Effects of Hydrogen Bonding and Structure of the Accessory Bacteriochlorophylls on Charge Separation in Rb. capsulatus Reaction Centers

Low-frequency resonance Raman studies of the H(M202)G cavity mutant of bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers

Low-frequency (90-435 cm(-1)) NIR-excitation (875-900 nm) resonance Raman (RR) studies are reported for the H(M202)G cavity mutant of bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs) from Rb. sphaeroides that was first described by Goldsmith et al. [(1996) Biochemistry 35: 2421-2428]. In this mutant, the His residue that axially ligates the Mg ion of the M-side bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) of the special pair primary donor (P) is replaced by a non-ligating Gly residue. Regardless, the Mg ion of P(M) in the H(M202)G RCs remains pentacoordinates and is presumably ligated by a water molecule, although this axial ligand has not been definitively identified. The low-frequency RR studies of the H(M202)G RCs are accompanied by studies of RCs exchanged with D(2)O and incubated with imidazole (Im). The RR studies of the cavity mutant RCs reveal the following: (1) The structure of P(M) in the H(M202)G RCs is different from that of the wild-type, consistent with an altered BChl core. (2) A water ligand for P(M) in the H(M202)G RCs is generally consistent with the low-frequency RR spectra. The Mg-OH(2) stretching vibration is tentatively assigned to a band at 318 cm(-1), a frequency higher than that of the Mg-His stretch of the native pigment ( approximately approximately 235 cm(-1)). (3) The BChl core structure of P(M) in the cavity mutant is rendered similar (but not identical) to that of the wild-type when the adventitious water axial ligand is replaced by Im. (4) Exchange with D(2)O results in more global structural changes, likely involving the protein, which in turn affect the structure of the BChls in P. (5) Assignment of the low-frequency vibrational spectrum of P is generally more complex than originally suggested.

Resonance Raman characterization of Rhodobacter capsulatus reaction centers with lysine mutations near the accessory bacteriochlorophylls

Lysine residues have been introduced into Rhodobacter capsulatus reaction centers at M-polypeptide position 201 and at L-polypeptide position 178. These positions are in the proximity of ring V of the accessory bacterochlorophylls BA and BB, respectively. Resonance Raman studies indicate that the introduction of a Lys residue at either position M201 or L178 results in structural perturbations to the BChl cofactors. Lys at L178 directly interacts with BB, most likely via a hydrogen bond. The hydrogen bonding interaction is consistent with enhanced B branch electron transfer that is observed in RCs from the S(L178)K/G(M201)D/L(M212)H triple mutant versus the G(M201)D/L(M212)H double mutant. In contrast, the introduction of a Lys at M201 does not result in hydrogen bonding to the BA cofactor, in contrast to the introduction of a His at M201. Accordingly, the alkyl ammonium head group of the side chain of the Lys at M201 residue appears to be distant from BA.