1
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Johann T, Xie W, Roosta S, Elstner M, Kemerink M. Theory for nonlinear conductivity switching in semiconducting organic ferroelectrics. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:18837-18846. [PMID: 38940915 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp01632g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
In this work, the ferroelectric and semiconducting properties of the organic semiconducting ferroelectric benzotrithiophene tricarboxamide (BTTTA), and especially their nonlinear coupling, are theoretically investigated. BTTTA is an exponent of a small class of semiconducting organic ferroelectrics for which experiments have established a surprising polarization direction dependence of the bulk conductivity at finite fields. First, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are used to investigate the occurrence and, under the influence of an external electric field, the inversion of the macroscopic electric dipole that forms along the axis of supramolecular columns of BTTTA. The MD results are consistent with the experimentally observed ferroelectric behavior of the material. Building on the MD results, a QM/MM scheme is used to investigate the charge carrier mobility in the quasi-1D BTTTA stacks in the linear and non-linear regimes. Indeed, at finite electric fields, a clear resistance switching effect was observed in the form of a hole mobility that is a factor ∼2 larger for antiparallel orientations of the polarization and field than for a parallel orientation. This phenomenon can be understood as a microscopic ratchet that is based on the non-equilibrium interaction between the (oriented) dipoles and the (direction of the) charge transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Till Johann
- Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Weiwei Xie
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Sara Roosta
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Martijn Kemerink
- Institute for Molecular Systems Engineering and Advanced Materials, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 225, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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2
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Solov'yov AV, Verkhovtsev AV, Mason NJ, Amos RA, Bald I, Baldacchino G, Dromey B, Falk M, Fedor J, Gerhards L, Hausmann M, Hildenbrand G, Hrabovský M, Kadlec S, Kočišek J, Lépine F, Ming S, Nisbet A, Ricketts K, Sala L, Schlathölter T, Wheatley AEH, Solov'yov IA. Condensed Matter Systems Exposed to Radiation: Multiscale Theory, Simulations, and Experiment. Chem Rev 2024; 124:8014-8129. [PMID: 38842266 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
This roadmap reviews the new, highly interdisciplinary research field studying the behavior of condensed matter systems exposed to radiation. The Review highlights several recent advances in the field and provides a roadmap for the development of the field over the next decade. Condensed matter systems exposed to radiation can be inorganic, organic, or biological, finite or infinite, composed of different molecular species or materials, exist in different phases, and operate under different thermodynamic conditions. Many of the key phenomena related to the behavior of irradiated systems are very similar and can be understood based on the same fundamental theoretical principles and computational approaches. The multiscale nature of such phenomena requires the quantitative description of the radiation-induced effects occurring at different spatial and temporal scales, ranging from the atomic to the macroscopic, and the interlinks between such descriptions. The multiscale nature of the effects and the similarity of their manifestation in systems of different origins necessarily bring together different disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, biology, materials science, nanoscience, and biomedical research, demonstrating the numerous interlinks and commonalities between them. This research field is highly relevant to many novel and emerging technologies and medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey V Solov'yov
- MBN Research Center, Altenhöferallee 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | | | - Nigel J Mason
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Amos
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Ilko Bald
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Gérard Baldacchino
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, LIDYL, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
- CY Cergy Paris Université, CEA, LIDYL, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Brendan Dromey
- Centre for Light Matter Interactions, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - Martin Falk
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 61200 Brno, Czech Republic
- Kirchhoff-Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Juraj Fedor
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 18223 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Luca Gerhards
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Michael Hausmann
- Kirchhoff-Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Georg Hildenbrand
- Kirchhoff-Institute for Physics, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 227, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Applied Sciences Aschaffenburg, Würzburger Str. 45, 63743 Aschaffenburg, Germany
| | | | - Stanislav Kadlec
- Eaton European Innovation Center, Bořivojova 2380, 25263 Roztoky, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Kočišek
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 18223 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Franck Lépine
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Institut Lumière Matière, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Siyi Ming
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Nisbet
- Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, U.K
| | - Kate Ricketts
- Department of Targeted Intervention, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Leo Sala
- J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, 18223 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Thomas Schlathölter
- Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
- University College Groningen, University of Groningen, Hoendiepskade 23/24, 9718 BG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew E H Wheatley
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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3
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Sokolov M, Hoffmann DS, Dohmen PM, Krämer M, Höfener S, Kleinekathöfer U, Elstner M. Non-adiabatic molecular dynamics simulations provide new insights into the exciton transfer in the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024. [PMID: 38979564 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp02116a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
A trajectory surface hopping approach, which uses machine learning to speed up the most time-consuming steps, has been adopted to investigate the exciton transfer in light-harvesting systems. The present neural networks achieve high accuracy in predicting both Coulomb couplings and excitation energies. The latter are predicted taking into account the environment of the pigments. Direct simulation of exciton dynamics through light-harvesting complexes on significant time scales is usually challenging due to the coupled motion of nuclear and electronic degrees of freedom in these rather large systems containing several relatively large pigments. In the present approach, however, we are able to evaluate a statistically significant number of non-adiabatic molecular dynamics trajectories with respect to exciton delocalization and exciton paths. The formalism is applied to the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex of green sulfur bacteria, which transfers energy from the light-harvesting chlorosome to the reaction center with astonishing efficiency. The system has been studied experimentally and theoretically for decades. In total, we were able to simulate non-adiabatically more than 30 ns, sampling also the relevant space of parameters within their uncertainty. Our simulations show that the driving force supplied by the energy landscape resulting from electrostatic tuning is sufficient to funnel the energy towards site 3, from where it can be transferred to the reaction center. However, the high efficiency of transfer within a picosecond timescale can be attributed to the rather unusual properties of the BChl a molecules, resulting in very low inner and outer-sphere reorganization energies, not matched by any other organic molecule, e.g., used in organic electronics. A comparison with electron and exciton transfer in organic materials is particularly illuminating, suggesting a mechanism to explain the comparably high transfer efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monja Sokolov
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - David S Hoffmann
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Philipp M Dohmen
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
- Institute of Nanotechnology (INT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Mila Krämer
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Höfener
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | | | - Marcus Elstner
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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4
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Ghalami F, Dohmen PM, Krämer M, Elstner M, Xie W. Nonadiabatic Simulation of Exciton Dynamics in Organic Semiconductors Using Neural Network-Based Frenkel Hamiltonian and Gradients. J Chem Theory Comput 2024. [PMID: 38976696 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.4c00220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
In this study, we present a multiscale method to simulate the propagation of Frenkel singlet excitons in organic semiconductors (OSCs). The approach uses neural network models to train a Frenkel-type Hamiltonian and its gradient, obtained by the long-range correction version of density functional tight-binding with self-consistent charges. Our models accurately predict site energies, excitonic couplings, and corresponding gradients, essential for the nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations. Combined with the fewest switches surface hopping algorithm, the method was applied to four representative OSCs: anthracene, pentacene, perylenediimide, and diindenoperylene. The simulated exciton diffusion constants align well with experimental and reported theoretical values and offer valuable insights into exciton dynamics in OSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Ghalami
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Nano Technology (INT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Philipp M Dohmen
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Mila Krämer
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Institute of Physical Chemistry (IPC), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Nano Technology (INT), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Weiwei Xie
- Frontiers Science Center for New Organic Matter, Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education), State Key Laboratory of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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5
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Frederiksen A, Gerhards L, Reinholdt P, Kongsted J, Solov’yov IA. Importance of Polarizable Embedding for Absorption Spectrum Calculations of Arabidopsis thaliana Cryptochrome 1. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:6283-6290. [PMID: 38913544 PMCID: PMC11228989 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c02168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Cryptochromes are essential flavoproteins for circadian rhythms and avian magnetoreception. Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), a chromophore within cryptochromes, absorbs blue light, initiating electron transfer processes that lead to a biological signaling cascade. A key step in this cascade is the formation of the FAD semiquinone radical (FADH•), characterized through a specific red-light absorption. The absorption spectra of FADH• in cryptochromes are, however, significantly different from those recorded for the cofactor in solution, primarily due to protein-induced shifts in the absorption peaks. This study employs a multiscale approach, combining molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methodologies, to investigate the influence of protein dynamics on embedded FADH• absorption. We emphasize the role of the protein's polarizable environment in the shaping of the absorption spectrum, crucial for accurate spectral predictions in cryptochromes. Our findings provide valuable insights into the absorption process, advancing our understanding of cryptochrome functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Frederiksen
- Institute
of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität
Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Street 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Luca Gerhards
- Institute
of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität
Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Street 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Peter Reinholdt
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University
of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Jacob Kongsted
- Department
of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University
of Southern Denmark, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Ilia A. Solov’yov
- Institute
of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität
Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky-Street 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Research
Centre for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von
Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
- Center
for Nanoscale Dynamics (CENAD), Carl von
Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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6
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Kretschmer K, Frederiksen A, Reinholdt P, Kongsted J, Solov’yov IA. Understanding the Red Shift in the Absorption Spectrum of the FAD Cofactor in ClCry4 Protein. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:5320-5326. [PMID: 38805723 PMCID: PMC11163422 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.4c00710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
It is still a puzzle that has not been entirely solved how migratory birds utilize the Earth's magnetic field for biannual migration. The most consistent explanation thus far is rooted in the modulation of the biological function of the cryptochrome 4 (Cry4) protein by an external magnetic field. This phenomenon is closely linked with the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor that is noncovalently bound in the protein. Cry4 is activated by blue light, which is absorbed by the FAD cofactor. Subsequent electron and proton transfers trigger radical pair formation in the protein, which is sensitive to the external magnetic field. An important long-lasting redox state of the FAD cofactor is the signaling (FADH•) state, which is present after the transient electron transfer steps have been completed. Recent experimental efforts succeeded in crystallizing the Cry4 protein from Columbia livia (ClCry4) with all of the important residues needed for protein photoreduction. This specific crystallization of Cry4 protein so far is the only avian cryptochrome crystal structure available, which, however, has great similarity to the Cry4 proteins of night migratory birds. The previous experimental studies of the ClCry4 protein included the absorption properties of the protein in its different redox states. The absorption spectrum of the FADH• state demonstrated a peculiar red shift compared to the photoabsorption properties of the FAD cofactor in its FADH• state in other Cry proteins from other species. The aim of this study is to understand this red shift by employing the tools of computational microscopy and, in particular, a QM/MM approach that relies on the polarizable embedding approximation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Kretschmer
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Anders Frederiksen
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Peter Reinholdt
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, DK 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Jacob Kongsted
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, DK 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Ilia A. Solov’yov
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Centre for Neurosensory
Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität
Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky
Str. 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Center
for Nanoscale Dynamics (CENAD), Carl von
Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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7
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Frederiksen A, Aldag M, Solov’yov IA, Gerhards L. Activation of Cryptochrome 4 from Atlantic Herring. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:262. [PMID: 38666874 PMCID: PMC11048568 DOI: 10.3390/biology13040262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Marine fish migrate long distances up to hundreds or even thousands of kilometers for various reasons that include seasonal dependencies, feeding, or reproduction. The ability to perceive the geomagnetic field, called magnetoreception, is one of the many mechanisms allowing some fish to navigate reliably in the aquatic realm. While it is believed that the photoreceptor protein cryptochrome 4 (Cry4) is the key component for the radical pair-based magnetoreception mechanism in night migratory songbirds, the Cry4 mechanism in fish is still largely unexplored. The present study aims to investigate properties of the fish Cry4 protein in order to understand the potential involvement in a radical pair-based magnetoreception. Specifically, a computationally reconstructed atomistic model of Cry4 from the Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) was studied employing classical molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods to investigate internal electron transfers and the radical pair formation. The QM/MM simulations reveal that electron transfers occur similarly to those found experimentally and computationally in Cry4 from European robin (Erithacus rubecula). It is therefore plausible that the investigated Atlantic herring Cry4 has the physical and chemical properties to form radical pairs that in turn could provide fish with a radical pair-based magnetic field compass sensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Frederiksen
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany; (A.F.); (M.A.); (I.A.S.)
| | - Mandus Aldag
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany; (A.F.); (M.A.); (I.A.S.)
| | - Ilia A. Solov’yov
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany; (A.F.); (M.A.); (I.A.S.)
- Research Centre for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Center for Nanoscale Dynamics (CENAD), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Luca Gerhards
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany; (A.F.); (M.A.); (I.A.S.)
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8
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Melčák M, Šebesta F, Heyda J, Gray HB, Záliš S, Vlček A. Tryptophan to Tryptophan Hole Hopping in an Azurin Construct. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:96-108. [PMID: 38145895 PMCID: PMC10788906 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c06568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Electron transfer (ET) between neutral and cationic tryptophan residues in the azurin construct [ReI(H126)(CO)3(dmp)](W124)(W122)CuI (dmp = 4,7-Me2-1,10-phenanthroline) was investigated by Born-Oppenheimer quantum-mechanics/molecular mechanics/molecular dynamics (QM/MM/MD) simulations. We focused on W124•+ ← W122 ET, which is the middle step of the photochemical hole-hopping process *ReII(CO)3(dmp•-) ← W124 ← W122 ← CuI, where sequential hopping amounts to nearly 10,000-fold acceleration over single-step tunneling (ACS Cent. Sci. 2019, 5, 192-200). In accordance with experiments, UKS-DFT QM/MM/MD simulations identified forward and reverse steps of W124•+ ↔ W122 ET equilibrium, as well as back ET ReI(CO)3(dmp•-) → W124•+ that restores *ReII(CO)3(dmp•-). Strong electronic coupling between the two indoles (≥40 meV in the crossing region) makes the productive W124•+ ← W122 ET adiabatic. Energies of the two redox states are driven to degeneracy by fluctuations of the electrostatic potential at the two indoles, mainly caused by water solvation, with contributions from the protein dynamics in the W122 vicinity. ET probability depends on the orientation of Re(CO)3(dmp) relative to W124 and its rotation diminishes the hopping yield. Comparison with hole hopping in natural systems reveals structural and dynamics factors that are important for designing efficient hole-hopping processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Melčák
- J.
Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague, Czech Republic
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, University of Chemistry
and Technology Prague, Technická 5, CZ-166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Filip Šebesta
- J.
Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague, Czech Republic
- Department
of Chemical Physics and Optics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Ke Karlovu 3, CZ-121 16 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Heyda
- J.
Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague, Czech Republic
- Department
of Physical Chemistry, University of Chemistry
and Technology Prague, Technická 5, CZ-166 28 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Harry B. Gray
- Beckman
Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Stanislav Záliš
- J.
Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Antonín Vlček
- J.
Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 3, CZ-182 23 Prague, Czech Republic
- Department
of Chemistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, U.K.
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9
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Li N, Wang P, Xie Y, Wang B, Zhu C, Xue L, Han X, Gu N, Sun J. Expression of clMagR/clCry4 protein in mBMSCs provides T 2-contrast enhancement of MRI. Acta Biomater 2023; 172:309-320. [PMID: 37778484 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.09.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Here, we propose for the first time the evaluation of magnetosensitive clMagR/clCry4 as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reporter gene that imparts sensitivity to endogenous contrast in eukaryotic organisms. Using a lentiviral vector, we introduced clMagR/clCry4 into C57BL/6 mice-derived bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBMSCs), which could specifically bind with iron, significantly affected MRI transverse relaxation, and generated readily detectable contrast without adverse effects in vivo. Specifically, clMagR/clCry4 makes mBMSCs beneficial for enhancing the sensitivity of MRI-R2 for iron-bearing granules, in which cells recruit exogenous iron and convert these stores into an MRI-detectable contrast; this is not achievable with control cells. Additionally, Prussian blue staining was performed together with ultrathin cell slices to provide direct evidence of natural iron-bearing granules being detectable on MRI. Hence, it was inferred that the sensitivity of MRI detection should be correlated with clMagR/clCry4 and exogenous iron. Taken together, the clMagR/clCry4 has great potential as an MRI reporter gene. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, we propose the evaluation of magnetosensitive clMagR/clCry4 as an MRI reporter gene, imparting detection sensitivity to eukaryotic mBMSCs for endogenous contrast. At this point, the clMagR and clCry4 were located within the cytoplasm and possibly influence each other. The clMagR/clCry4 makes mBMSCs beneficial for enhancing the sensitivity of MRI-R2 for iron-bearing granules, in which protein could specifically bind with iron and convert these stores into MRI-detectable contrast; this is not achieved by control cells. The viewpoint was speculated that the clMagR/clCry4 and exogenous iron were complementary to each other. Additionally, Prussian blue staining was performed together with TEM observations to provide direct evidence that the iron-bearing granules were sensitive to MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuan Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Sciences and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Sciences and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xie
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Clinical Stem Cell Center, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Chenzhuo Zhu
- Southeast University-Monash University Joint Graduate School, Southeast University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Le Xue
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Sciences and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Xiaofeng Han
- School of Biological Sciences and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
| | - Ning Gu
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Jianfei Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Sciences and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China.
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10
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Salerno KM, Domenico J, Le NQ, Balakrishnan K, McQuillen RJ, Stiles CD, Solov'yov IA, Martino CF. Long-Time Oxygen and Superoxide Localization in Arabidopsis thaliana Cryptochrome. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:6756-6767. [PMID: 37874902 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Cryptochromes are proteins that are highly conserved across species and in many instances bind the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) cofactor within their photolyase-homology region (PHR) domain. The FAD cofactor has multiple redox states that help catalyze reactions, and absorbs photons at about 450 nm, a feature linked to the light-related functions of cryptochrome proteins. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced from redox reactions involving molecular oxygen and are involved in a myriad of biological processes. Superoxide O2•- is an exemplary ROS that may be formed through electron transfer from FAD to O2, generating an electron radical pair. Although the formation of a superoxide-FAD radical pair has been speculated, it is still unclear if the required process steps could be realized in cryptochrome. Here, we present results from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of oxygen interacting with the PHR domain of Arabidopsis thaliana cryptochrome 1 (AtCRY1). Using MD simulation trajectories, oxygen binding locations are characterized through both the O2-FAD intermolecular distance and the local protein environment. Oxygen unbinding times are characterized through replica simulations of the bound oxygen. Simulations reveal that oxygen molecules can localize at certain sites within the cryptochrome protein for tens of nanoseconds, and superoxide molecules can localize for significantly longer. This relatively long-duration molecule binding suggests the possibility of an electron-transfer reaction leading to superoxide formation. Estimates of electron-transfer rates using the Marcus theory are performed for the identified potential binding sites. Molecular oxygen binding results are compared with recent results demonstrating long-time oxygen binding within the electron-transfer flavoprotein (ETF), another FAD binding protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Michael Salerno
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, United States
| | - Janna Domenico
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, United States
| | - Nam Q Le
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, United States
| | - Krithika Balakrishnan
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, United States
| | - Ryan J McQuillen
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, United States
| | - Christopher D Stiles
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, United States
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Centre for Nanoscale Dynamics (CENAD), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
- Centre for Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Carlos F Martino
- Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, United States
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11
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Vu HH, Behrmann H, Hanić M, Jeyasankar G, Krishnan S, Dannecker D, Hammer C, Gunkel M, Solov'yov IA, Wolf E, Behrmann E. A marine cryptochrome with an inverse photo-oligomerization mechanism. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6918. [PMID: 37903809 PMCID: PMC10616196 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42708-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptochromes (CRYs) are a structurally conserved but functionally diverse family of proteins that can confer unique sensory properties to organisms. In the marine bristle worm Platynereis dumerilii, its light receptive cryptochrome L-CRY (PdLCry) allows the animal to discriminate between sunlight and moonlight, an important requirement for synchronizing its lunar cycle-dependent mass spawning. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we show that in the dark, PdLCry adopts a dimer arrangement observed neither in plant nor insect CRYs. Intense illumination disassembles the dimer into monomers. Structural and functional data suggest a mechanistic coupling between the light-sensing flavin adenine dinucleotide chromophore, the dimer interface, and the C-terminal tail helix, with a likely involvement of the phosphate binding loop. Taken together, our work establishes PdLCry as a CRY protein with inverse photo-oligomerization with respect to plant CRYs, and provides molecular insights into how this protein might help discriminating the different light intensities associated with sunlight and moonlight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Ha Vu
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (IMP), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Heide Behrmann
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Maja Hanić
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Gayathri Jeyasankar
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Shruthi Krishnan
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (IMP), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Dennis Dannecker
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Constantin Hammer
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (IMP), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Monika Gunkel
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany
- Center for Nanoscale Dynamics (CENAD), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Eva Wolf
- Institute of Molecular Physiology (IMP), Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 17, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), 55128, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Elmar Behrmann
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Zülpicher Straße 47, 50674, Cologne, Germany.
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12
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Frederiksen A, Langebrake C, Hanić M, Manthey G, Mouritsen H, Liedvogel M, Solov’yov IA. Mutational Study of the Tryptophan Tetrad Important for Electron Transfer in European Robin Cryptochrome 4a. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:26425-26436. [PMID: 37521624 PMCID: PMC10373462 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
The ability of migratory birds to sense magnetic fields has been known for decades, although the understanding of the underlying mechanism is still elusive. Currently, the strongest magnetoreceptor candidate in birds is a protein called cryptochrome 4a. The cryptochrome 4a protein has changed through evolution, apparently endowing some birds with a more pronounced magnetic sensitivity than others. Using phylogenetic tools, we show that a specific tryptophan tetrad and a tyrosine residue predicted to be essential for cryptochrome activation are highly conserved in the avian clade. Through state-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulations and associated analyses, we also studied the role of these specific residues and the associated mutants on the overall dynamics of the protein. The analyses of the single residue mutations were used to judge how far a local change in the protein structure can impact specific dynamics of European robin cryptochrome 4a. We conclude that the replacements of each of the tryptophans one by one with a phenylalanine do not compromise the overall stability of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Frederiksen
- Institute
of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität
Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Corinna Langebrake
- Institute
of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
| | - Maja Hanić
- Institute
of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität
Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Georg Manthey
- Institute
of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität
Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Institute
of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
| | - Henrik Mouritsen
- Department
of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl
von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Research
Centre for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von
Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Miriam Liedvogel
- Institute
of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
- Department
of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl
von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- MPRG
Behavioural Genomics, Max Planck Institute
for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, Plön 24306, Germany
| | - Ilia A. Solov’yov
- Institute
of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universität
Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Research
Centre for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von
Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Department
of Physics, Center for Nanoscale Dynamics (CENAD), Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
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13
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Hanić M, Antill LM, Gehrckens AS, Schmidt J, Görtemaker K, Bartölke R, El-Baba TJ, Xu J, Koch KW, Mouritsen H, Benesch JLP, Hore PJ, Solov'yov IA. Dimerization of European Robin Cryptochrome 4a. J Phys Chem B 2023. [PMID: 37428840 PMCID: PMC10364083 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c01305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
Homo-dimer formation is important for the function of many proteins. Although dimeric forms of cryptochromes (Cry) have been found by crystallography and were recently observed in vitro for European robin Cry4a, little is known about the dimerization of avian Crys and the role it could play in the mechanism of magnetic sensing in migratory birds. Here, we present a combined experimental and computational investigation of the dimerization of robin Cry4a resulting from covalent and non-covalent interactions. Experimental studies using native mass spectrometry, mass spectrometric analysis of disulfide bonds, chemical cross-linking, and photometric measurements show that disulfide-linked dimers are routinely formed, that their formation is promoted by exposure to blue light, and that the most likely cysteines are C317 and C412. Computational modeling and molecular dynamics simulations were used to generate and assess a number of possible dimer structures. The relevance of these findings to the proposed role of Cry4a in avian magnetoreception is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Hanić
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Lewis M Antill
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, 255 Shimo-okubo, Sakura Ward, Saitama 338-8570, Japan
- Japan Science and Technology Agency, Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, 4-1-8 Honcho, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Angela S Gehrckens
- Department of Chemistry, Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, U.K
| | - Jessica Schmidt
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Katharina Görtemaker
- Department of Neuroscience, Division of Biochemistry, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg D-26111, Germany
| | - Rabea Bartölke
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Tarick J El-Baba
- Department of Chemistry, Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, U.K
- Kavli Institute for NanoScience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Karl-Wilhelm Koch
- Department of Neuroscience, Division of Biochemistry, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg D-26111, Germany
- Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26111, Germany
| | - Henrik Mouritsen
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26111, Germany
| | - Justin L P Benesch
- Department of Chemistry, Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, U.K
- Kavli Institute for NanoScience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford OX1 3QU, U.K
| | - P J Hore
- Department of Chemistry, Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, U.K
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Institute of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
- Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26111, Germany
- Center for Nanoscale Dynamics (CENAD), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
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14
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Kubař T, Elstner M, Cui Q. Hybrid Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical Methods For Studying Energy Transduction in Biomolecular Machines. Annu Rev Biophys 2023; 52:525-551. [PMID: 36791746 PMCID: PMC10810093 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biophys-111622-091140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) methods have become indispensable tools for the study of biomolecules. In this article, we briefly review the basic methodological details of QM/MM approaches and discuss their applications to various energy transduction problems in biomolecular machines, such as long-range proton transports, fast electron transfers, and mechanochemical coupling. We highlight the particular importance for these applications of balancing computational efficiency and accuracy. Using several recent examples, we illustrate the value and limitations of QM/MM methodologies for both ground and excited states, as well as strategies for calibrating them in specific applications. We conclude with brief comments on several areas that can benefit from further efforts to make QM/MM analyses more quantitative and applicable to increasingly complex biological problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kubař
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany;
| | - M Elstner
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany;
- Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG-2), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany;
| | - Q Cui
- Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA;
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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15
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Deviers J, Cailliez F, Gutiérrez BZ, Kattnig DR, de la Lande A. Ab initio derivation of flavin hyperfine interactions for the protein magnetosensor cryptochrome. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:16784-16798. [PMID: 35775941 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp05804e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The radicals derived from flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) are a corner stone of recent hypotheses about magnetoreception, including the compass of migratory songbirds. These models attribute a magnetic sense to coherent spin dynamics in radical pairs within the flavo-protein cryptochrome. The primary determinant of sensitivity and directionality of this process are the hyperfine interactions of the involved radicals. Here, we present a comprehensive computational study of the hyperfine couplings in the protonated and unprotonated FAD radicals in cryptochrome 4 from C. livia. We combine long (800 ns) molecular dynamics trajectories to accurate quantum chemistry calculations. Hyperfine parameters are derived using auxiliary density functional theory applied to cluster and hybrid QM/MM (Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics) models comprising the FAD and its significant surrounding environment, as determined by a detailed sensitivity analysis. Thanks to this protocol we elucidate the sensitivity of the hyperfine interaction parameters to structural fluctuations and the polarisation effect of the protein environment. We find that the ensemble-averaged hyperfine interactions are predominantly governed by thermally induced geometric distortions of the flavin. We discuss our results in view of the expected performance of these radicals as part of a magnetoreceptor. Our data could be used to parametrize spin Hamiltonians including not only average values but also standard deviations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Deviers
- Living Systems Institute and Department of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QD, UK.,Institut de Chimie Physique, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France.
| | - Fabien Cailliez
- Institut de Chimie Physique, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France.
| | - Bernardo Zúñiga Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Química, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd. Marcelino García Barragán 1421, C. P. 44430, Guadalajara Jal, Mexico
| | - Daniel R Kattnig
- Living Systems Institute and Department of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Aurélien de la Lande
- Institut de Chimie Physique, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France.
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16
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Hanić M, Schuhmann F, Frederiksen A, Langebrake C, Manthey G, Liedvogel M, Xu J, Mouritsen H, Solov'yov IA. Computational Reconstruction and Analysis of Structural Models of Avian Cryptochrome 4. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:4623-4635. [PMID: 35704801 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c00878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A recent study by Xu et al. (Nature, 2021, 594, 535-540) provided strong evidence that cryptochrome 4 (Cry4) is a key protein to endow migratory birds with the magnetic compass sense. The investigation compared the magnetic field response of Cry4 from migratory and nonmigratory bird species and suggested that a difference in magnetic sensitivity could exist. This finding prompted an in-depth investigation into Cry4 protein differences on the structural and dynamic levels. In the present study, the pigeon Cry4 (ClCry4) crystal structure was used to reconstruct the missing avian Cry4 protein structures via homology modeling for carefully selected bird species. The reconstructed Cry4 structure from European robin, Eurasian blackcap, zebra finch, chicken, and pigeon were subsequently simulated dynamically and analyzed. The studied avian Cry4 structures show flexibility in analogous regions pointing to similar activation mechanisms and/or signaling interaction partners. It can be concluded that the experimentally recorded difference in the magnetic field sensitivity of Cry4 from different birds is unlikely to be due to solely intrinsic dynamics of the proteins but requires additional factors that have not yet been identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Hanić
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Fabian Schuhmann
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Anders Frederiksen
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Corinna Langebrake
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
| | - Georg Manthey
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany.,Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany
| | - Miriam Liedvogel
- Institute of Avian Research, An der Vogelwarte 21, Wilhelmshaven 26386, Germany.,Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany.,MPRG Behavioural Genomics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön 24306, Germany
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Henrik Mouritsen
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany.,Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany.,Research Center for Neurosensory Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Straße 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany.,Center for Nanoscale Dynamics (CENAD), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Institut für Physik, Ammerländer Heerstr. 114-118, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany
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17
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Understanding flavin electronic structure and spectra. WIRES COMPUTATIONAL MOLECULAR SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wcms.1541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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18
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Goett-Zink L, Kottke T. Plant Cryptochromes Illuminated: A Spectroscopic Perspective on the Mechanism. Front Chem 2021; 9:780199. [PMID: 34900940 PMCID: PMC8653763 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.780199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant cryptochromes are central blue light receptors for the control of land plant and algal development including the circadian clock and the cell cycle. Cryptochromes share a photolyase homology region with about 500 amino acids and bind the chromophore flavin adenine dinucleotide. Characteristic for plant cryptochromes is a conserved aspartic acid close to flavin and an exceptionally long C-terminal extension. The mechanism of activation by excitation and reduction of the chromophore flavin adenine dinucleotide has been controversially discussed for many years. Various spectroscopic techniques have contributed to our understanding of plant cryptochromes by providing high time resolution, ambient conditions and even in-cell approaches. As a result, unifying and differing aspects of photoreaction and signal propagation have been revealed in comparison to members from other cryptochrome subfamilies. Here, we review the insight from spectroscopy on the flavin photoreaction in plant cryptochromes and present the current models on the signal propagation from flavin reduction to dissociation of the C-terminal extension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Goett-Zink
- Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Tilman Kottke
- Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.,Biophysical Chemistry and Diagnostics, Medical School OWL, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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19
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Hamada M, Iwata T, Fuki M, Kandori H, Weber S, Kobori Y. Orientations and water dynamics of photoinduced secondary charge-separated states for magnetoreception by cryptochrome. Commun Chem 2021; 4:141. [PMID: 36697801 PMCID: PMC9814139 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-021-00573-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In the biological magnetic compass, blue-light photoreceptor protein of cryptochrome is thought to conduct the sensing of the Earth's magnetic field by photoinduced sequential long-range charge-separation (CS) through a cascade of tryptophan residues, WA(H), WB(H) and WC(H). Mechanism of generating the weak-field sensitive radical pair (RP) is poorly understood because geometries, electronic couplings and their modulations by molecular motion have not been investigated in the secondary CS states generated prior to the terminal RP states. In this study, water dynamics control of the electronic coupling is revealed to be a key concept for sensing the direction of weak magnetic field. Geometry and exchange coupling (singlet-triplet energy gap: 2J) of photoinduced secondary CS states composed of flavin adenine dinucleotide radical anion (FAD-•) and radical cation WB(H)+• in the cryptochrome DASH from Xenopus laevis were clarified by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance. We found a time-dependent energetic disorder in 2J and was interpreted by a trap CS state capturing one reorientated water molecule at 120 K. Enhanced electron-tunneling by water-libration was revealed for the terminal charge-separation event at elevated temperature. This highlights importance of optimizing the electronic coupling for regulation of the anisotropic RP yield on the possible magnetic compass senses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Misato Hamada
- grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1‒1 Rokkodai‒cho, Nada‒ku, Kobe, 657‒8501 Japan
| | - Tatsuya Iwata
- grid.265050.40000 0000 9290 9879Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Funabashi, Chiba 274‒8510 Japan
| | - Masaaki Fuki
- grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1‒1 Rokkodai‒cho, Nada‒ku, Kobe, 657‒8501 Japan ,grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Molecular Photoscience Research Center, Kobe University, 1‒1 Rokkodai‒cho, Nada‒ku, Kobe, 657‒8501 Japan
| | - Hideki Kandori
- grid.47716.330000 0001 0656 7591Department of Life Science and Applied Chemistry, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555 Japan ,grid.47716.330000 0001 0656 7591OptoBioTechnology Research Center, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8555 Japan
| | - Stefan Weber
- grid.5963.9Institute of Physical Chemistry, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yasuhiro Kobori
- grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, 1‒1 Rokkodai‒cho, Nada‒ku, Kobe, 657‒8501 Japan ,grid.31432.370000 0001 1092 3077Molecular Photoscience Research Center, Kobe University, 1‒1 Rokkodai‒cho, Nada‒ku, Kobe, 657‒8501 Japan
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20
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Abstract
Hole hopping through tryptophan/tyrosine chains enables rapid unidirectional charge transport over long distances. We have elucidated structural and dynamical factors controlling hopping speed and efficiency in two modified azurin constructs that include a rhenium(I) sensitizer, Re(His)(CO)3(dmp)+, and one or two tryptophans (W1, W2). Experimental kinetics investigations showed that the two closely spaced (3 to 4 Å) intervening tryptophans dramatically accelerated long-range electron transfer (ET) from CuI to the photoexcited sensitizer. In our theoretical work, we found that time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics/molecular dynamics (QM/MM/MD) trajectories of low-lying triplet excited states of ReI(His)(CO)3(dmp)+-W1(-W2) exhibited crossings between sensitizer-localized (*Re) and charge-separated [ReI(His)(CO)3(dmp•-)/(W1 •+ or W2 •+)] (CS1 or CS2) states. Our analysis revealed that the distances, angles, and mutual orientations of ET-active cofactors fluctuate in a relatively narrow range in which the cofactors are strongly coupled, enabling adiabatic ET. Water-dominated electrostatic field fluctuations bring *Re and CS1 states to a crossing where *Re(CO)3(dmp)+←W1 ET occurs, and CS1 becomes the lowest triplet state. ET is promoted by solvation dynamics around *Re(CO)3(dmp)+(W1); and CS1 is stabilized by Re(dmp•-)/W1 •+ electron/hole interaction and enhanced W1 •+ solvation. The second hop, W1 •+←W2, is facilitated by water fluctuations near the W1/W2 unit, taking place when the electrostatic potential at W2 drops well below that at W1 •+ Insufficient solvation and reorganization around W2 make W1 •+←W2 ET endergonic, shifting the equilibrium toward W1 •+ and decreasing the charge-separation yield. We suggest that multiscale TDDFT/MM/MD is a suitable technique to model the simultaneous evolution of photogenerated excited-state manifolds.
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21
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Schuhmann F, Kattnig DR, Solov'yov IA. Exploring Post-activation Conformational Changes in Pigeon Cryptochrome 4. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:9652-9659. [PMID: 34327996 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c02795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A widespread hypothesis ascribes the ability of migratory birds to navigate over large distances to an inclination compass realized by the protein cryptochrome in the birds' retinae. Cryptochromes are activated by blue light, which induces a radical pair state, the spin dynamics of which may become sensitive to earth's weak magnetic fields. The magnetic information is encoded and passed on to downstream processes by structural rearrangements of the protein, the details of which remain vague. We utilize extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to probe the conformational changes of pigeon cryptochrome 4 upon light activation. The structural dynamics are analyzed based on principal component analysis and with the help of distance matrices, which reveal significant changes in selected inter-residue distances. The results are evaluated and discussed with reference to the protein structure and its putative function as a magnetoreceptor. It is suggested that the phosphate-binding loop could act as a gate controlling the access to the flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor depending on the redox state of the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Schuhmann
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universät Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Str. 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
| | - Daniel R Kattnig
- Living Systems Institute and Department of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Rd., Exeter EX4 4QD, U.K
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universät Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Str. 9-11, Oldenburg 26129, Germany
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22
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Lacombat F, Espagne A, Dozova N, Plaza P, Müller P, Emmerich HJ, Saft M, Essen LO. Ultrafast photoreduction dynamics of a new class of CPD photolyases. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2021; 20:733-746. [PMID: 33977513 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-021-00048-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
NewPHL is a recently discovered subgroup of ancestral DNA photolyases. Its domain architecture displays pronounced differences from that of canonical photolyases, in particular at the level of the characteristic electron transfer chain, which is limited to merely two tryptophans, instead of the "classical" three or four. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we show that the dynamics of photoreduction of the oxidized FAD cofactor in the NewPHL begins similarly as that in canonical photolyases, i.e., with a sub-ps primary reduction of the excited FAD cofactor by an adjacent tryptophan, followed by migration of the electron hole towards the second tryptophan in the tens of ps regime. However, the resulting tryptophanyl radical then undergoes an unprecedentedly fast deprotonation in less than 100 ps in the NewPHL. In spite of the stabilization effect of this deprotonation, almost complete charge recombination follows in two phases of ~ 950 ps and ~ 50 ns. Such a rapid recombination of the radical pair implies that the first FAD photoreduction step, i.e., conversion of the fully oxidized to the semi-quinone state, should be rather difficult in vivo. We hence suggest that the flavin chromophore likely switches only between its semi-reduced and fully reduced form in NewPHL under physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Lacombat
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Agathe Espagne
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Nadia Dozova
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Pascal Plaza
- PASTEUR, Département de Chimie, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Pavel Müller
- Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
| | - Hans-Joachim Emmerich
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps University, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Saft
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps University, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lars-Oliver Essen
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Philipps University, 35032, Marburg, Germany.
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23
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Schuhmann F, Korol V, Solov'yov IA. Introducing Pep McConst-A user-friendly peptide modeler for biophysical applications. J Comput Chem 2021; 42:572-580. [PMID: 33426653 DOI: 10.1002/jcc.26479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
We are introducing Pep McConst-a software that employs a Monte-Carlo algorithm to construct 3D structures of polypeptide chains which could subsequently be studied as stand-alone macromolecules or complement the structure of known proteins. Using an approach to avoid steric clashes, Pep McConst allows to create multiple structures for a predefined primary sequence of amino acids. These structures could then effectively be used for further structural analysis and investigations. The article introduces the algorithm and describes its user-friendly approach that was made possible through the VIKING online platform. Finally, the manuscript provides several highlight examples where Pep McConst was used to predict the structure of the C-terminal of a known protein, generate a missing bit of already crystallized protein structures and simply generate short polypeptide chains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Schuhmann
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universät Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Vasili Korol
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky Universät Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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24
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Regulatory Impact of the C-Terminal Tail on Charge Transfer Pathways in Drosophila Cryptochrome. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25204810. [PMID: 33086760 PMCID: PMC7587983 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25204810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Interconnected transcriptional and translational feedback loops are at the core of the molecular mechanism of the circadian clock. Such feedback loops are synchronized to external light entrainment by the blue light photoreceptor cryptochrome (CRY) that undergoes conformational changes upon light absorption by an unknown photoexcitation mechanism. Light-induced charge transfer (CT) reactions in Drosophila CRY (dCRY) are investigated by state-of-the-art simulations that reveal a complex, multi-redox site nature of CT dynamics on the microscopic level. The simulations consider redox-active chromophores of the tryptophan triad (Trp triad) and further account for pathways mediated by W314 and W422 residues proximate to the C-terminal tail (CTT), thus avoiding a pre-bias to specific W-mediated CT pathways. The conducted dissipative quantum dynamics simulations employ microscopically derived model Hamiltonians and display complex and ultrafast CT dynamics on the picosecond timescale, subtly balanced by the electrostatic environment of dCRY. In silicio point mutations provide a microscopic basis for rationalizing particular CT directionality and demonstrate the degree of electrostatic control realized by a discrete set of charged amino acid residues. The predicted participation of CT states in proximity to the CTT relates the directionality of CT reactions to the spatial vicinity of a linear interaction motif. The results stress the importance of CTT directional charge transfer in addition to charge transfer via the Trp triad and call for the use of full-length CRY models including the interactions of photolyase homology region (PHR) and CTT domains.
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25
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Ueberricke L, Schwarz J, Ghalami F, Matthiesen M, Rominger F, Elbert SM, Zaumseil J, Elstner M, Mastalerz M. Triptycene End-Capped Benzothienobenzothiophene and Naphthothienobenzothiophene. Chemistry 2020; 26:12596-12605. [PMID: 32368815 PMCID: PMC7589444 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202001125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Previously it was demonstrated that triptycene end-capping can be used as a crystal engineering strategy to direct the packing of quinoxalinophenanthrophenazines (QPPs) towards cofacially stacked π dimers with large molecular overlap resulting in high charge transfer integrals. Remarkably, this packing motif was formed under different crystallization conditions and with a variety of derivatives bearing additional functional groups or aromatic substituents. Benzothienobenzothiophene (BTBT) and its derivatives are known as some of the best performing compounds for organic field-effect transistors. Here, the triptycene end-capping concept is introduced to this class of compounds and polymorphic crystal structures are investigated to evaluate the potential of triptycene end-caps as synthons for crystal engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Ueberricke
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Schwarz
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Farhad Ghalami
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Karlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Maik Matthiesen
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Rominger
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven M Elbert
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jana Zaumseil
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 253, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Karlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT), Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Michael Mastalerz
- Organisch-Chemisches Institut, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 270, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
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26
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Ueberricke L, Ciubotaru I, Ghalami F, Mildner F, Rominger F, Elstner M, Mastalerz M. Di- and Tetracyano-Substituted Pyrene-Fused Pyrazaacenes: Aggregation in the Solid State. Chemistry 2020; 26:11634-11642. [PMID: 32459010 PMCID: PMC7540477 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202002382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Five di- and tetracyano-substituted pyrene-fused pyrazaacenes were synthesized and studied as potential electron acceptors in the solid state. Single crystals of all compounds were grown and the crystal packing studied by DFT calculations (transfer integrals and reorganization energies) to get insight into possible use for semiconducting charge transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Ueberricke
- Organisch-Chemisches InstitutRuprecht-Karls-Universität HeidelbergIm Neuenheimer Feld 27069120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Ioana Ciubotaru
- Organisch-Chemisches InstitutRuprecht-Karls-Universität HeidelbergIm Neuenheimer Feld 27069120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Farhad Ghalami
- Institut für Physikalische ChemieKarlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT)Kaiserstrasse 1276131KarlsruheGermany
| | - Felix Mildner
- Organisch-Chemisches InstitutRuprecht-Karls-Universität HeidelbergIm Neuenheimer Feld 27069120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Frank Rominger
- Organisch-Chemisches InstitutRuprecht-Karls-Universität HeidelbergIm Neuenheimer Feld 27069120HeidelbergGermany
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Institut für Physikalische ChemieKarlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT)Kaiserstrasse 1276131KarlsruheGermany
| | - Michael Mastalerz
- Organisch-Chemisches InstitutRuprecht-Karls-Universität HeidelbergIm Neuenheimer Feld 27069120HeidelbergGermany
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27
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Sjulstok E, Solov'yov IA. Structural Explanations of Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide Binding in Drosophila melanogaster Cryptochrome. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:3866-3870. [PMID: 32330039 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.0c00625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cryptochrome proteins are thought to be involved in light-sensitive magnetoreception in migratory birds triggered by flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) light absorption. A recent study, however, calls into question the ability of vertebrate cryptochrome proteins to bind FAD, rendering them unlikely to function as magnetoreceptive proteins. In this Letter, we investigate the structural changes occurring in Drosophila melanogaster cryptochrome, upon key amino acid mutations, which reduce FAD binding. Through computational analysis we have now suggested why some mutations do not preclude FAD binding in all vertebrate cryptochrome proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Sjulstok
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Carl von Ossietzky University, Carl von Ossietzky str. 9-11, 26111 Oldenburg, Germany
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28
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Ding BW, Eremeeva EV, Vysotski ES, Liu YJ. Luminescence Activity Decreases When v-coelenterazine Replaces Coelenterazine in Calcium-Regulated Photoprotein-A Theoretical and Experimental Study. Photochem Photobiol 2020; 96:1047-1060. [PMID: 32416626 DOI: 10.1111/php.13280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Calcium-regulated photoproteins are found in at least five phyla of organisms. The light emitted by those photoproteins can be tuned by mutating the photoprotein and/or by modifying the substrate coelenterazine (CTZ). Thirty years ago, Shimomura observed that the luminescence activity of aequorin was dramatically reduced when the substrate CTZ was replaced by its analog v-CTZ. The latter is formed by adding a phenyl ring to the π-conjugated moiety of CTZ. The decrease in luminescence activity has not been understood until now. In this paper, through combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics calculations as well as molecular dynamics simulations, we discovered the reason for this observation. Modification of the substrate changes the conformation of nearby aromatic residues and enhances the π-π stacking interactions between the conjugated moiety of v-CTZ and the residues, which weakens the charge transfer to form light emitter and leads to a lower luminescence activity. The microenvironments of CTZ in obelin and in aequorin are very similar, so we predicted that the luminescence activity of obelin will also dramatically decrease when CTZ is replaced by v-CTZ. This prediction has received strong evidence from currently theoretical calculations and has been verified by experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Wen Ding
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Elena V Eremeeva
- Photobiology Laboratory, Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Eugene S Vysotski
- Photobiology Laboratory, Institute of Biophysics SB RAS, Federal Research Center "Krasnoyarsk Science Center SB RAS", Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Ya-Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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29
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Holub D, Lamparter T, Elstner M, Gillet N. Biological relevance of charge transfer branching pathways in photolyases. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:17072-17081. [PMID: 31313765 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp01609k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The repair of sun-induced DNA lesions by photolyases is driven by a photoinduced electron transfer from a fully reduced FAD to the damaged DNA. A chain of several aromatic residues connecting FAD to solvent ensures the prior photoreduction of the FAD cofactor. In PhrA, a class III CPD photolyase, two branching tryptophan charge transfer pathways have been characterized. According to previous experiments, both pathways play a role in the FAD photoreduction. To provide a molecular insight to the charge transfer abilities of both pathways, we perform multiscales simulations where the protein motion and the positive charge are simultaneously propagated. Our computational approach reveals that one pathway drives a very fast charge transfer whereas the other pathway provides a very good thermodynamic stabilization of the positive charge. During the simulations, the positive charge firstly moves on the fast triad, while a reorganization of the close FAD˙- environment occurs. Then, backward transfers can lead to the propagation of the positive charge on the second pathway. After one nanosecond, we observe a nearly equal probability to find the charge at ending tryptophan of either pathway; eventually the charge distribution will likely evolve towards a charge stabilization on the last tryptophan of the slowest pathway. Our results highlight the role the protein environment, which manages the association of a kinetic and a thermodynamic pathways to trigger a fast and efficient FAD photoreduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Holub
- Department for Theoretical Chemical Biology, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
| | - Tilman Lamparter
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz Haber Weg 4, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Department for Theoretical Chemical Biology, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany. and Institute of Biological Interfaces (IBG2), Karlsruhe Institute for Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Natacha Gillet
- Department for Theoretical Chemical Biology, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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30
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Hosokawa Y, Sato R, Iwai S, Yamamoto J. Implications of a Water Molecule for Photoactivation of Plant (6-4) Photolyase. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:5059-5068. [PMID: 31117614 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b03030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Photolyases (PLs) are flavoproteins able to repair cross-links formed between adjacent pyrimidine bases in DNA in a light-dependent manner via an electron transfer. The catalytically active redox state of the flavin chromophore for the DNA repair is a fully reduced form of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH-). PLs and their relative, cryptochromes (CRYs), share a physicochemical process attributable to the light-dependent reduction of the chromophore via an ultrafast successive electron transfer through exclusively conserved three tryptophan side chains. In some (6-4) PLs and animal CRYs, an additional tryptophan participates in this photoactivation process. In a search for the intrinsic difference between the Trp triad and tetrad, a water molecule proximal to the second and third Trp was found in the reported crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana (6-4) PL. Here, we investigated the involvement of the water molecule in photoactivation. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the water molecule is stably captured in the binding site, while mutation of S412 increased water displacement from the binding site. Photochemical analysis of recombinant proteins revealed that the S412A mutation significantly decelerated the FAD photoreduction as compared to the wild type. The hydrogen-bonding network including the water molecule would play a key role in the stabilization of the FAD-Trp radical pair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhei Hosokawa
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science , Osaka University , 1-3 Machikaneyama , Toyonaka , Osaka 560-8531 , Japan
| | - Ryuma Sato
- Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research , RIKEN , 6-2-3 Furuedai , Suita , Osaka 565-0874 , Japan
| | - Shigenori Iwai
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science , Osaka University , 1-3 Machikaneyama , Toyonaka , Osaka 560-8531 , Japan
| | - Junpei Yamamoto
- Division of Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science , Osaka University , 1-3 Machikaneyama , Toyonaka , Osaka 560-8531 , Japan
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31
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Holub D, Kubař T, Mast T, Elstner M, Gillet N. What accounts for the different functions in photolyases and cryptochromes: a computational study of proton transfers to FAD. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:11956-11966. [PMID: 31134233 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp00694j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Photolyases (PL) and cryptochromes (CRY) are light-sensitive flavoproteins, respectively, involved in DNA repair and signal transduction. Their activation is triggered by an electron transfer process, which partially or fully reduces the photo-activated FAD cofactor. The full reduction additionally requires a proton transfer to the isoalloxazine ring. In plant CRY, an efficient proton transfer takes place within several μs, enabled by a conserved aspartate working as a proton donor, whereas in E. coli PL a proton transfer occurs in the 4 s timescale without any obvious proton donor, indicating the presence of a long-range proton transfer pathway. Unexpectedly, the insertion of an aspartate as a proton donor in a suitable position for proton transfer in E. coli PL does not initiate a transfer process similar to plant CRY, but even prevents the formation of a protonated FAD. In the present work, thanks to a combination of classical molecular dynamics and state-of-the-art DFTB3/MM simulations, we identify a proton transfer pathway from bulk to FAD in E. coli PL associated with a free energy profile in agreement with the experimental kinetics data. The free energy profiles of the proton transfer between aspartate and FAD show an inversion of the driving force between plant CRY and E. coli PL mutants. In the latter, the proton transfer from the aspartate is faster than in plant CRY but also thermodynamically disfavoured, in agreement with the experimental data. Our results further illustrate the fine tuning of the electrostatic FAD environment and the adaptability of the FAD pocket to ensure the divergent functions of the members of the PL-CRY family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Holub
- Department for Theoretical Chemical Biology, Institute for Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute for Technology, Kaiserstr. 12, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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32
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Sjulstok E, Lüdemann G, Kubař T, Elstner M, Solov'yov IA. Molecular Insights into Variable Electron Transfer in Amphibian Cryptochrome. Biophys J 2019; 114:2563-2572. [PMID: 29874607 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptochrome proteins are activated by the absorption of blue light, leading to the formation of radical pairs through electron transfer in the active site. Recent experimental studies have shown that once some of the amino acid residues in the active site of Xenopus laevis cryptochrome DASH are mutated, radical-pair formation is still observed. In this study, we computationally investigate electron-transfer pathways in the X. laevis cryptochrome DASH by extensively equilibrating a previously established homology model using molecular dynamics simulations and then mutating key amino acids involved in the electron transfer. The electron-transfer pathways are then probed by using tight-binding density-functional theory. We report the alternative electron-transfer pathways resolved at the molecular level and, through comparison of amino acid sequences for cryptochromes from different species, we demonstrate that one of these alternative electron-transfer pathways could be general for all cryptochrome DASH proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Sjulstok
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Gesa Lüdemann
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tomáš Kubař
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Institute of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
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33
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Nielsen C, Hui R, Lui WY, Solov’yov IA. Towards predicting intracellular radiofrequency radiation effects. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213286. [PMID: 30870450 PMCID: PMC6417702 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent experiments have reported an effect of weak radiofrequency magnetic fields in the MHz-range on the concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in living cells. Since the energy that could possibly be deposited by the radiation is orders of magnitude smaller than the energy of molecular thermal motion, it was suggested that the effect was caused by the interaction of RF magnetic fields with transient radical pairs within the cells, affecting the ROS formation rates through the radical pair mechanism. It is, however, at present not entirely clear how to predict RF magnetic field effects at certain field frequency and intensity in nanoscale biomolecular systems. We suggest a possible recipe for interpreting the radiofrequency effects in cells by presenting a general workflow for calculation of the reactive perturbations inside a cell as a function of RF magnetic field strength and frequency. To justify the workflow, we discuss the effects of radiofrequency magnetic fields on generic spin systems to particularly illustrate how the reactive radicals could be affected by specific parameters of the experiment. We finally argue that the suggested workflow can be used to predict effects of radiofrequency magnetic fields on radical pairs in biological cells, which is specially important for wireless recharging technologies where one has to know of any harmful effects that exposure to such radiation might cause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Ron Hui
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wing-Yee Lui
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ilia A. Solov’yov
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
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Sushko GB, Solov'yov IA, Solov'yov AV. Modeling MesoBioNano systems with MBN Studio made easy. J Mol Graph Model 2019; 88:247-260. [PMID: 30776757 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
This paper introduces MesoBioNano (MBN) Studio - a graphical user interface for a popular multiscale simulation package MBN Explorer. MBN Studio has been developed to facilitate setting up and starting MBN Explorer calculations, monitoring their progress and examining the calculation results. It is tailored for any calculations that are supported by MBN Explorer, such as for example the single-point energy calculations, structure optimization, molecular dynamics, and kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Apart from that MBN Studio has built-in tools allowing the calculation and analysis of specific characteristics that are determined by the output of the simulations, such as the diffusion coefficients of molecular species, melting temperatures and associated heat capacities, radial distribution function; a dedicated modeling plug-in allows constructing molecular systems in a quick and efficient manner. Employing this plug-in, one can easily construct molecular systems of different geometries (e.g., spherical or ellipsoidal nanoparticles, cubic crystalline samples) with various atomic composition. The paper presents the first public release of MBN Studio and provides an overview of its significant capabilities, as well as the reference point for further extensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennady B Sushko
- MBN Research Center, Altenhöferallee 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark.
| | - Andrey V Solov'yov
- MBN Research Center, Altenhöferallee 3, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Pooam M, Arthaut LD, Burdick D, Link J, Martino CF, Ahmad M. Magnetic sensitivity mediated by the Arabidopsis blue-light receptor cryptochrome occurs during flavin reoxidation in the dark. PLANTA 2019; 249:319-332. [PMID: 30194534 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-018-3002-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Arabidopsis cryptochrome mediates responses to magnetic fields that have been applied in the absence of light, consistent with flavin reoxidation as the primary detection mechanism. Cryptochromes are highly conserved blue-light-absorbing flavoproteins which have been linked to the perception of electromagnetic stimuli in numerous organisms. These include sensing the direction of the earth's magnetic field in migratory birds and the intensity of magnetic fields in insects and plants. When exposed to light, cryptochromes undergo flavin reduction/reoxidation redox cycles leading to biological activation which generate radical pairs thought to be the basis for magnetic sensitivity. However, the nature of the magnetically sensitive radical pairs and the steps at which they act during the cryptochrome redox cycle are currently a matter of debate. Here, we investigate the response of Arabidopsis cryptochrome-1 in vivo to a static magnetic field of 500 μT (10 × earth's field) using both plant growth and light-dependent phosphorylation as an assay. Cryptochrome responses to light were enhanced by the magnetic field, as indicated by increased inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and increased cryptochrome phosphorylation. However, when light and dark intervals were given intermittently, a plant response to the magnetic field was observed even when the magnetic field was given exclusively during the dark intervals between light exposures. This indicates that the magnetically sensitive reaction step in the cryptochrome photocycle must occur during flavin reoxidation, and likely involves the formation of reactive oxygen species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marootpong Pooam
- Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, UMR8256, IBPS, Photobiology Research Group, 7 Quai St. Bernard, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Louis-David Arthaut
- Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, UMR8256, IBPS, Photobiology Research Group, 7 Quai St. Bernard, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Derek Burdick
- Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, UMR8256, IBPS, Photobiology Research Group, 7 Quai St. Bernard, 75005, Paris, France
- Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Justin Link
- Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA
| | - Carlos F Martino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, 150W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL, 32901, USA
| | - Margaret Ahmad
- Sorbonne Universités, CNRS, UMR8256, IBPS, Photobiology Research Group, 7 Quai St. Bernard, 75005, Paris, France.
- Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA.
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36
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Applications of molecular modeling to flavoproteins: Insights and challenges. Methods Enzymol 2019; 620:277-314. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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37
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Nielsen C, Kattnig DR, Sjulstok E, Hore PJ, Solov'yov IA. Ascorbic acid may not be involved in cryptochrome-based magnetoreception. J R Soc Interface 2018; 14:rsif.2017.0657. [PMID: 29263128 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2017.0657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Seventeen years after it was originally suggested, the photoreceptor protein cryptochrome remains the most probable host for the radical pair intermediates that are thought to be the sensors in the avian magnetic compass. Although evidence in favour of this hypothesis is accumulating, the intracellular interaction partners of the sensory protein are still unknown. It has been suggested that ascorbate ions could interact with surface-exposed tryptophan radicals in photoactivated cryptochromes, and so lead to the formation of a radical pair comprised of the reduced form of the flavin adenine dinucleotide cofactor, FAD•-, and the ascorbate radical, Asc•- This species could provide a more sensitive compass than a FAD-tryptophan radical pair. In this study of Drosophila melanogaster cryptochrome and Erithacus rubecula (European robin) cryptochrome 1a, we use molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the transient encounters of ascorbate ions with tryptophan radicals in cryptochrome in order to assess the likelihood of the [FAD•- Asc•-]-pathway. It is shown that ascorbate ions are expected to bind near the tryptophan radicals for periods of a few nanoseconds. The rate at which these encounters happen is low, and it is therefore concluded that ascorbate ions are unlikely to be involved in magnetoreception if the ascorbate concentration is only of the order of 1 mM or less.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Daniel R Kattnig
- Living Systems Institute and Department of Physics, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Emil Sjulstok
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - P J Hore
- Department of Chemistry, Physical & Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QZ, UK
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
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Kimø SM, Friis I, Solov'yov IA. Atomistic Insights into Cryptochrome Interprotein Interactions. Biophys J 2018; 115:616-628. [PMID: 30078611 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
It is striking that the mechanism by which birds sense geomagnetic fields during the biannual migration seasons is not entirely understood. A protein believed to be responsible for avian magnetoreception is the flavoprotein cryptochrome (CRY), which fulfills many of the criteria for a magnetic field sensor. Some experiments, however, indicate that magnetoreception in birds may be disturbed by extremely weak radio frequency fields, an effect that likely cannot be described by an isolated CRY protein. An explanation can possibly be delivered if CRY binds to another protein inside a cell that would possess certain biochemical properties, and it is, therefore, important to identify possible intracellular CRY interaction partners. The goal of this study is to investigate a possible interaction between CRY4 and the iron-sulfur-containing assembly protein (ISCA1) from Erithacus rubecula (European robin), which has recently been proposed to be relevant for magnetic field sensing. The interaction between the proteins is established through classical molecular dynamics simulations for several possible protein-docking modes. The analysis of these simulations concludes that the ISCA1 complex and CRY4 are capable of binding; however, the peculiarities of this binding argue strongly against ISCA1 as relevant for magnetoreception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarafina M Kimø
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Ida Friis
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
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Nielsen C, Nørby MS, Kongsted J, Solov'yov IA. Absorption Spectra of FAD Embedded in Cryptochromes. J Phys Chem Lett 2018; 9:3618-3623. [PMID: 29905481 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b01528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The magnetic compass sense utilized by migratory birds for long-distance navigation functions only once light of a certain wavelength is present. This piece of evidence fits partially with the popular hypothesis of chemical magnetoreception in cryptochrome proteins, located in the bird retina. According to this hypothesis a magnetosensitive radical pair is produced after photoexcitation of an FAD cofactor inside cryptochrome, and as such the absorption properties of FAD are of crucial importance for cryptochrome activation. However, we reveal that absorption spectra of FAD show very little variation between six different cryptochromes, suggesting that the electronic transitions are barely affected by the chemical differences in the proteins. This conclusion hints on the presence of a secondary photoreceptor or cofactor that could be necessary to explain green-light-activated magnetoreception in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claus Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Southern Denmark , DK-5230 Odense M , Denmark
| | - Morten S Nørby
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Southern Denmark , DK-5230 Odense M , Denmark
| | - Jacob Kongsted
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Southern Denmark , DK-5230 Odense M , Denmark
| | - Ilia A Solov'yov
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy , University of Southern Denmark , DK-5230 Odense M , Denmark
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40
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Magerl K, Stambolic I, Dick B. Switching from adduct formation to electron transfer in a light-oxygen-voltage domain containing the reactive cysteine. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 19:10808-10819. [PMID: 28271102 DOI: 10.1039/c6cp08370f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
LOV (light-, oxygen- or voltage-sensitive) domains act as photosensory units of many prokaryotic and eukaryotic proteins. Upon blue light excitation they undergo a photocycle via the excited triplet state of their flavin chromophore yielding the flavin-cysteinyl adduct. Adduct formation is highly conserved among all LOV domains and constitutes the primary step of LOV domain signaling. But recently, it has been shown that signal propagation can also be triggered by flavin photoreduction to the neutral semiquinone offering new prospects for protein engineering. This, however, requires mutation of the photo-active Cys. Here, we report on LOV1 mutants of C. reinhardtii phototropin in which adduct formation is suppressed although the photo-active Cys is present. Introduction of a Tyr into the LOV core induces a proton coupled electron transfer towards the flavin chromophore. Flavin radical species are formed via either the excited flavin singlet or triplet state depending on the geometry of donor and acceptor. This photoreductive pathway resembles the photoreaction observed in other blue light photoreceptors, e.g. blue-light sensors using flavin adenine dinucleotide (BLUF) domains or cryptochromes. The ability to tune the photoreactivity of the flavin chromophore inside the LOV core has implications for the mechanism of adduct formation in the wild type and may be of use for protein engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Magerl
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Universitaetsstrasse 31, 93053 Regensburg, Germany.
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41
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Günther A, Einwich A, Sjulstok E, Feederle R, Bolte P, Koch KW, Solov’yov IA, Mouritsen H. Double-Cone Localization and Seasonal Expression Pattern Suggest a Role in Magnetoreception for European Robin Cryptochrome 4. Curr Biol 2018; 28:211-223.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Mendive-Tapia D, Mangaud E, Firmino T, de la Lande A, Desouter-Lecomte M, Meyer HD, Gatti F. Multidimensional Quantum Mechanical Modeling of Electron Transfer and Electronic Coherence in Plant Cryptochromes: The Role of Initial Bath Conditions. J Phys Chem B 2017; 122:126-136. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b10412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Mendive-Tapia
- Institut
Charles Gerhardt Montpellier, UMR 5253, CNRS-UM-ENSCM, CTMM, Université Montpellier, CC 15001, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France
- Theoretische
Chemie, Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, INF 229, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Etienne Mangaud
- Laboratoire
Collisions Agrégats Réactivité, UMR 5589, IRSAMC, Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, F-31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Thiago Firmino
- Laboratoire
de Chimie Physique, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Aurélien de la Lande
- Laboratoire
de Chimie Physique, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Michèle Desouter-Lecomte
- Laboratoire
de Chimie Physique, CNRS, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay F-91405, France
| | - Hans-Dieter Meyer
- Theoretische
Chemie, Physikalisch-Chemisches Institut, Universität Heidelberg, INF 229, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabien Gatti
- Institut
des Sciences Moléculaires d’Orsay, UMR-CNRS 8214, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay F-91405, France
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43
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Schroeder L, Oldemeyer S, Kottke T. Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy on Plant Cryptochrome—Relevance of Proton Transfer and ATP Binding for Signaling. J Phys Chem A 2017; 122:140-147. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpca.7b10249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lea Schroeder
- Physical and Biophysical
Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße
25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Sabine Oldemeyer
- Physical and Biophysical
Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße
25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Tilman Kottke
- Physical and Biophysical
Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstraße
25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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Holub D, Ma H, Krauß N, Lamparter T, Elstner M, Gillet N. Functional role of an unusual tyrosine residue in the electron transfer chain of a prokaryotic (6-4) photolyase. Chem Sci 2017; 9:1259-1272. [PMID: 29675172 PMCID: PMC5887102 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc03386a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptochromes and photolyases form a flavoprotein family in which the FAD chromophore undergoes light induced changes of its redox state. During this process, termed photoreduction, electrons flow from the surface via conserved amino acid residues to FAD. The bacterial (6-4) photolyase PhrB belongs to a phylogenetically ancient group. Photoreduction of PhrB differs from the typical pattern because the amino acid of the electron cascade next to FAD is a tyrosine (Tyr391), whereas photolyases and cryptochromes of other groups have a tryptophan as direct electron donor of FAD. Mutagenesis studies have identified Trp342 and Trp390 as essential for charge transfer. Trp342 is located at the periphery of PhrB while Trp390 connects Trp342 and Tyr391. The role of Tyr391, which lies between Trp390 and FAD, is however unclear as its replacement by phenylalanine did not block photoreduction. Experiments reported here, which replace Tyr391 by Ala, show that photoreduction is blocked, underlining the relevance of Tyr/Phe at position 391 and indicating that charge transfer occurs via the triad 391-390-342. This raises the question, why PhrB positions a tyrosine at this location, having a less favourable ionisation potential than tryptophan, which occurs at this position in many proteins of the photolyase/cryptochrome family. Tunnelling matrix calculations show that tyrosine or phenylalanine can be involved in a productive bridged electron transfer between FAD and Trp390, in line with experimental findings. Since replacement of Tyr391 by Trp resulted in loss of FAD and DMRL chromophores, electron transfer cannot be studied experimentally in this mutant, but calculations on a mutant model suggest that Trp might participate in the electron transfer cascade. Charge transfer simulations reveal an unusual stabilization of the positive charge on site 391 compared to other photolyases or cryptochromes. Water molecules near Tyr391 offer a polar environment which stabilizes the positive charge on this site, thereby lowering the energetic barrier intrinsic to tyrosine. This opens a second charge transfer channel in addition to tunnelling through the tyrosine barrier, based on hopping and therefore transient oxidation of Tyr391, which enables a fast charge transfer similar to proteins utilizing a tryptophan-triad. Our results suggest that evolution of the first site of the redox chain has just been possible by tuning the protein structure and environment to manage a downhill hole transfer process from FAD to solvent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Holub
- Department for Theoretical Chemical Biology , Institute for Physical Chemistry , Karlsruhe Institute for Technology , Kaiserstr. 12 , 76131 , Karlsruhe , Germany .
| | - Hongju Ma
- Botanical Institute , Karlsruhe Institute for Technology , Fritz Haber Weg 4 , 76131 , Karlsruhe , Germany
| | - Norbert Krauß
- Botanical Institute , Karlsruhe Institute for Technology , Fritz Haber Weg 4 , 76131 , Karlsruhe , Germany
| | - Tilman Lamparter
- Botanical Institute , Karlsruhe Institute for Technology , Fritz Haber Weg 4 , 76131 , Karlsruhe , Germany
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Department for Theoretical Chemical Biology , Institute for Physical Chemistry , Karlsruhe Institute for Technology , Kaiserstr. 12 , 76131 , Karlsruhe , Germany . .,Institute of Biological Interfaces (IGB2) , Karlsruhe Institute for Technology , Kaiserstr. 12 , 76131 , Karlsruhe , Germany
| | - Natacha Gillet
- Department for Theoretical Chemical Biology , Institute for Physical Chemistry , Karlsruhe Institute for Technology , Kaiserstr. 12 , 76131 , Karlsruhe , Germany .
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Paul S, Kiryutin AS, Guo J, Ivanov KL, Matysik J, Yurkovskaya AV, Wang X. Magnetic field effect in natural cryptochrome explored with model compound. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11892. [PMID: 28928466 PMCID: PMC5605708 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10356-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Many animals sense the Earth's magnetic-field and use it for navigation. It is proposed that a light-dependent quantum effect in cryptochrome proteins, residing in the retina, allows for such an iron-free spin-chemical compass. The photochemical processes, spin-dynamics and its magnetic field dependence in natural cryptochrome are not fully understood by the in vivo and in vitro studies. For a deeper insight into these biophysical mechanisms in cryptochrome, we had introduced a flavin-tryptophan dyad (F10T). Here we present the magnetic field dependence of 1H photo-CIDNP NMR on F10T and a theoretical model for low-field photo-CIDNP of F10T. This model provides mixing mechanism of energy-levels and spin-dynamics at low magnetic fields. Photo-CIDNP has been observed even at Earth's magnetic field (~0.05 mT). These experiments prove F10T to be an excellent model compound establishing the key mechanism of avian-magnetoreception and provide insight into the optimal behaviour of cryptochrome at Earth's magnetic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shubhajit Paul
- Institut für Analytische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstr, 3, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexey S Kiryutin
- International Tomography Center, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Institutskaya 3a, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Jinping Guo
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, College of Science, National University of Defense Technology, 410073, Changsha, China
| | - Konstantin L Ivanov
- International Tomography Center, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Institutskaya 3a, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Jörg Matysik
- Institut für Analytische Chemie, Universität Leipzig, Linnéstr, 3, D-04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alexandra V Yurkovskaya
- International Tomography Center, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, Institutskaya 3a, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Xiaojie Wang
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, College of Science, National University of Defense Technology, 410073, Changsha, China.
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46
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Zanetti-Polzi L, Aschi M, Amadei A, Daidone I. Alternative Electron-Transfer Channels Ensure Ultrafast Deactivation of Light-Induced Excited States in Riboflavin Binding Protein. J Phys Chem Lett 2017; 8:3321-3327. [PMID: 28665138 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b01575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Flavoproteins, containing flavin chromophores, are enzymes capable of transferring electrons at very high speeds. The ultrafast photoinduced electron-transfer (ET) kinetics of riboflavin binding protein to the excited riboflavin was studied by femtosecond spectroscopy and found to occur within a few hundred femtoseconds [ Zhong and Zewail, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2001, 98, 11867-11872 ]. This ultrafast kinetics was attributed to the presence of two aromatic rings that could transfer the electron to riboflavin: the side chains of tryptophan 156 and tyrosine 75. However, the underlying ET mechanism remained unclear. Here, using a hybrid quantum mechanical-molecular dynamics approach, we perform ET dynamics simulations taking into account the motion of the protein and the solvent upon ET. This approach reveals that ET occurs via a major reaction channel involving tyrosine 75 (83%) and a minor one involving tryptophan 156 (17%). We also show that the protein environment is designed to ensure the fast quenching of the riboflavin excited state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zanetti-Polzi
- Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L'Aquila , via Vetoio (Coppito 1), 67010 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Aschi
- Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L'Aquila , via Vetoio (Coppito 1), 67010 L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Andrea Amadei
- Department of Chemical and Technological Sciences, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" , Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Daidone
- Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, University of L'Aquila , via Vetoio (Coppito 1), 67010 L'Aquila, Italy
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47
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Cui Q. Perspective: Quantum mechanical methods in biochemistry and biophysics. J Chem Phys 2017; 145:140901. [PMID: 27782516 DOI: 10.1063/1.4964410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
In this perspective article, I discuss several research topics relevant to quantum mechanical (QM) methods in biophysical and biochemical applications. Due to the immense complexity of biological problems, the key is to develop methods that are able to strike the proper balance of computational efficiency and accuracy for the problem of interest. Therefore, in addition to the development of novel ab initio and density functional theory based QM methods for the study of reactive events that involve complex motifs such as transition metal clusters in metalloenzymes, it is equally important to develop inexpensive QM methods and advanced classical or quantal force fields to describe different physicochemical properties of biomolecules and their behaviors in complex environments. Maintaining a solid connection of these more approximate methods with rigorous QM methods is essential to their transferability and robustness. Comparison to diverse experimental observables helps validate computational models and mechanistic hypotheses as well as driving further development of computational methodologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Cui
- Department of Chemistry and Theoretical Chemistry Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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Multiscale description of avian migration: from chemical compass to behaviour modeling. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36709. [PMID: 27830725 PMCID: PMC5103213 DOI: 10.1038/srep36709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research the puzzle of the magnetic sense of migratory songbirds has still not been unveiled. Although the problem really needs a multiscale description, most of the individual research efforts were focused on single scale investigations. Here we seek to establish a multiscale link between some of the scales involved, and in particular construct a bridge between electron spin dynamics and migratory bird behaviour. In order to do that, we first consider a model cyclic reaction scheme that could form the basis of the avian magnetic compass. This reaction features a fast spin-dependent process which leads to an unusually precise compass. We then propose how the reaction could be realized in a realistic molecular environment, and argue that it is consistent with the known facts about avian magnetoreception. Finally we show how the microscopic dynamics of spins could possibly be interpreted by a migrating bird and used for the navigational purpose.
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Gillet N, Berstis L, Wu X, Gajdos F, Heck A, de la Lande A, Blumberger J, Elstner M. Electronic Coupling Calculations for Bridge-Mediated Charge Transfer Using Constrained Density Functional Theory (CDFT) and Effective Hamiltonian Approaches at the Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Fragment-Orbital Density Functional Tight Binding (FODFTB) Level. J Chem Theory Comput 2016; 12:4793-4805. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jctc.6b00564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Natacha Gillet
- Institute
of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse
12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Laura Berstis
- National
Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver
West Parkway, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States
| | - Xiaojing Wu
- Laboratoire
de Chimie-Physique, Université Paris Sud, CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, Campus d’Orsay. 15, avenue Jean Perrin, 91405 Cedex Orsay, France
| | - Fruzsina Gajdos
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WCIE 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Heck
- Institute
of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse
12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Aurélien de la Lande
- Laboratoire
de Chimie-Physique, Université Paris Sud, CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, Campus d’Orsay. 15, avenue Jean Perrin, 91405 Cedex Orsay, France
| | - Jochen Blumberger
- Department
of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WCIE 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Marcus Elstner
- Institute
of Physical Chemistry, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Kaiserstrasse
12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
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Luo Y, Liu YJ. Bioluminophore and Flavin Mononucleotide Fluorescence Quenching of Bacterial Bioluminescence-A Theoretical Study. Chemistry 2016; 22:16243-16249. [PMID: 27665749 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201603314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial bioluminescence with continuous glow has been applied to the fields of environmental toxin monitoring, drug screening, and in vivo imaging. Nonetheless, the chemical form of the bacterial bioluminophore is still a bone of contention. Flavin mononucleotide (FMN), one of the light-emitting products, and 4a-hydroxy-5-hydro flavin mononucleotide (HFOH), an intermediate of the chemical reactions, have both been assumed candidates for the light emitter because they have similar molecular structures and fluorescence wavelengths. The latter is preferred in experiments and was assigned in our previous density functional study. HFOH displays weak fluorescence in solutions, but exhibits strong bioluminescence in the bacterial luciferase. FMN shows the opposite behavior; its fluorescence is quenched when it is bound to the luciferase. This is the first example of flavin fluorescence quenching observed in bioluminescent systems and is merely an observation, both the quenching mechanism and quencher are still unclear. Based on theoretical analysis of high-level quantum mechanics (QM), combined QM and molecular mechanics (QM/MM), and molecular dynamics (MD), this paper confirms that HFOH in its first singlet excited state is the bioluminophore of bacterial bioluminescence. More importantly, the computational results indicate that Tyr110 in the luciferase quenches the FMN fluorescence via an electron-transfer mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanling Luo
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, P. R. China
| | - Ya-Jun Liu
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, P. R. China.
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