X-ray crystal structure of the YM210W mutant reaction centre from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Dynamics of diverse coherences in primary charge separation of bacterial reaction center at 77 K revealed by wavelet analysis

To uncover the mechanism behind the high photo-electronic conversion efficiency in natural photosynthetic complexes it is essential to trace the dynamics of electronic and vibrational quantum coherences. Here we apply wavelet analysis to two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy data for three purple bacterial reaction centers with mutations that produce drastically different rates of primary charge separation. From the frequency distribution and dynamic evolution features of the quantum beating, electronic coherence with a dephasing lifetime of ~50 fs, vibronic coherence with a lifetime of ~150 fs and vibrational/vibronic coherences with a lifetime of 450 fs are distinguished. We find that they are responsible for, or couple to, different specific steps during the primary charge separation process, i.e., intradimer charge transfer inside the special bacteriochlorophyll pair followed by its relaxation and stabilization of the charge-transfer state. The results enlighten our understanding of how quantum coherences participate in, and contribute to, a biological electron transfer reaction.

Dynamic Stark Effect in Two-Dimensional Spectroscopy Revealing Modulation of Ultrafast Charge Separation in Bacterial Reaction Centers by an Inherent Electric Field

Despite extensive study, mysteries remain regarding the highly efficient ultrafast charge separation processes in photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs). In this work, transient Stark signals were found to be present in ultrafast two-dimensional electronic spectra recorded for purple bacterial RCs at 77 K. These arose from the electric field that is inherent to the intradimer charge-transfer intermediate of the bacteriochlorophyll pair (P), P_A⁺P_B^-. By comparing three mutated RCs, a correlation was found between the efficient formation of P_A⁺P_B^- and a fast charge separation rate. Importantly, the energy level of P* was changed due to the Stark shift, influencing the driving force for P* → P⁺B_A^- electron transfer and hence its rate. Furthermore, the orientation and amplitude of the inherent electric field varied in different ways upon different mutation, leading to contrasting changes in the rates. This mechanism of modulation provides a solution to a long-lasting inconsistency between experimental observations and activation energy theory.

High-pressure tuning of primary photochemistry in bacterial photosynthesis: membrane-bound versus detergent-isolated reaction centers

While photosynthesis thrives at close to normal pressures and temperatures, it is presently well known that life is similarly commonplace in the hostile environments of the deep seas as well as around hydrothermal vents. It is thus imperative to understand how key biological processes perform under extreme conditions of high pressures and temperatures. Herein, comparative steady-state and picosecond time-resolved spectroscopic studies were performed on membrane-bound and detergent-purified forms of a YM210W mutant reaction center (RC) from Rhodobacter sphaeroides under modulating conditions of high hydrostatic pressure applied at ambient temperature. A previously established breakage of the lone hydrogen bond formed between the RC primary donor and the protein scaffold was shown to take place in the membrane-bound RC at an almost 3 kbar higher pressure than in the purified RC, confirming the stabilizing role of the lipid environment for membrane proteins. The main change in the multi-exponential decay of excited primary donor emission across the experimental 10 kbar pressure range involved an over two-fold continuous acceleration, the kinetics becoming increasingly mono-exponential. The fastest component of the emission decay, thought to be largely governed by the rate of primary charge separation, was distinctly slower in the membrane-bound RC than in the purified RC. The change in character of the emission decay with pressure was explained by the contribution of charge recombination to emission decreasing with pressure as a result of an increasing free energy gap between the charge-separated and excited primary donor states. Finally, it was demonstrated that, in contrast to a long-term experimental paradigm, adding a combination of sodium ascorbate and phenazine methosulfate to the protein solution potentially distorts natural photochemistry in bacterial RCs.

High-Pressure Modulation of Primary Photosynthetic Reactions

Photochemical charge separation is key to biological solar energy conversion. Although many features of this highly quantum-efficient process have been described, others remain poorly understood. Herein, ultrafast fluorescence barospectroscopy is used for the first time to obtain insights into the mechanism of primary charge separation in a YM210W mutant bacterial reaction center under novel surrounding modulating conditions. Over a range of applied hydrostatic pressures reaching 10 kbar, the rate of primary charge separation monotonously increased and that of the electron transfer to secondary acceptor decreased. While the inferred free energy gap for charge separation generally narrowed with increasing pressure, a pressure-induced break of a protein-cofactor hydrogen bond observed at ∼2 kbar significantly (by 219 cm^-1 or 27 meV) increased this gap, resulting in a drop in fluorescence. The findings strongly favor a model for primary charge separation that incorporates charge recombination and restoration of the excited primary pair state, over a purely sequential model. We show that the main reason for the almost threefold acceleration of the primary electron transfer rate is the pressure-induced increase of the electronic coupling energy, rather than a change of activation energy. We also conclude that across all applied pressures, the primary electron transfer in the mutant reaction center studied can be considered nonadiabatic, normal region, and thermally activated.

Both electronic and vibrational coherences are involved in primary electron transfer in bacterial reaction center

Understanding the mechanism behind the near-unity efficiency of primary electron transfer in reaction centers is essential for designing performance-enhanced artificial solar conversion systems to fulfill mankind’s growing demands for energy. One of the most important challenges is distinguishing electronic and vibrational coherence and establishing their respective roles during charge separation. In this work we apply two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy to three structurally-modified reaction centers from the purple bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides with different primary electron transfer rates. By comparing dynamics and quantum beats, we reveal that an electronic coherence with dephasing lifetime of ~190 fs connects the initial excited state, P*, and the charge-transfer intermediate \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ + {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{B}}^ -$$\end{document}PA+PB-; this \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathrm{P}}^ \ast \to {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ + {\mathrm{P}}_{\mathrm{B}}^ -$$\end{document}P*→PA+PB- step is associated with a long-lived quasi-resonant vibrational coherence; and another vibrational coherence is associated with stabilizing the primary photoproduct, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$${\mathrm{P}}^ + {\mathrm{B}}_{\mathrm{A}}^ -$$\end{document}P+BA-. The results show that both electronic and vibrational coherences are involved in primary electron transfer process and they correlate with the super-high efficiency.

Distinguishing electronic and vibrational coherences helps to clarify the near-unity efficiency of primary electron transfer in reaction centres. Here, the authors report their respective correlation with the electron transfer rate by comparing the 2D electronic spectra of three mutant reaction centres.

Spectral exhibition of electron-vibrational relaxation in P* state of Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction centers

Electron-vibrational relaxation in the excited state of the primary electron donor, bacteriochlorophyll dimer P, in the reaction centers (RCs) of purple photosynthetic bacteria Rhodobacter sphaeroides is modeled. A multimode model of three states (i.e., the ground state Pg, initially excited P1*, and relaxed excited P2*) is used to calculate the incoherent dynamics of the difference (ΔA) spectra on a femtosecond timescale for the YM210 W mutant RCs. The relaxation processes are described by the step-ladder model. The model shows that the electron-vibrational relaxation in the excited state of P is visualized by the transient red shift of the stimulated emission from P*. The dynamics of this shift is observed as a change in the ΔA spectrum shape in its red-most part, within a few hundreds of femtoseconds after excitation. As a result, an initial rise in the red-side ΔA kinetics is delayed with respect to the blue-side kinetics. The time constant of the P1* → P2* electronic relaxation (54 fs) and the Pg, P1*, and P2* vibrational relaxations (120 fs), used in the model, provided the best fit of the experimental time-resolved ΔA spectra and kinetics at 90 and 293 K. The possible nature of the P1* → P2* electronic relaxation is discussed.

Putative hydrogen bond to tyrosine M208 in photosynthetic reaction centers from Rhodobacter capsulatus significantly slows primary charge separation

Slow, ∼50 ps, P* → P⁺H_A^– electron transfer is observed in Rhodobacter capsulatus reaction centers (RCs) bearing the native Tyr residue at M208 and the single amino acid change of isoleucine at M204 to glutamic acid. The P* decay kinetics are unusually homogeneous (single exponential) at room temperature. Comparative solid-state NMR of [4′-¹³C]Tyr labeled wild-type and M204E RCs show that the chemical shift of Tyr M208 is significantly altered in the M204E mutant and in a manner consistent with formation of a hydrogen bond to the Tyr M208 hydroxyl group. Models based on RC crystal structure coordinates indicate that if such a hydrogen bond is formed between the Glu at M204 and the M208 Tyr hydroxyl group, the −OH would be oriented in a fashion expected (based on the calculations by Alden et al., J. Phys. Chem.1996, 100, 16761–16770) to destabilize P⁺B_A^– in free energy. Alteration of the environment of Tyr M208 and B_A by Glu M204 via this putative hydrogen bond has a powerful influence on primary charge separation.

Mechanism of recombination of the P+H(A)- radical pair in mutant Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction centers with modified free energy gaps between P+B(A)- and P+H(A)-

The kinetics of recombination of the P(+)H(A)(-) radical pair were compared in wild-type reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and in seven mutants in which the free energy gap, ΔG, between the charge separated states P(+)B(A)(-) and P(+)H(A)(-) was either increased or decreased. Five of the mutant RCs had been described previously, and X-ray crystal structures of two newly constructed complexes were determined by X-ray crystallography. The charge recombination reaction was accelerated in all mutants with a smaller ΔG than in the wild-type, and was slowed in a mutant having a larger ΔG. The free energy difference between the state P(+)H(A)(-) and the PH(A) ground state was unaffected by most of these mutations. These observations were consistent with a model in which the P(+)H(A)(-) → PH(A) charge recombination is thermally activated and occurs via the intermediate state P(+)B(A)(-), with a mean rate related to the size of the ΔG between the states P(+)B(A)(-) and P(+)H(A)(-) and not the ΔG between P(+)H(A)(-) and the ground state. A more detailed analysis of charge recombination in the mutants showed that the kinetics of the reaction were multiexponential, and characterized by ~0.5, ~1-3, and 7-17 ns lifetimes, similar to those measured for wild-type reaction centers. The exact lifetimes and relative amplitudes of the three components were strongly modulated by the mutations. Two models were considered in order to explain the observed multiexponentiality and modulation, involving heterogeneity or relaxation of P(+)H(A)(-) states, with the latter model giving a better fit to the experimental results.

Single site electronic spectroscopy of free base octaethylporphyrin, octaethychlorin and their diacids in n-octane at 298K and 7K

Single site fluorescence and absorption spectra of free base octaethylporphyrin, octaethylchlorin and their respective diacids in n-octane at 298 K and 7 K are reported. Vibrational frequencies associated with the ground and excited states were determined from the spectra. All of these moieties exhibit well defined and narrow spectral features, with the exception of the octaethylchlorin diacid; it gives broad spectral bands even at 7 K. Respective Q and B origins were also identified.

Triplet state spectra and dynamics of geometric isomers of carotenoids

The observation of preferential binding of cis-carotenoids in purple bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers versus trans-isomers in antenna pigment protein complexes has led to the hypothesis that the natural selection of stereoisomers has physiological significance. In order to test this hypothesis, we have undertaken a systematic series of investigations comparing the optical spectroscopic properties and excited state dynamics of cis and trans isomers of carotenoids. The present work compares the triplet state spectra, lifetimes, and energy transfer rates of all-trans-spheroidene and 13,14-locked-cis-spheroidene, the latter of which is incapable of isomerizing to the all-trans configuration, and therefore provides a unique opportunity to examine the triplet state properties of a structurally stable cis molecule. The data reveal only small differences in spectra, decay dynamics, and transfer times and suggest there is little intrinsic advantage in either triplet energy transfer or triplet state decay arising from the inherently different isomeric forms of cis compared to trans carotenoids.

Influence of Cardiolipin on the Functionality of the QA Site of the Photosynthetic Bacterial Reaction Center

The effect of cardiolipin on the functionality of the Q(A) site of a photosynthetic reaction center (RC) was studied in RCs from the purple non-sulfur bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides by means of time-resolved absorbance measurements. The binding of the ubiquinone-10 to the Q(A) site of the RC embedded in cardiolipin or lecithin liposomes has been followed at different temperatures and phospholipid loading. A global fit of the experimental data allowed us to get quite reliable values of the thermodynamic parameters joined to the binding process. The presence of cardiolipin does not affect the affinity of the Q(A) site for ubiquinone but has a marked influence on the rate of P+QA(-) --> PQA electron transfer. The P+QA(-) charge recombination kinetics has been examined in liposomes made of cardiolipin/lecithin mixtures and in detergent (DDAO) micelles doped with cardiolipin. The electron-transfer rate constant increases upon cardiolipin loading. It appears that the main effect of cardiolipin on the electron transfer can be ascribed to a destabilization of the charge-separated state. Results obtained in micelles and vesicles follow the same titration curve when cardiolipin concentration evaluated with respect to the apolar phase is used as a relevant variable. The dependence of the P+QA(-) recombination rate on cardiolipin loading suggests two classes of binding sites. In addition to a high-affinity site (compatible with previous crystallographic studies), a cooperative binding, involving about four cardiolipin molecules, takes place at high cardiolipin loading.

Specific Triazine Resistance in Bacterial Reaction Centers Induced by a Single Mutation in the QA Protein Pocket

We report here the first example of a reaction center mutant from Rhodobacter sphaeroides, where a single mutation (M266His --> Leu) taking place in the primary quinone protein pocket confers selective resistance to triazine-type inhibitors (terbutryn, ametryn, and atrazine), which bind in the secondary quinone protein pocket, at about 13 A from the mutation site. The M266His --> Leu mutation involves one of the iron atom ligands. Interestingly, neither the secondary quinone nor the highly specific inhibitor stigmatellin binding affinities are affected by the mutation. It is noticeable that in the M266His --> Ala mutant a nativelike behavior in observed. We suggest that the long side chain of Leu in position M266 may lack space to accommodate in the Q(A) pocket therefore transferring its hindrance to the Q(B) pocket. This may occur via the structural feature formed by the Q(A)-M219His-Fe-L190His-inhibitor (or Q(B)) connection, pushing L189Leu and/or L229Ile in closer contact to the triazine molecules, therefore decreasing their bindings. This opens the possibility to finely tune, in reaction center proteins, the affinity for herbicides by designing mutations distant from their binding sites.

Lipids in membrane protein structures

This review describes the recent knowledge about tightly bound lipids in membrane protein structures and deduces general principles of the binding interactions. Bound lipids are grouped in annular, nonannular, and integral protein lipids. The importance of lipid binding for vertical positioning and tight integration of proteins in the membrane, for assembly and stabilization of oligomeric and multisubunit complexes, for supercomplexes, as well as their functional roles are pointed out. Lipid binding is stabilized by multiple noncovalent interactions from protein residues to lipid head groups and hydrophobic tails. Based on analysis of lipids with refined head groups in membrane protein structures, distinct motifs were identified for stabilizing interactions between the phosphodiester moieties and side chains of amino acid residues. Differences between binding at the electropositive and electronegative membrane side, as well as a preferential binding to the latter, are observed. A first attempt to identify lipid head group specific binding motifs is made. A newly identified cardiolipin binding site in the yeast cytochrome bc(1) complex is described. Assignment of unsaturated lipid chains and evolutionary aspects of lipid binding are discussed.

The effect of internal voids in membrane proteins: high-pressure study of two photochemical reaction centres from Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The effect of application of high pressure on the carotenoid-containing bacterial reaction centre from Rhodobacter sphaeroides strain 2.4.1 was studied, and compared to recent experiments performed on its carotenoid-less counterpart, isolated from strain R26.1. Our results indicate that the cavity created by the absence of carotenoid contributes to localised differences in protein compressibility when using the intrinsic chromophores as molecular probes. Differential stability of the electronic transitions of the primary electron donor under high hydrostatic pressure is observed, dependent on the presence of the carotenoid cofactor. This suggests that the transition intensity loss is induced by a slight change of the primary electron donor structure, allowed by the void created by the absence of the carotenoid molecule.

Disruption of a specific molecular interaction with a bound lipid affects the thermal stability of the purple bacterial reaction centre

Relatively little is known about the functions of specific molecular interactions between membrane proteins and membrane lipids. The structural and functional consequences of disrupting a previously identified interaction between a molecule of the diacidic lipid cardiolipin and the purple bacterial reaction centre were examined. Mutagenesis of a highly conserved arginine (M267) that is responsible for binding the head-group of the cardiolipin (to leucine) did not affect the rate of photosynthetic growth, the functional properties of the reaction centre, or the X-ray crystal structure of the complex (determined to a resolution of 2.8 A). However, the thermal stability of the protein was compromised by this mutation, part of the reaction centre population showing an approximately 5 degrees C decrease in melting temperature in response to the arginine to leucine mutation. The crystallised mutant reaction centre also no longer bound detectable amounts of cardiolipin at this site. Taken together, these observations suggest that this particular protein-lipid interaction contributes to the thermal stability of the complex, at least when in detergent micelles. These findings are discussed in the light of proposals concerning the unfolding processes that occur when membrane proteins are heated, and we propose that one function of the cardiolipin is to stabilise the interaction between adjacent membrane-spanning alpha-helices in a region where there are no direct protein-protein interactions.

Coupling of nuclear wavepacket motion and charge separation in bacterial reaction centers

The mechanism of the charge separation and stabilization of separated charges was studied using the femtosecond absorption spectroscopy. It was found that nuclear wavepacket motions on potential energy surface of the excited state of the primary electron donor P* leads to a coherent formation of the charge separated states P(+)B(A)(-), P(+)H(A)(-) and P(+)H(B)(-) (where B(A), H(B) and H(A) are the primary and secondary electron acceptors, respectively) in native, pheophytin-modified and mutant reaction centers (RCs) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26 and in Chloroflexus aurantiacus RCs. The processes were studied by measurements of coherent oscillations in kinetics at 890 and 935 nm (the stimulated emission bands of P*), at 800 nm (the absorption band of B(A)) and at 1020 nm (the absorption band of B(A)(-)) as well as at 760 nm (the absorption band of H(A)) and at 750 nm (the absorption band of H(B)). It was found that wavepacket motion on the 130-150 cm(-1) potential surface of P* is accompanied by approaches to the intercrossing region between P* and P(+)B(A)(-) surfaces at 120 and 380 fs delays emitting light at 935 nm (P*) and absorbing light at 1020 nm (P(+)B(A)(-)). In the presence of Tyr M210 (Rb. sphaeroides) or M195 (C. aurantiacus) the stabilization of P(+)B(A)(-) is observed within a few picosseconds in contrast to YM210W. At even earlier delay (approximately 40 fs) the emission at 895 nm and bleaching at 748 nm are observed in C. aurantiacus RCs showing the wavepacket approach to the intercrossing between the P* and P(+)H(B)(-) surfaces at that time. The 32 cm(-1) rotation mode of HOH was found to modulate the electron transfer rate probably due to including of this molecule in polar chain connecting P(B) and B(A) and participating in the charge separation. The mechanism of the charge separation and stabilization of separated charges is discussed in terms of the role of nuclear motions, of polar groups connecting P and acceptors and of proton of OH group of TyrM210.

The effect of exchange of bacteriopheophytin a with plant pheophytin a on charge separation in Y(M210)W mutant reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides at low temperature

The bacteriopheophytin a molecules at the H(A) and H(B) binding sites of reaction centers (RCs) of the Y(M210)W mutant of Rhodobacter sphaeroides were chemically exchanged with plant pheophytin a. The Y(M210)W mutation slows down the formation of H(A)(-), presumably by raising the free energy level of the P(+)B(A)(-) state above that of P* due to increasing the oxidation potential of the primary electron donor P and lowering the reduction potential of the accessory bacteriochlorophyll B(A). Exchange of the bacteriopheophytins with pheophytin a on the contrary lowers the redox potential of H(A), inhibiting its reduction. A combination of the mutation and pigment exchange was therefore expected to make the A-side of the RC incapable of electron transfer and cause the excited state P* to deactivate directly to the ground state or through the B-side, or both. Time-resolved absorption difference spectroscopy at 10 K on the RCs that were modified in this way showed a lifetime of P* lengthened to about 500 ps as compared to about 200 ps measured in the original Y(M210)W RCs. We show that the decay of P* in the pheophytin-exchanged preparations is accompanied by both return to the ground state and formation of a new charge-separated state, the absorption difference spectrum of which is characterized by bleachings at 811 and 890 nm. This latter state was formed with a time constant of ca. 1.7 ns and a yield of about 30%, and lasted a few nanoseconds. On the basis of spectroscopic observations these bands at 811 and 890 nm are tentatively attributed to the presence of the P(+)B(B)(-) state, where B(B) is the accessory bacteriochlorophyll in the "inactive" B-branch of the cofactors. The B(B) molecules in Y(M210)W RCs are suggested to be spectrally heterogeneous, absorbing in the Q(y) region at 813 or 806 nm. The results are discussed in terms of perturbation of the free energy level of the P(+)B(B)(-) state and absorption properties of the B(B) bacteriochlorophyll in the mutant RCs due to a long-range effect of the Y(M210)W mutation on the protein environment of the B(B) binding pocket.

Protein-lipid interactions in the purple bacterial reaction centre

The purple bacterial reaction centre uses the energy of sunlight to power energy-requiring reactions such as the synthesis of ATP. During the last 20 years, a combination of X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy and mutagenesis has provided a detailed insight into the mechanism of light energy transduction in the bacterial reaction centre. In recent years, structural techniques including X-ray crystallography and neutron scattering have also been used to examine the environment of the reaction centre. This mini-review focuses on recent studies of the surface of the reaction centre, and briefly discusses the importance of the specific protein-lipid interactions that have been resolved for integral membrane proteins.

Tuning of the redox potential of the primary electron donor in reaction centres of purple bacteria: effects of amino acid polarity and position

Mutation of residues His L168 and Phe M197 in the reaction centre from Rhodobacter sphaeroides has an unusually strong effect on the mid-point redox potential (E(m)) of the pair of bacteriochlorophylls that form the primary donor of electrons, tuning E(m) over a range of nearly 250 mV. This effect is correlated to the accompanying change in the permanent dipole of the L168 or M197 residue, suggesting it is mediated by changes in charge-dipole interactions. Comparisons with mutations made at a variety of other positions show that this correlation is particular to this residue pair, perhaps reflecting their proximity to the ring I regions of the dimer bacteriochlorophylls that form the overlap region between these molecules.

Planarity of metal chlorins in n-octane solution

The geometry of porphyrins has been and continues to be a subject of vigorous research. In this work we investigated the planarity of a series of divalent metal chlorins in n-octane solutions: magnesium, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, tin, cadmium, strontium, lead and platinum. Room temperature electronic absorption spectra of these complexes are reported. We plotted the energy of each B band against its respective Qy origin band. Based on these results it was concluded that in these metal chlorins the configuration interaction between Qy and B states is essentially constant; the exception is the magnesium complex which deviates from the pattern produced by the other metal chlorins. This suggests that the magnesium ion is out of the plane of the chlorin skeleton; thus, it has C(S) symmetry while the other metal chlorins in this group retained C2v symmetry.

Tuning of the optical and electrochemical properties of the primary donor bacteriochlorophylls in the reaction centre from Rhodobacter sphaeroides: spectroscopy and structure

A series of mutations have been introduced at residue 168 of the L-subunit of the reaction centre from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. In the wild-type reaction centre, residue His L168 donates a strong hydrogen bond to the acetyl carbonyl group of one of the pair of bacteriochlorophylls (BChl) that constitutes the primary donor of electrons. Mutation of His L168 to Phe or Leu causes a large decrease in the mid-point redox potential of the primary electron donor, consistent with removal of this strong hydrogen bond. Mutations to Lys, Asp and Arg cause smaller decreases in redox potential, indicative of the presence of weak hydrogen bond and/or an electrostatic effect of the polar residue. A spectroscopic analysis of the mutant complexes suggests that replacement of the wild-type His residue causes a decrease in the strength of the coupling between the two primary donor bacteriochlorophylls. The X-ray crystal structure of the mutant in which His L168 has been replaced by Phe (HL168F) was determined to a resolution of 2.5 A, and the structural model of the HL168F mutant was compared with that of the wild-type complex. The mutation causes a shift in the position of the primary donor bacteriochlorophyll that is adjacent to residue L168, and also affects the conformation of the acetyl carbonyl group of this bacteriochlorophyll. This conformational change constitutes an approximately 27 degrees through-plane rotation, rather than the large into-plane rotation that has been widely discussed in the context of the HL168F mutation. The possible structural basis of the altered spectroscopic properties of the HL168F mutant reaction centre is discussed, as is the relevance of the X-ray crystal structure of the HL168F mutant to the possible structures of the remaining mutant complexes.

Effects of phospholipid headgroup and phase on the activity of diacylglycerol kinase of Escherichia coli

Diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) of Escherichia coli has been reconstituted into a variety of phospholipid bilayers and its activity determined as a function of lipid headgroup structure and phase preference. The anionic phospholipids dioleoylphosphatidic acid, dioleoylphosphatidylserine, and cardiolipin were all found to support activities lower than that supported by dioleoylphosphatidylcholine. In mixtures of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine and 20 mol % anionic phospholipids, the presence of anionic phospholipids all resulted in lower activities than in dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, except for dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol whose presence had little effect on activity. In some cases, the low activity in the presence of anionic phospholipid followed from a decrease in v(max); in some cases, it followed from an increase in the K(m) for diacylglycerol, and in the case of dioleoylphosphatidic acid, it followed from both. Activities in mixtures containing 80 mol % dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine were lower than in dioleoylphosphatidylcholine at temperatures where both lipids adopted a bilayer phase; at higher temperatures where dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine preferred a hexagonal H(II) phase, the differences in activity were greater. These experiments suggest that the presence of lipids preferring a hexagonal H(II) phase leads to low activities. Activities of DGK are low in a gel phase lipid.

Modeling the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center. 4. The structural, electrochemical, and hydrogen-bonding properties of 22 mutants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Site-directed mutagenesis has been employed by a number of groups to produce mutants of bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers, with the aim of tuning their operation by modifying hydrogen-bond patterns in the close vicinity of the "special pair" of bacteriochlorophylls P identical with P(L)P(M). Direct X-ray structural measurements of the consequences of mutation are rare. Attention has mostly focused on effects on properties such as carbonyl stretching frequencies and midpoint potentials to infer indirectly the induced structural modifications. In this work, the structures of 22 mutants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides have been calculated using a mixed quantum-mechanical molecular-mechanical method by modifying the known structure of the wild type. We determine (i) the orientation of the 2a-acetyl groups in the wild type, FY(M197), and FH(M197) series mutants of the neutral and oxidized reaction center, (ii) the structure of the FY(M197) mutant and possible water penetration near the special pair, (iii) that significant protein chain distortions are required to assemble some M160 series mutants (LS(M160), LN(M160), LQ(M160), and LH(M160) are considered), (iv) that there is competition for hydrogen-bonding between the 9-keto and 10a-ester groups for the introduced histidine in LH(L131) mutants, (v) that the observed midpoint potential of P for HL(M202) heterodimer mutants, including one involving also LH(M160), can be correlated with the change of electrostatic potential experienced at P(L), (vi) that hydrogen-bond cleavage may sometimes be induced by oxidation of the special pair, (vii) that the OH group of tyrosine M210 points away from P(M), and (viii) that competitive hydrogen-bonding effects determine the change in properties of NL(L166) and NH(L166) mutants. A new technique is introduced for the determination of ionization energies at the Koopmans level from QM/MM calculations, and protein-induced Stark effects on vibrational frequencies are considered.

Is there a conserved interaction between cardiolipin and the type II bacterial reaction center?

In a recent publication, the structural details of an interaction between the Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction center and the anionic phospholipid diphosphatidyl glycerol (cardiolipin) were described (K. E. McAuley, P. K. Fyfe, J. P. Ridge, N. W. Isaacs, R. J. Cogdell, and M. R. Jones, 1999, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96:14706-14711). This was the first crystallographic description of an interaction between this biologically important lipid and an integral membrane protein and was also the first piece of evidence that the reaction center has a specific interaction with cardiolipin. We have examined the extent to which the residues that interact with the cardiolipin are conserved in other species of photosynthetic bacteria with this type of reaction center and discuss the possibility that this cardiolipin binding site is a conserved feature of these reaction centers. We look at how sequence variations that would affect the shape of the cardiolipin binding site might affect the protein-cardiolipin interaction, by modeling the binding of cardiolipin to the reaction center from Rhodopseudomonas viridis.

Ubiquinone binding, ubiquinone exclusion, and detailed cofactor conformation in a mutant bacterial reaction center

The X-ray crystal structure of a Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction center with the mutation Ala M260 to Trp (AM260W) has been determined. Diffraction data were collected that were 97.6% complete between 30.0 and 2.1 A resolution. The electron density maps confirm the conclusions of a previous spectroscopic study, that the Q(A) ubiquinone is absent from the AM260W reaction center (Ridge, J. P., van Brederode, M. E., Goodwin, M. G., van Grondelle, R., and Jones, M. R. (1999) Photosynthesis Res. 59, 9-26). Exclusion of the Q(A) ubiquinone caused by the AM260W mutation is accompanied by a change in the packing of amino acids in the vicinity of the Q(A) site that form part of a loop that connects the DE and E helices of the M subunit. This repacking minimizes the volume of the cavity that results from the exclusion of the Q(A) ubiquinone, and further space is taken up by a feature in the electron density maps that has been modeled as a chloride ion. An unexpected finding is that the occupancy of the Q(B) site by ubiquinone appears to be high in the AM260W crystals, and as a result the position of the Q(B) ubiquinone is well-defined. The high quality of the electron density maps also reveals more precise information on the detailed conformation of the reaction center carotenoid, and we discuss the possibility of a bonding interaction between the methoxy group of the carotenoid and residue Trp M75. The conformation of the 2-acetyl carbonyl group in each of the reaction center bacteriochlorins is also discussed.

Re-emerging structures: continuing crystallography of the bacterial reaction centre

The reaction centre is nature's solar battery, and is found in a number of variations on a common theme in plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria. During the last 20 years, a combination of X-ray crystallography, spectroscopy and mutagenesis has provided increasingly detailed insights into the mechanism of light energy transduction in the bacterial reaction centre. This mini-review looks at the application of X-ray crystallography to the bacterial reaction centre, focussing in particular on recent information on the structural consequences of site-directed mutagenesis, the roles played by water molecules in the reaction centre, the mechanism of ubiquinone reduction, and studies of the phospholipid environment of the protein.