1
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Fink JC, Landry D, Webb LJ. Probing the Electrostatic Effects of H-Ras Tyrosine 32 Mutations on Intrinsic GTP Hydrolysis Using Vibrational Stark Effect Spectroscopy of a Thiocyanate Probe. Biochemistry 2024; 63:1752-1760. [PMID: 38967549 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
The wildtype H-Ras protein functions as a molecular switch in a variety of cell signaling pathways, and mutations to key residues result in a constitutively active oncoprotein. However, there is some debate regarding the mechanism of the intrinsic GTPase activity of H-Ras. It has been hypothesized that ordered water molecules are coordinated at the active site by Q61, a highly transforming amino acid site, and Y32, a position that has not previously been investigated. Here, we examine the electrostatic contribution of the Y32 position to GTP hydrolysis by comparing the rate of GTP hydrolysis of Y32X mutants to the vibrational energy shift of each mutation measured by a nearby thiocyanate vibrational probe to estimate changes in the electrostatic environment caused by changes at the Y32 position. We further compared vibrational energy shifts for each mutation to the hydration potential of the respective side chain and demonstrated that Y32 is less critical for recruiting water molecules into the active site to promote hydrolysis than Q61. Our results show a clear interplay between a steric contribution from Y32 and an electrostatic contribution from Q61 that are both critical for intrinsic GTP hydrolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson C Fink
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Danielle Landry
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Lauren J Webb
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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2
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Feng RR, Wang M, Zhang W, Gai F. Unnatural Amino Acids for Biological Spectroscopy and Microscopy. Chem Rev 2024; 124:6501-6542. [PMID: 38722769 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Due to advances in methods for site-specific incorporation of unnatural amino acids (UAAs) into proteins, a large number of UAAs with tailored chemical and/or physical properties have been developed and used in a wide array of biological applications. In particular, UAAs with specific spectroscopic characteristics can be used as external reporters to produce additional signals, hence increasing the information content obtainable in protein spectroscopic and/or imaging measurements. In this Review, we summarize the progress in the past two decades in the development of such UAAs and their applications in biological spectroscopy and microscopy, with a focus on UAAs that can be used as site-specific vibrational, fluorescence, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probes. Wherever applicable, we also discuss future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran-Ran Feng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Manxi Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Wenkai Zhang
- Department of Physics and Applied Optics Beijing Area Major Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Feng Gai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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3
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Ji X, Wang N, Wang J, Wang T, Huang X, Hao H. Non-destructive real-time monitoring and investigation of the self-assembly process using fluorescent probes. Chem Sci 2024; 15:3800-3830. [PMID: 38487216 PMCID: PMC10935763 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06527h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly has been considered as a strategy to construct superstructures with specific functions, which has been widely used in many different fields, such as bionics, catalysis, and pharmacology. A detailed and in-depth analysis of the self-assembly mechanism is beneficial for directionally and accurately regulating the self-assembly process of substances. Fluorescent probes exhibit unique advantages of sensitivity, non-destructiveness, and real-time self-assembly tracking, compared with traditional methods. In this work, the design principle of fluorescent probes with different functions and their applications for the detection of thermodynamic and kinetic parameters during the self-assembly process were systematically reviewed. Their efficiency, limitations and advantages are also discussed. Furthermore, the promising perspectives of fluorescent probes for investigating the self-assembly process are also discussed and suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongtao Ji
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
| | - Na Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) Tianjin 300072 China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China +86-22-27374971 +86-22-27405754
| | - Jingkang Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) Tianjin 300072 China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China +86-22-27374971 +86-22-27405754
| | - Ting Wang
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) Tianjin 300072 China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China +86-22-27374971 +86-22-27405754
| | - Xin Huang
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) Tianjin 300072 China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China +86-22-27374971 +86-22-27405754
| | - Hongxun Hao
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Crystallization Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin) Tianjin 300072 China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China +86-22-27374971 +86-22-27405754
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4
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Jermusek FA, Webb LJ. Electrostatic Impact of Brefeldin A on Thiocyanate Probes Surrounding the Interface of Arf1-BFA-ARNO4M, a Protein-Drug-Protein Complex. Biochemistry 2024; 63:27-41. [PMID: 38078826 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions regulate many cellular processes, making them ideal drug candidates. Design of such drugs, however, is hindered by a lack of understanding of the factors that contribute to the interaction specificity. Specific protein-protein complexes possess both structural and electrostatic complementarity, and while structural complementarity of protein complexes has been extensively investigated, fundamental understanding of the complicated networks of electrostatic interactions at these interfaces is lacking, thus hindering the rational design of orthosterically binding small molecules. To better understand the electrostatic interactions at protein interfaces and how a small molecule could contribute to and fit within that environment, we used a model protein-drug-protein system, Arf1-BFA-ARNO4M, to investigate how small molecule brefeldin A (BFA) perturbs the Arf1-ARNO4M interface. By using nitrile probe labeled Arf1 sites and measuring vibrational Stark effects as well as temperature dependent infrared shifts, we measured changes in the electric field and hydrogen bonding at this interface upon BFA binding. At all five probe locations of Arf1, we found that the vibrational shifts resulting from BFA binding corroborate trends found in Poisson-Boltzmann calculations of surface potentials of Arf1-ARNO4M and Arf1-BFA-ARNO4M, where BFA contributes negative electrostatic potential to the protein interface. The data also corroborate previous hypotheses about the mechanism of interfacial binding and confirm that alternating patches of hydrophobic and polar interactions lead to BFA binding specificity. These findings demonstrate the impact of BFA on this protein-protein interface and have implications for the design of other interfacial drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank A Jermusek
- Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Lauren J Webb
- Department of Chemistry and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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5
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Stitch M, Avagliano D, Graczyk D, Clark IP, González L, Towrie M, Quinn SJ. Good Vibrations Report on the DNA Quadruplex Binding of an Excited State Amplified Ruthenium Polypyridyl IR Probe. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:21344-21360. [PMID: 37736878 PMCID: PMC10557146 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c06099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The nitrile containing Ru(II)polypyridyl complex [Ru(phen)2(11,12-dCN-dppz)]2+ (1) is shown to act as a sensitive infrared probe of G-quadruplex (G4) structures. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy reveals enantiomer sensitive binding for the hybrid htel(K) and antiparallel htel(Na) G4s formed by the human telomer sequence d[AG3(TTAG3)3]. Time-resolved infrared (TRIR) of 1 upon 400 nm excitation indicates dominant interactions with the guanine bases in the case of Λ-1/htel(K), Δ-1/htel(K), and Λ-1/htel(Na) binding, whereas Δ-1/htel(Na) binding is associated with interactions with thymine and adenine bases in the loop. The intense nitrile transient at 2232 cm-1 undergoes a linear shift to lower frequency as the solution hydrogen bonding environment decreases in DMSO/water mixtures. This shift is used as a sensitive reporter of the nitrile environment within the binding pocket. The lifetime of 1 in D2O (ca. 100 ps) is found to increase upon DNA binding, and monitoring of the nitrile and ligand transients as well as the diagnostic DNA bleach bands shows that this increase is related to greater protection from the solvent environment. Molecular dynamics simulations together with binding energy calculations identify the most favorable binding site for each system, which are in excellent agreement with the observed TRIR solution study. This study shows the power of combining the environmental sensitivity of an infrared (IR) probe in its excited state with the TRIR DNA "site effect" to gain important information about the binding site of photoactive agents and points to the potential of such amplified IR probes as sensitive reporters of biological environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Stitch
- School
of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Davide Avagliano
- Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 19, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemical Physics Theory Group, University of Toronto, 80 St. George St., Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Daniel Graczyk
- School
of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Ian P. Clark
- Central
Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, U.K.
| | - Leticia González
- Institute
of Theoretical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 19, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Vienna
Research Platform on Accelerating Photoreaction Discovery, University of Vienna, Währingerstr. 19, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Towrie
- Central
Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, U.K.
| | - Susan J Quinn
- School
of Chemistry, University College Dublin, Dublin, D04 V1W8, Ireland
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6
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Lin YC, Ren P, Webb LJ. AMOEBA Force Field Predicts Accurate Hydrogen Bond Counts of Nitriles in SNase by Revealing Water-Protein Interaction in Vibrational Absorption Frequencies. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:5609-5619. [PMID: 37339399 PMCID: PMC10851345 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c02060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Precisely quantifying the magnitude and direction of electric fields in proteins has long been an outstanding challenge in understanding biological functions. Nitrile vibrational Stark effect probes have been shown to be minimally disruptive to the protein structure and can be better direct reporters of local electrostatic field in the native state of a protein than other measures such as pKa shifts of titratable residues. However, interpretations of the connection between measured vibrational energy and electric field rely on the accurate molecular understanding of interactions of the nitrile group and its environment, particularly from hydrogen bonding. In this work, we compared the extent of hydrogen bonding calculated in two common force fields, the fixed charge force field Amber03 and polarizable force field AMOEBA, at 10 locations of cyanocysteine (CNC) in staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) against the experimental nitrile absorption frequency in terms of full width at half-maximum (FWHM) and frequency temperature line slope (FTLS). We observed that the number of hydrogen bonds correlated well in AMOEBA trajectories with respect to both the FWHM (r = 0.88) and the FTLS (r = -0.85), whereas the correlation of Amber03 trajectories was less reliable because the Amber03 force field predicted more hydrogen bonds in some mutants. Moreover, we demonstrated that contributions from the interactions between CNC and nearby water molecules were significant in AMOEBA trajectories but were not predicted by Amber03. We conclude that although the nitrile absorption peak shape could be qualitatively predicted by the fixed charge Amber03 force field, the detailed electrostatic environment measured by the nitrile probe in terms of the extent of hydrogen bonding could only be accurately observed in the AMOEBA trajectories, where the permanent dipole, quadrupole, and dipole-induced-dipole polarizable interactions were all taken into account. The significance of this finding to the goal of accurately predicting electric fields in complex biomolecular environments is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chun Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Program, The University of Texas at Austin, 105 E 24th St. STOP A5300, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Pengyu Ren
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Lauren J. Webb
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Program, The University of Texas at Austin, 105 E 24th St. STOP A5300, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
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7
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Lee B, Papoutsis BM, Wong NY, Piacentini J, Kearney C, Huggins NA, Cruz N, Ng TT, Hao KH, Kramer JS, Fenlon EE, Nerenberg PS, Phillips-Piro CM, Brewer SH. Unraveling Complex Local Protein Environments with 4-Cyano-l-phenylalanine. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8957-8969. [PMID: 36317866 PMCID: PMC10234312 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05954] [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] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We present a multifaceted approach to effectively probe complex local protein environments utilizing the vibrational reporter unnatural amino acid (UAA) 4-cyano-l-phenylalanine (pCNPhe) in the model system superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP). This approach combines temperature-dependent infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to provide a molecular interpretation of the local environment of the nitrile group in the protein. Specifically, a two-step enantioselective synthesis was developed that provided an 87% overall yield of pCNPhe in high purity without the need for chromatography. It was then genetically incorporated individually at three unique sites (74, 133, and 149) in sfGFP to probe these local protein environments. The incorporation of the UAA site-specifically in sfGFP utilized an engineered, orthogonal tRNA synthetase in E. coli using the Amber codon suppression protocol, and the resulting UAA-containing sfGFP constructs were then explored with this approach. This methodology was effectively utilized to further probe the local environments of two surface sites (sites 133 and 149) that we previously explored with room temperature IR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography and a new interior site (site 74) featuring a complex local environment around the nitrile group of pCNPhe. Site 133 was found to be solvent-exposed, while site 149 was partially buried. Site 74 was found to consist of three distinct local environments around the nitrile group including nonspecific van der Waals interactions, hydrogen-bonding to a structural water, and hydrogen-bonding to a histidine side chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- ByungUk Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
| | - Brianna M. Papoutsis
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
| | - Nathan Y. Wong
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
| | - Juliana Piacentini
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
| | - Caroline Kearney
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
| | - Nia A. Huggins
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
| | - Nicole Cruz
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
| | - Tracey T. Ng
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
| | - Kexin Heather Hao
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
| | - Jeremy S. Kramer
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
| | - Edward E. Fenlon
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
| | - Paul S. Nerenberg
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, California State University, Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032
| | | | - Scott H. Brewer
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003
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8
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Ramos De Dios SM, Tiwari VK, McCune CD, Dhokale RA, Berkowitz DB. Biomacromolecule-Assisted Screening for Reaction Discovery and Catalyst Optimization. Chem Rev 2022; 122:13800-13880. [PMID: 35904776 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Reaction discovery and catalyst screening lie at the heart of synthetic organic chemistry. While there are efforts at de novo catalyst design using computation/artificial intelligence, at its core, synthetic chemistry is an experimental science. This review overviews biomacromolecule-assisted screening methods and the follow-on elaboration of chemistry so discovered. All three types of biomacromolecules discussed─enzymes, antibodies, and nucleic acids─have been used as "sensors" to provide a readout on product chirality exploiting their native chirality. Enzymatic sensing methods yield both UV-spectrophotometric and visible, colorimetric readouts. Antibody sensors provide direct fluorescent readout upon analyte binding in some cases or provide for cat-ELISA (Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay)-type readouts. DNA biomacromolecule-assisted screening allows for templation to facilitate reaction discovery, driving bimolecular reactions into a pseudo-unimolecular format. In addition, the ability to use DNA-encoded libraries permits the barcoding of reactants. All three types of biomacromolecule-based screens afford high sensitivity and selectivity. Among the chemical transformations discovered by enzymatic screening methods are the first Ni(0)-mediated asymmetric allylic amination and a new thiocyanopalladation/carbocyclization transformation in which both C-SCN and C-C bonds are fashioned sequentially. Cat-ELISA screening has identified new classes of sydnone-alkyne cycloadditions, and DNA-encoded screening has been exploited to uncover interesting oxidative Pd-mediated amido-alkyne/alkene coupling reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Virendra K Tiwari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Christopher D McCune
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
| | - Ranjeet A Dhokale
- Higuchi Biosciences Center, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States
| | - David B Berkowitz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, United States
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9
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Kraskov A, von Sass J, Nguyen AD, Hoang TO, Buhrke D, Katz S, Michael N, Kozuch J, Zebger I, Siebert F, Scheerer P, Mroginski MA, Budisa N, Hildebrandt P. Local Electric Field Changes during the Photoconversion of the Bathy Phytochrome Agp2. Biochemistry 2021; 60:2967-2977. [PMID: 34570488 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Phytochromes switch between a physiologically inactive and active state via a light-induced reaction cascade, which is initiated by isomerization of the tetrapyrrole chromophore and leads to the functionally relevant secondary structure transition of a protein segment (tongue). Although details of the underlying cause-effect relationships are not known, electrostatic fields are likely to play a crucial role in coupling chromophores and protein structural changes. Here, we studied local electric field changes during the photoconversion of the dark state Pfr to the photoactivated state Pr of the bathy phytochrome Agp2. Substituting Tyr165 and Phe192 in the chromophore pocket by para-cyanophenylalanine (pCNF), we monitored the respective nitrile stretching modes in the various states of photoconversion (vibrational Stark effect). Resonance Raman and IR spectroscopic analyses revealed that both pCNF-substituted variants undergo the same photoinduced structural changes as wild-type Agp2. Based on a structural model for the Pfr state of F192pCNF, a molecular mechanical-quantum mechanical approach was employed to calculate the electric field at the nitrile group and the respective stretching frequency, in excellent agreement with the experiment. These calculations serve as a reference for determining the electric field changes in the photoinduced states of F192pCNF. Unlike F192pCNF, the nitrile group in Y165pCNF is strongly hydrogen bonded such that the theoretical approach is not applicable. However, in both variants, the largest changes of the nitrile stretching modes occur in the last step of the photoconversion, supporting the view that the proton-coupled restructuring of the tongue is accompanied by a change of the electric field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Kraskov
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes von Sass
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anh Duc Nguyen
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tu Oanh Hoang
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - David Buhrke
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sagie Katz
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Michael
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jacek Kozuch
- Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich für Physik, Arnimallee 14, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingo Zebger
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Friedrich Siebert
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Institut für Molekulare Medizin und Zellforschung, Sektion Biophysik, Hermann-Herderstr. 9, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Protein X-ray Crystallography and Signal Transduction, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Andrea Mroginski
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, 144 Dysart Rd, 360 Parker Building, R3T 2N2 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Peter Hildebrandt
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
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10
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Olenginski GM, Piacentini J, Harris DR, Runko NA, Papoutsis BM, Alter JR, Hess KR, Brewer SH, Phillips-Piro CM. Structural and spectrophotometric investigation of two unnatural amino-acid altered chromophores in the superfolder green fluorescent protein. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2021; 77:1010-1018. [PMID: 34342274 PMCID: PMC8329867 DOI: 10.1107/s2059798321006525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The spectrophotometric properties of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) result from the post-translationally cyclized chromophore composed of three amino acids including a tyrosine at the center of the β-barrel protein. Altering the amino acids in the chromophore or the nearby region has resulted in numerous GFP variants with differing photophysical properties. To further examine the effect of small atomic changes in the chromophore on the structure and photophysical properties of GFP, the hydroxyl group of the chromophore tyrosine was replaced with a nitro or a cyano group. The structures and spectrophotometric properties of these superfolder GFP (sfGFP) variants with the unnatural amino acids (UAAs) 4-nitro-L-phenylalanine or 4-cyano-L-phenylalanine were explored. Notably, the characteristic 487 nm absorbance band of wild-type (wt) sfGFP is absent in both unnatural amino-acid-containing protein constructs (Tyr66pNO2Phe-sfGFP and Tyr66pCNPhe-sfGFP). Consequently, neither Tyr66pNO2Phe-sfGFP nor Tyr66pCNPhe-sfGFP exhibited the characteristic emission of wt sfGFP centered at 511 nm when excited at 487 nm. Tyr66pNO2Phe-sfGFP appeared orange due to an absorbance band centered at 406 nm that was not present in wt sfGFP, while Tyr66pCNPhe-sfGFP appeared colorless with an absorbance band centered at 365 nm. Mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography confirmed the presence of a fully formed chromophore and no significant structural changes in either of these UAA-containing protein constructs, signaling that the change in the observed photophysical properties of the proteins is the result of the presence of the UAA in the chromophore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M. Olenginski
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA
| | - Juliana Piacentini
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA
| | - Darcy R. Harris
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA
| | - Nicolette A. Runko
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA
| | - Brianna M. Papoutsis
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA
| | - Jordan R. Alter
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA
| | - Kenneth R. Hess
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA
| | - Scott H. Brewer
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA
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11
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Drexler CI, Cracchiolo OM, Myers RL, Okur HI, Serrano AL, Corcelli SA, Cremer PS. Local Electric Fields in Aqueous Electrolytes. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:8484-8493. [PMID: 34313130 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c03257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Vibrational Stark shifts were explored in aqueous solutions of organic molecules with carbonyl- and nitrile-containing constituents. In many cases, the vibrational resonances from these moieties shifted toward lower frequency as salt was introduced into solution. This is in contrast to the blue-shift that would be expected based upon Onsager's reaction field theory. Salts containing well-hydrated cations like Mg2+ or Li+ led to the most pronounced Stark shift for the carbonyl group, while poorly hydrated cations like Cs+ had the greatest impact on nitriles. Moreover, salts containing I- gave rise to larger Stark shifts than those containing Cl-. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that cations and anions both accumulate around the probe in an ion- and probe-dependent manner. An electric field was generated by the ion pair, which pointed from the cation to the anion through the vibrational chromophore. This resulted from solvent-shared binding of the ions to the probes, consistent with their positions in the Hofmeister series. The "anti-Onsager" Stark shifts occur in both vibrational spectroscopy and fluorescence measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia M Cracchiolo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | | | - Halil I Okur
- Department of Chemistry and National Nanotechnology Research Center (UNAM), Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Arnaldo L Serrano
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Steven A Corcelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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12
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First JT, Novelli ET, Webb LJ. Beyond pKa: Experiments and Simulations of Nitrile Vibrational Probes in Staphylococcal Nuclease Show the Importance of Local Interactions. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:3387-3399. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c00747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy T. First
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology The University of Texas at Austin 105 East 24th Street STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
| | - Elisa T. Novelli
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology The University of Texas at Austin 105 East 24th Street STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
| | - Lauren J. Webb
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology The University of Texas at Austin 105 East 24th Street STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
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13
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Xu J, Deng G, Wang YT, Guo HY, Kalhor P, Yu ZW. Local Acid Strength of Solutions and Its Quantitative Evaluation Using Excess Infrared Nitrile Probes. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:1007-1012. [PMID: 31958952 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b03804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
We propose the concept of local acidity in condensed-phase chemistry in this work. The feature is demonstrated in trifluoroethanol (TFE) by employing two Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) nitrile probes, acetonitrile (CH3CN) and benzonitrile (PhCN). Specifically, three positive excess peaks were found in the binary systems composed of TFE and a probe using excess spectroscopy. To characterize the local acidity quantitatively, we have tried to correlate the wavenumbers of the positive excess peaks of the probes and the pKa values in water of a series of XH-containing compounds (X = O, N, and C). Good linear relationships were discovered. Accordingly, three different pKa values of TFE were determined based on the three positive excess infrared peaks, which are attributed to the monomer, dimer, and trimer of TFE with the help of quantum-chemical calculations. The concept of local acidity and its quantitative evaluation enrich our knowledge of acid-base chemistry and will shed light on a better understanding of microstructures of solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorous Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , P. R. China
| | - Geng Deng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorous Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , P. R. China
| | - Yu-Tian Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorous Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , P. R. China
| | - Hao-Yue Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorous Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , P. R. China
| | - Payam Kalhor
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorous Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Wu Yu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorous Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry , Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084 , P. R. China
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14
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Chen SH, Hiramatsu H. Tautomer Structures in Ketose-Aldose Transformation of 1,3-Dihydroxyacetone Studied by Infrared Electroabsorption Spectroscopy. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:10663-10671. [PMID: 31765151 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b08557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The acyclic form of monosaccharides exists in a structural equilibrium, with aldose having the aldehyde group and ketose the ketone group (ketose-aldose equilibrium). A basic catalyst facilitates their transformation, which affects the chemical properties of the monosaccharide. In this study, we investigated the ketose-aldose transformation of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (1,3-DHA), one of the simplest systems of the ketose-aldose equilibrium. We examined the effects of piperidine as the basic catalyst and used IR electroabsorption spectroscopy to study the responses to an external electric field. We analyzed the changes in IR absorption by considering the changes in the molecular orientation and number of molecules in response to the external electric field. The results of the analysis revealed the permanent dipole moment μP, an angle η between μP and μT (the transition moment of the molecular vibration), and the equilibrium constants. The ketose-aldose transformation of 1,3-DHA can be explained in terms of the equilibrium of three states. In the presence of piperidine, a five-state equilibrium was concluded. On the basis of the experimental data, we propose plausible models of dihydroxyacetone, E-enediols, Z-enediol, or glyceraldehyde for each state. The results of our structural analysis of these tautomers provide a detailed understanding of the ketose-aldose transformation of acyclic saccharides and the effects of the basic catalyst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szu-Hua Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science , National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu 30010 , Taiwan
| | - Hirotsugu Hiramatsu
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science , National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu 30010 , Taiwan.,Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science , National Chiao Tung University , Hsinchu 30010 , Taiwan
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15
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Chatterjee S, Ghosh D, Haldar T, Deb P, Sakpal SS, Deshmukh SH, Kashid SM, Bagchi S. Hydrocarbon Chain-Length Dependence of Solvation Dynamics in Alcohol-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents: A Two-Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopic Investigation. J Phys Chem B 2019; 123:9355-9363. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b08954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Srijan Chatterjee
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
| | - Deborin Ghosh
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
| | - Tapas Haldar
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Pranab Deb
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sushil S. Sakpal
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Samadhan H. Deshmukh
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Somnath M. Kashid
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Sayan Bagchi
- Physical and Materials Chemistry Division, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411008, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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16
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Santos Seica AF, Schimpf J, Friedrich T, Hellwig P. Visualizing the movement of the amphipathic helix in the respiratory complex I using a nitrile infrared probe and SEIRAS. FEBS Lett 2019; 594:491-496. [PMID: 31556114 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Conformational movements play an important role in enzyme catalysis. Respiratory complex I, an L-shaped enzyme, connects electron transfer from NADH to ubiquinone in its peripheral arm with proton translocation through its membrane arm by a coupling mechanism still under debate. The amphipathic helix across the membrane arm represents a unique structural feature. Here, we demonstrate a new way to study conformational changes by introducing a small and highly flexible nitrile infrared (IR) label to this helix to visualize movement with surface-enhanced IR absorption spectroscopy. We find that labeled residues K551CL and Y590CL move to a more hydrophobic environment upon NADH reduction of the enzyme, likely as a response to the reorganization of the antiporter-like subunits in the membrane arm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Filipa Santos Seica
- Laboratoire de Bioélectrochimie et Spectroscopie, UMR 7140, CMC, Université de Strasbourg CNRS, France
| | - Johannes Schimpf
- Institut für Biochemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Petra Hellwig
- Laboratoire de Bioélectrochimie et Spectroscopie, UMR 7140, CMC, Université de Strasbourg CNRS, France.,University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Studies (USIAS), France
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17
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Lin CY, Romei MG, Oltrogge LM, Mathews II, Boxer SG. Unified Model for Photophysical and Electro-Optical Properties of Green Fluorescent Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:15250-15265. [PMID: 31450887 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b07152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Green fluorescent proteins (GFPs) have become indispensable imaging and optogenetic tools. Their absorption and emission properties can be optimized for specific applications. Currently, no unified framework exists to comprehensively describe these photophysical properties, namely the absorption maxima, emission maxima, Stokes shifts, vibronic progressions, extinction coefficients, Stark tuning rates, and spontaneous emission rates, especially one that includes the effects of the protein environment. In this work, we study the correlations among these properties from systematically tuned GFP environmental mutants and chromophore variants. Correlation plots reveal monotonic trends, suggesting that all these properties are governed by one underlying factor dependent on the chromophore's environment. By treating the anionic GFP chromophore as a mixed-valence compound existing as a superposition of two resonance forms, we argue that this underlying factor is defined as the difference in energy between the two forms, or the driving force, which is tuned by the environment. We then introduce a Marcus-Hush model with the bond length alternation vibrational mode, treating the GFP absorption band as an intervalence charge transfer band. This model explains all of the observed strong correlations among photophysical properties; related subtopics are extensively discussed in the Supporting Information. Finally, we demonstrate the model's predictive power by utilizing the additivity of the driving force. The model described here elucidates the role of the protein environment in modulating the photophysical properties of the chromophore, providing insights and limitations for designing new GFPs with desired phenotypes. We argue that this model should also be generally applicable to both biological and nonbiological polymethine dyes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Yun Lin
- Department of Chemistry , Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305 , United States
| | - Matthew G Romei
- Department of Chemistry , Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305 , United States
| | - Luke M Oltrogge
- Department of Chemistry , Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305 , United States
| | - Irimpan I Mathews
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource , 2575 Sand Hill Road , Menlo Park , California 94025 , United States
| | - Steven G Boxer
- Department of Chemistry , Stanford University , Stanford , California 94305 , United States
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18
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Nifosì R, Mennucci B, Filippi C. The key to the yellow-to-cyan tuning in the green fluorescent protein family is polarisation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:18988-18998. [PMID: 31464320 DOI: 10.1039/c9cp03722e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Computational approaches have to date failed to fully capture the large (about 0.4 eV) excitation energy tuning displayed by the nearly identical anionic chromophore in different green fluorescent protein (GFP) variants. Here, we present a thorough comparative study of a set of proteins in this sub-family, including the most red- (phiYFP) and blue-shifted (mTFP0.7) ones. We employ a classical polarisable embedding through induced dipoles and combine it with time-dependent density functional theory and multireference perturbation theory in order to capture both state-specific induction contributions and the coupling of the polarisation of the protein to the chromophore transition density. The obtained results show that only upon inclusion of both these two effects generated by the mutual polarisation between the chromophore and the protein can the full spectral tuning be replicated. We finally discuss how this mutual polarisation affects the correlation between excitation energies, dipole moment variation, and molecular electrostatic field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Nifosì
- NEST, CNR - Istituto Nanoscienze and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Benedetta Mennucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, Università di Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudia Filippi
- MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
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19
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Shi MW, Thomas SP, Hathwar VR, Edwards AJ, Piltz RO, Jayatilaka D, Koutsantonis GA, Overgaard J, Nishibori E, Iversen BB, Spackman MA. Measurement of Electric Fields Experienced by Urea Guest Molecules in the 18-Crown-6/Urea (1:5) Host-Guest Complex: An Experimental Reference Point for Electric-Field-Assisted Catalysis. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:3965-3976. [PMID: 30761898 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b12927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
High-resolution synchrotron and neutron single-crystal diffraction data of 18-crown-6/(pentakis)urea measured at 30 K are combined, with the aim of better appreciating the electrostatics associated with intermolecular interactions in condensed matter. With two 18-crown-6 molecules and five different urea molecules in the crystal, this represents the most ambitious combined X-ray/synchrotron and neutron experimental charge density analysis to date on a cocrystal or host-guest system incorporating such a large number of unique molecules. The dipole moments of the five urea guest molecules in the crystal are enhanced considerably compared to values determined for isolated molecules, and 2D maps of the electrostatic potential and electric field show clearly how the urea molecules are oriented with dipole moments aligned along the electric field exerted by their molecular neighbors. Experimental electric fields in the range of 10-19 GV m-1, obtained for the five different urea environments, corroborate independent measurements of electric fields in the active sites of enzymes and provide an important experimental reference point for recent discussions focused on electric-field-assisted catalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming W Shi
- School of Molecular Sciences , University of Western Australia , 35 Stirling Highway , Crawley , WA 6009 , Australia
| | - Sajesh P Thomas
- School of Molecular Sciences , University of Western Australia , 35 Stirling Highway , Crawley , WA 6009 , Australia.,Center for Materials Crystallography and Department of Chemistry , Aarhus University , Langelandsgade 140 , DK-8000 Aarhus C , Denmark
| | - Venkatesha R Hathwar
- Center for Materials Crystallography and Department of Chemistry , Aarhus University , Langelandsgade 140 , DK-8000 Aarhus C , Denmark.,Division of Physics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences , University of Tsukuba , 1-1-1 Tennodai , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8571 , Japan
| | - Alison J Edwards
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization , Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering , New Illawarra Road , Lucas Heights , New South Wales 2234 , Australia
| | - Ross O Piltz
- Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization , Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering , New Illawarra Road , Lucas Heights , New South Wales 2234 , Australia
| | - Dylan Jayatilaka
- School of Molecular Sciences , University of Western Australia , 35 Stirling Highway , Crawley , WA 6009 , Australia
| | - George A Koutsantonis
- School of Molecular Sciences , University of Western Australia , 35 Stirling Highway , Crawley , WA 6009 , Australia
| | - Jacob Overgaard
- Center for Materials Crystallography and Department of Chemistry , Aarhus University , Langelandsgade 140 , DK-8000 Aarhus C , Denmark
| | - Eiji Nishibori
- Division of Physics, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences , University of Tsukuba , 1-1-1 Tennodai , Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8571 , Japan
| | - Bo B Iversen
- Center for Materials Crystallography and Department of Chemistry , Aarhus University , Langelandsgade 140 , DK-8000 Aarhus C , Denmark
| | - Mark A Spackman
- School of Molecular Sciences , University of Western Australia , 35 Stirling Highway , Crawley , WA 6009 , Australia
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20
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Novelli ET, First JT, Webb LJ. Quantitative Measurement of Intrinsic GTP Hydrolysis for Carcinogenic Glutamine 61 Mutants in H-Ras. Biochemistry 2018; 57:6356-6366. [PMID: 30339365 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mutations of human oncoprotein p21H-Ras (hereafter "Ras") at glutamine 61 are known to slow the rate of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) hydrolysis and transform healthy cells into malignant cells. It has been hypothesized that this glutamine plays a role in the intrinsic mechanism of GTP hydrolysis by interacting with an active site water molecule that stabilizes the formation of the charged transition state at the γ-phosphate during hydrolysis. However, there is no comprehensive data set of the effects of mutations to Q61 on the protein's intrinsic catalytic rate, structure, or interactions with water at the active site. Here, we present the first comprehensive and quantitative set of initial rates of intrinsic hydrolysis for all stable variants of RasQ61X. We further conducted enhanced molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of each construct to determine the solvent accessible surface area (SASA) of the side chain at position 61 and compared these results to previously measured changes in electric fields caused by RasQ61X mutations. For polar and negatively charged residues, we found that the rates are normally distributed about an optimal electrostatic contribution, close to that of the native Q61 residue, and the rates are strongly correlated to the number of waters in the active site. Together, these results support a mechanism of GTP hydrolysis in which Q61 stabilizes a transient hydronium ion, which then stabilizes the transition state while the γ-phosphate is undergoing nucleophilic attack by a second, catalytically active water molecule. We discuss the implications of such a mechanism on future strategies for combating Ras-based cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa T Novelli
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology , The University of Texas at Austin , 105 E 24th Street STOP A5300 , Austin , Texas 78712-1224 , United States
| | - Jeremy T First
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology , The University of Texas at Austin , 105 E 24th Street STOP A5300 , Austin , Texas 78712-1224 , United States
| | - Lauren J Webb
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology , The University of Texas at Austin , 105 E 24th Street STOP A5300 , Austin , Texas 78712-1224 , United States
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21
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Kong DL, Du JX, Chu WM, Ma CY, Tao JY, Feng WH. Ag/Pyridine Co-Mediated Oxidative Arylthiocyanation of Activated Alkenes. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23102727. [PMID: 30360416 PMCID: PMC6222345 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23102727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
An efficient Ag/pyridine co-mediated oxidative arylthiocyanation of activated alkenes via radical addition/cyclization cascade process was developed. This reaction could be carried out under mild conditions to provide biologically interesting 3-alkylthiocyanato-2-oxindoles in good to excellent yields. Mechanistic studies suggested a unique NCS• radical addition path and clarified the dual roles of catalytic pyridine as base and crucial ligand to accelerate the oxidation of Ag(I) to Ag(II), which is likely oxidant responsible for the formation of NCS• radical. These mechanistic results may impact the design and refinement of other radical based reactions proceeding through catalytic oxidations mediated by Ag(I)-pyridine/persulfate. The chemical versatility of thiocyanate moiety was also highlighted via SCN-tailoring chemistry in post-synthetic transformation for new S-C(sp3/sp2/sp), S-P, and S-S bonds constructions. The protocol provides an easy access to many important bioisosteres in medicinal chemistry and an array of sulfur-containing 2-oxindoles that are difficult to prepare by other approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Long Kong
- Department of New Drug Research and Development, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Jian-Xun Du
- Department of New Drug Research and Development, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Wei-Ming Chu
- Department of New Drug Research and Development, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Chun-Ying Ma
- Department of New Drug Research and Development, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Jia-Yi Tao
- Department of New Drug Research and Development, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Wen-Hua Feng
- Department of New Drug Research and Development, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College & Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
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22
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Maurici N, Savidge N, Lee BU, Brewer SH, Phillips-Piro CM. Crystal structures of green fluorescent protein with the unnatural amino acid 4-nitro-L-phenylalanine. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2018; 74:650-655. [PMID: 30279317 PMCID: PMC6168768 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x1801169x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The X-ray crystal structures of two superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) constructs containing a genetically incorporated spectroscopic reporter unnatural amino acid, 4-nitro-L-phenylalanine (pNO2F), at two unique sites in the protein have been determined. Amber codon-suppression methodology was used to site-specifically incorporate pNO2F at a solvent-accessible (Asp133) and a partially buried (Asn149) site in sfGFP. The Asp133pNO2F sfGFP construct crystallized with two molecules per asymmetric unit in space group P3221 and the crystal structure was refined to 2.05 Å resolution. Crystals of Asn149pNO2F sfGFP contained one molecule of sfGFP per asymmetric unit in space group P4122 and the structure was refined to 1.60 Å resolution. The alignment of Asp133pNO2F or Asn149pNO2F sfGFP with wild-type sfGFP resulted in small root-mean-square deviations, illustrating that these residues do not significantly alter the protein structure and supporting the use of pNO2F as an effective spectroscopic reporter of local protein structure and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Maurici
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin and Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604, USA
| | - Nicole Savidge
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin and Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604, USA
| | - Byung Uk Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin and Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604, USA
| | - Scott H. Brewer
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin and Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604, USA
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23
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Liu H, Morris C, Lantz R, Kent TW, Elbassal EA, Wojcikiewicz EP, Du D. Residue‐Specific Dynamics and Local Environmental Changes in Aβ40 Oligomer and Fibril Formation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201802490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Liu
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryFlorida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton FL 33431 USA
| | - Clifford Morris
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryFlorida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton FL 33431 USA
| | - Richard Lantz
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryFlorida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton FL 33431 USA
| | - Thomas W. Kent
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryFlorida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton FL 33431 USA
| | - Esmail A. Elbassal
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryFlorida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton FL 33431 USA
| | - Ewa P. Wojcikiewicz
- Department of Biomedical ScienceFlorida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton FL 33431 USA
| | - Deguo Du
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryFlorida Atlantic University 777 Glades Road Boca Raton FL 33431 USA
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24
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Liu H, Morris C, Lantz R, Kent TW, Elbassal EA, Wojcikiewicz EP, Du D. Residue-Specific Dynamics and Local Environmental Changes in Aβ40 Oligomer and Fibril Formation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:8017-8021. [PMID: 29750857 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201802490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Elucidating local dynamics of protein aggregation is crucial for understanding the mechanistic details of protein amyloidogenesis. Herein, we studied the residue-specific dynamics and local environmental changes of Aβ40 along the course of aggregation by using para-cyanophenylalanine (PheCN ) as a fluorescent and vibrational probe. Our results show that the PheCN residues introduced at various positions all exhibited an immediate decay of fluorescence intensity, indicating a relatively synergistic process in early oligomer formation. The fast decreases in the fluorescence intensities of residues 19 and 20 in the central hydrophobic core region and residue 10 in the N-terminal region suggest that they play crucial roles in the formation of the oligomeric core. The PheCN 4 residue exhibits a remarkably slower decrease in fluorescence intensity, implicating its dynamic conformational characteristics in oligomer and fibril formation. Our results also suggest that the N-terminal residues in fibrils are surrounded by a relatively hydrophobic local environment, as opposed to being solvated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Clifford Morris
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Richard Lantz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Thomas W Kent
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Esmail A Elbassal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Ewa P Wojcikiewicz
- Department of Biomedical Science, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Deguo Du
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
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25
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First JT, Slocum JD, Webb LJ. Quantifying the Effects of Hydrogen Bonding on Nitrile Frequencies in GFP: Beyond Solvent Exposure. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:6733-6743. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b03907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy T. First
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 105E 24th Street, STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
| | - Joshua D. Slocum
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 105E 24th Street, STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
| | - Lauren J. Webb
- Department of Chemistry, Texas Materials Institute, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 105E 24th Street, STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
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26
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Slocum JD, Webb LJ. Measuring Electric Fields in Biological Matter Using the Vibrational Stark Effect of Nitrile Probes. Annu Rev Phys Chem 2018; 69:253-271. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physchem-052516-045011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Slocum
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, USA
| | - Lauren J. Webb
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, USA
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27
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Kearney C, Olenginski LT, Hirn TD, Fowler GD, Tariq D, Brewer SH, Phillips-Piro CM. Exploring local solvation environments of a heme protein using the spectroscopic reporter 4-cyano-l-phenylalanine. RSC Adv 2018; 8:13503-13512. [PMID: 29780583 PMCID: PMC5944249 DOI: 10.1039/c8ra02000k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The vibrational reporter unnatural amino acid (UAA) 4-cyano-l-phenylalanine (pCNF) was genetically incorporated individually at three sites (5, 36, and 78) in the heme protein Caldanaerobacter subterraneus H-NOX to probe local hydration environments. The UAA pCNF was incorporated site-specifically using an engineered, orthogonal tRNA synthetase in E. coli. The ability of all of the pCNF-containing H-NOX proteins to form the ferrous CO, NO, or O2 ligated and unligated states was confirmed with UV-Vis spectroscopy. The solvation state at each site of the three sites of pCNF incorporation was assessed using temperature-dependent infrared spectroscopy. Specifically, the frequency-temperature line slope (FTLS) method was utilized to show that the nitrile group at site 36 was fully solvated and the nitrile group at site 78 was de-solvated (buried) in the heme pocket. The nitrile group at site 5 was found to be partially solvated suggesting that the nitrile group was involved in moderate strength hydrogen bonds. These results were confirmed by the determination of the X-ray crystal structure of the H-NOX protein construct containing pCNF at site 5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Kearney
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA. ;
| | - Lukasz T Olenginski
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA. ;
| | - Trexler D Hirn
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA. ;
| | - Gwendolyn D Fowler
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA. ;
| | - Daniyal Tariq
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA. ;
| | - Scott H Brewer
- Department of Chemistry, Franklin & Marshall College, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604-3003, USA. ;
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28
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van Wilderen LJGW, Brunst H, Gustmann H, Wachtveitl J, Broos J, Bredenbeck J. Cyano-tryptophans as dual infrared and fluorescence spectroscopic labels to assess structural dynamics in proteins. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:19906-19915. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp00846a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
By moving the cyano group position on the indole ring, both artificial amino acids report differently to their microscopic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - H. Brunst
- Institute of Biophysics
- Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe Universität
- Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
| | - H. Gustmann
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe Universität
- Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
| | - J. Wachtveitl
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe Universität
- Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
| | - J. Broos
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry and GBB (Groningen Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology Institute)
- University of Groningen
- 9747 AG Groningen
- The Netherlands
| | - J. Bredenbeck
- Institute of Biophysics
- Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe Universität
- Frankfurt am Main
- Germany
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29
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Jia B, Sun Y, Yang L, Yu Y, Fan H, Ma G. A structural model of the hierarchical assembly of an amyloid nanosheet by an infrared probe technique. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 20:27261-27271. [DOI: 10.1039/c8cp03003k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A hierarchical structural model of an amyloid nanosheet by IR probe technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohuan Jia
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Hebei University
- Baoding 071002
| | - Ying Sun
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Hebei University
- Baoding 071002
| | - Lujuan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Hebei University
- Baoding 071002
| | - Yang Yu
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Hebei University
- Baoding 071002
| | - Haoran Fan
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Hebei University
- Baoding 071002
| | - Gang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis of Ministry of Education
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Science and Technology of Hebei Province
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Hebei University
- Baoding 071002
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30
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Malik G, Swyka RA, Tiwari VK, Fei X, Applegate GA, Berkowitz DB. A thiocyanopalladation/carbocyclization transformation identified through enzymatic screening: stereocontrolled tandem C-SCN and C-C bond formation. Chem Sci 2017; 8:8050-8060. [PMID: 29568453 PMCID: PMC5855125 DOI: 10.1039/c7sc04083k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein we describe a formal thiocyanopalladation/carbocyclization transformation and its parametrization and optimization using a new elevated temperature plate-based version of our visual colorimetric enzymatic screening method for reaction discovery. The carbocyclization step leads to C-SCN bond formation in tandem with C-C bond construction and is highly stereoselective, showing nearly absolute 1,2-anti-stereoinduction (5 examples) for substrates bearing allylic substitution, and nearly absolute 1,3-syn-stereoinduction (16 examples) for substrates bearing propargylic substitution. Based upon these high levels of stereoinduction, the dependence of the 1,2-stereoinduction upon cyclization substrate geometry, and the generally high preference for the transoid vinyl thiocyanate alkene geometry, a mechanistic model is proposed, involving (i) Pd(ii)-enyne coordination, (ii) thiocyanopalladation, (iii) migratory insertion and (iv) β-elimination. Examples of transition metal-mediated C-SCN bond formation that proceed smoothly on unactivated substrates and allow for preservation of the SCN moiety are lacking. Yet, the thiocyanate functionality is of great value for biophysical chemistry (vibrational Stark effect) and medicinal chemistry (S,N-heterocycle construction). The title transformation accommodates C-, O-, N- and S-bridged substrates (6 examples), thereby providing the corresponding carbocyclic or heterocyclic scaffolds. The reaction is also shown to be compatible with a significant range of substituents, varying in steric and electronic demand, including a wide range of substituted aromatics, fused bicyclic and heterocyclic systems, and even biaryl systems. Combination of this new transformation with asymmetric allylation and Grubbs ring-closing metathesis provides for a streamlined enantio- and diastereoselective entry into the oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octyl core of the natural products massarilactone and annuionone A, as also evidenced by low temperature X-ray crystal structure determination. Utilizing this bicyclic scaffold, we demonstrate the versatility of the thiocyanate moiety for structural diversification post-cyclization. Thus, the bridging vinyl thiocyanate moiety is smoothly elaborated into a range of derivative functionalities utilizing transformations that cleave the S-CN bond, add the elements of RS-CN across a π-system and exploit the SCN moiety as a cycloaddition partner (7 diverse examples). Among the new functionalities thereby generated are thiotetrazole and sulfonyl tetrazole heterocycles that serve as carboxylate and phosphate surrogates, respectively, highlighting the potential of this approach for future applications in medicinal chemistry or chemical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Malik
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska , Lincoln , NE 68588 , USA .
| | - R A Swyka
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska , Lincoln , NE 68588 , USA .
| | - V K Tiwari
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska , Lincoln , NE 68588 , USA .
| | - X Fei
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska , Lincoln , NE 68588 , USA .
| | - G A Applegate
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska , Lincoln , NE 68588 , USA .
| | - D B Berkowitz
- Department of Chemistry , University of Nebraska , Lincoln , NE 68588 , USA .
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31
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Slocum JD, First JT, Webb LJ. Orthogonal Electric Field Measurements near the Green Fluorescent Protein Fluorophore through Stark Effect Spectroscopy and pKa Shifts Provide a Unique Benchmark for Electrostatics Models. J Phys Chem B 2017. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.7b03935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D. Slocum
- Department of Chemistry,
Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology, and Institute
for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 105
E 24th St. STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
| | - Jeremy T. First
- Department of Chemistry,
Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology, and Institute
for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 105
E 24th St. STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
| | - Lauren J. Webb
- Department of Chemistry,
Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology, and Institute
for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 105
E 24th St. STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
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32
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Slocum JD, Webb LJ. A Double Decarboxylation in Superfolder Green Fluorescent Protein Leads to High Contrast Photoactivation. J Phys Chem Lett 2017; 8:2862-2868. [PMID: 28598160 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b01101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A photoactivatable variant of superfolder green fluorescent protein (GFP) was created by replacing the threonine at position 203 with aspartic acid. Photoactivation by exposure of this mutant to UV light resulted in conversion of the fluorophore from the neutral to the negatively charged form, accompanied by a ∼95-fold increase in fluorescence under 488 nm excitation. Mass spectrometry before and after exposure to UV light revealed a change in mass of 88 Da, attributed to the double decarboxylation of Glu 222 and Asp 203. Kinetics studies and nonlinear power-dependence of the initial rate of photoconversion indicated that the double decarboxylation occurred via a multiphoton absorption process at 254 nm. In addition to providing a photoactivatable GFP with robust folding properties, a detailed mechanistic understanding of this double decarboxylation in GFP will lead to a better understanding of charge transfer in fluorescent proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Slocum
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin , 105 East 24th Street STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
| | - Lauren J Webb
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Nano and Molecular Science and Technology, and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin , 105 East 24th Street STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-1224, United States
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33
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Le Sueur AL, Ramos S, Ellefsen JD, Cook S, Thielges MC. Evaluation of p-(13C,15N-Cyano)phenylalanine as an Extended Time Scale 2D IR Probe of Proteins. Anal Chem 2017; 89:5254-5260. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b04650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L. Le Sueur
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Sashary Ramos
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Jonathan D. Ellefsen
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Silas Cook
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Megan C. Thielges
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 East Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
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34
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Błasiak B, Londergan CH, Webb LJ, Cho M. Vibrational Probes: From Small Molecule Solvatochromism Theory and Experiments to Applications in Complex Systems. Acc Chem Res 2017; 50:968-976. [PMID: 28345879 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.7b00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The vibrational frequency of a chosen normal mode is one of the most accurately measurable spectroscopic properties of molecules in condensed phases. Accordingly, infrared absorption and Raman scattering spectroscopy have provided valuable information on both distributions and ensemble-average values of molecular vibrational frequencies, and these frequencies are now routinely used to investigate structure, conformation, and even absolute configuration of chemical and biological molecules of interest. Recent advancements in coherent time-domain nonlinear vibrational spectroscopy have allowed the study of heterogeneous distributions of local structures and thermally driven ultrafast fluctuations of vibrational frequencies. To fully utilize IR probe functional groups for quantitative bioassays, a variety of biological and chemical techniques have been developed to site-specifically introduce vibrational probe groups into proteins and nucleic acids. These IR-probe-labeled biomolecules and chemically reactive systems are subject to linear and nonlinear vibrational spectroscopic investigations and provide information on the local electric field, conformational changes, site-site protein contacts, and/or function-defining features of biomolecules. A rapidly expanding library of data from such experiments requires an interpretive method with atom-level chemical accuracy. However, despite prolonged efforts to develop an all-encompassing theory for describing vibrational solvatochromism and electrochromism as well as dynamic fluctuations of instantaneous vibrational frequencies, purely empirical and highly approximate theoretical models have often been used to interpret experimental results. They are, in many cases, based on the simple assumption that the vibrational frequency of an IR reporter is solely dictated by electric potential or field distribution around the vibrational chromophore. Such simplified description of vibrational solvatochromism generally referred to as vibrational Stark effect theory has been considered to be quite appealing and, even in some cases, e.g., carbonyl stretch modes in amide, ester, ketone, and carbonate compounds or proteins, it works quantitatively well, which makes it highly useful in determining the strength of local electric field around the IR chromophore. However, noting that the vibrational frequency shift results from changes of solute-solvent intermolecular interaction potential along its normal coordinate, Pauli exclusion repulsion, polarization, charge transfer, and dispersion interactions, in addition to the electrostatic interaction between distributed charges of both vibrational chromophore and solvent molecules, are to be properly included in the theoretical description of vibrational solvatochromism. Since the electrostatic and nonelectrostatic intermolecular interaction components have distinctively different distance and orientation dependences, they affect the solvatochromic vibrational properties in a completely different manner. Over the past few years, we have developed a systematic approach to simulating vibrational solvatochromic data based on the effective fragment potential approach, one of the most accurate and rigorous theories on intermolecular interactions. We have further elucidated the interplay of local electric field with the general vibrational solvatochromism of small IR probes in either solvents or complicated biological systems, with emphasis on contributions from non-Coulombic intermolecular interactions to vibrational frequency shifts and fluctuations. With its rigorous foundation and close relation to quantitative interpretation of experimental data, this and related theoretical approaches and experiments will be of use in studying and quantifying the structure and dynamics of biomolecules with unprecedented time and spatial resolution when combined with time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy and chemically sensitive vibrational imaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Błasiak
- Center
of Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute of Basic Science (IBS), 145
Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Casey H. Londergan
- Department
of Chemistry, Haverford College, Haverford, Pennsylvania 19041-1392, United States
| | - Lauren J. Webb
- Department
of Chemistry, Center for Nano- and Molecular Science and Technology,
and Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, 105
E. 24th Street, STOP A5300, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Minhaeng Cho
- Center
of Molecular Spectroscopy and Dynamics, Institute of Basic Science (IBS), 145
Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department
of Chemistry, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
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35
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Koch M, Myahkostupov M, Oblinsky DG, Wang S, Garakyaraghi S, Castellano FN, Scholes GD. Charge Localization after Ultrafast Photoexcitation of a Rigid Perylene Perylenediimide Dyad Visualized by Transient Stark Effect. J Am Chem Soc 2017; 139:5530-5537. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.7b01630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marius Koch
- Department
of Chemistry, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, United States
| | - Mykhaylo Myahkostupov
- Department
of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204, United States
| | - Daniel G. Oblinsky
- Department
of Chemistry, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, United States
| | - Siwei Wang
- Department
of Chemistry, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, United States
| | - Sofia Garakyaraghi
- Department
of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204, United States
| | - Felix N. Castellano
- Department
of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-8204, United States
| | - Gregory D. Scholes
- Department
of Chemistry, Princeton University, Washington Road, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, United States
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36
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Völler JS, Biava H, Hildebrandt P, Budisa N. An expanded genetic code for probing the role of electrostatics in enzyme catalysis by vibrational Stark spectroscopy. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2017; 1861:3053-3059. [PMID: 28229928 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To find experimental validation for electrostatic interactions essential for catalytic reactions represents a challenge due to practical limitations in assessing electric fields within protein structures. SCOPE OF REVIEW This review examines the applications of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) as genetically encoded probes for studying the role of electrostatic interactions in enzyme catalysis. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS ncAAs constitute sensitive spectroscopic probes to detect local electric fields by exploiting the vibrational Stark effect (VSE) and thus have the potential to map the protein electrostatics. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Mapping the electrostatics in proteins will improve our understanding of natural catalytic processes and, in beyond, will be helpful for biocatalyst engineering. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Biochemistry of Synthetic Biology - Recent Developments" Guest Editor: Dr. Ilka Heinemann and Dr. Patrick O'Donoghue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Stefan Völler
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Strasse 10, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Hernan Biava
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Strasse 10, D-10623 Berlin, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Hildebrandt
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Müller-Breslau-Strasse 10, D-10623 Berlin, Germany.
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37
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Adhikary R, Zimmermann J, Romesberg FE. Transparent Window Vibrational Probes for the Characterization of Proteins With High Structural and Temporal Resolution. Chem Rev 2017; 117:1927-1969. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ramkrishna Adhikary
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Jörg Zimmermann
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | - Floyd E. Romesberg
- Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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38
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Park JW, Rhee YM. Electric Field Keeps Chromophore Planar and Produces High Yield Fluorescence in Green Fluorescent Protein. J Am Chem Soc 2016; 138:13619-13629. [PMID: 27662359 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b06833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The green fluorescent protein and its designed variants fluoresce efficiently. Because the isolated chromophore is not fluorescent in a practical sense, it is apparent that the protein environment plays a crucial role in its efficiency. Because of various obstacles in studying excited state dynamics of complex systems, however, the detailed mechanism of this efficiency enhancement is not yet clearly elucidated. Here, by adopting excited state nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations together with an interpolated quantum chemical potential model of the chromophore, we find that the strong electric field from the protein matrix contributes dominantly to the motional restriction of the chromophore. The delay in twisting motion subsequently obstructs the nonradiative decay that competes with fluorescence, leading naturally to an enhancement in light-emitting efficiency. Surprisingly, steric constraints make only a minor contribution to these aspects. Through residue specific analyses, we identify a group of key residues that control the excited state behavior. Testing a series of mutant GFPs with different brightnesses also supports the view regarding the importance of protein electrostatics. Our findings may provide a useful guide toward designing new fluorescent chemical systems in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Woo Park
- Center for Self-assembly and Complexity, Institute for Basic Science (IBS) , Pohang 37673, Korea.,Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) , Pohang 37673, Korea
| | - Young Min Rhee
- Center for Self-assembly and Complexity, Institute for Basic Science (IBS) , Pohang 37673, Korea.,Department of Chemistry, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) , Pohang 37673, Korea
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