including beta-sheets. A comparison with wild-type adduct spectra shows that the mutation does not interfere with the functionality of the domain. All signals originate from within the LOV domain, because the construct does not comprise the adjacent Jalpha helix required for signal transduction. The contribution of early and late adduct intermediates to signal transfer to the Jalpha helix outside of the domain is discussed.

An optical high-pressure cell for transient grating measurements of biological substance with a high reproducibility

We describe a high-pressure optical cell that can be used for time-resolved transient grating measurements to determine the thermodynamic properties of transient species under high pressure. This high-pressure cell enables us to compare the grating signal intensities of different samples quantitatively. Using this high-pressure cell with an inner sample cell, one can measure various thermodynamic properties of a biological substance in time domain. The stability and reproducibility of this apparatus are described.