PICOSECOND DYNAMICS OF THE EXCITED STATE RELAXATIONS IN PHYTOCHROME

Mid-infrared picosecond pump-dump-probe and pump-repump-probe experiments to resolve a ground-state intermediate in cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1

Multipulse picosecond mid-infrared spectroscopy has been used to study photochemical reactions of the cyanobacterial phytochrome photoreceptor Cph1. Different photophysical schemes have been discussed in the literature to describe the pathways after photoexcitation, particularly, to identify reaction phases that are linked to photoisomerisation and electronic decay in the 1566-1772 cm(-1) region that probes C=C and C=O stretching modes of the tetrapyrrole chromophore. Here, multipulse spectroscopy is employed, where, compared to conventional visible pump-mid-infrared probe spectroscopy, an additional visible pulse is incorporated that interacts with populations that are evolving on the excited- and ground-state potential energy surfaces. The time delays between the pump and the dump pulse are chosen such that the dump pulse interacts with different phases in the reaction process. The pump and dump pulses are at the same wavelength, 640 nm, and are resonant with the Pr ground state as well as with the excited state and intermediates. Because the dump pulse additionally pumps the remaining, partially recovered, and partially oriented ground-state population, theory is developed for estimating the fraction of excited-state molecules. The calculations take into account the model-dependent ground-state recovery fraction, the angular dependence of the population transfer resulting from the finite bleach that occurs with linearly polarized intense femtosecond optical excitation, and the partially oriented population for the dump field. Distinct differences between the results from the experiments that use a 1 or a 14 ps dump time favor a branching evolution from S1 to an excited state or reconfigured chromophore and to a newly identified ground-state intermediate (GSI). Optical dumping at 1 ps shows the instantaneous induced absorption of a delocalized C=C stretching mode at 1608 cm(-1), where the increased cross section is associated with the electronic ground-state structure of the ZZZ configuration of the linear tetrapyrrole chromophore. The dump-induced absorption decays with time constants of 5 and 19 ps to the Pr ground state. Employing a dump pulse at 14 ps results in an instantaneous decrease of the absorption of the 1608 cm(-1) band, indicating repumping of the GSI. The dump-induced absorption recovers back to the GSI with a 6 ps lifetime. A spectral similarity is observed between the 6 ps phase in the dump experiment and the 3 ps component found in the two-pulse pump-probe measurement. Combined with the dominance of ground-state absorption bands in the dump-induced spectrum, this indicates the presence of a GSI, which is additionally characterized by previously unidentified induced absorption at 1710 and 1570-80 cm(-1). The metastable photoproduct Lumi-R, which is in the electronic ground state and populated at 500 ps after excitation of Pr, is highly efficiently repumped into the Pr ground state with the power density used. After repumping, Lumi-R is not recovered on the 500 ps time scale of the experiment and is distinct from the GSI of Pr since it is not associated with its characteristic induced absorption at 1710 and 1570-80 cm(-1).

Ultrafast dynamics of phytochrome from the cyanobacterium synechocystis, reconstituted with phycocyanobilin and phycoerythrobilin

Femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy was employed to characterize for the first time the primary photoisomerization dynamics of a bacterial phytochrome system in the two thermally stable states of the photocycle. The 85-kDa phytochrome Cph1 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 expressed in Escherichia coli was reconstituted with phycocyanobilin (Cph1-PCB) and phycoerythrobilin (Cph1-PEB). The red-light-absorbing form Pr of Cph1-PCB shows an approximately 150 fs relaxation in the S(1) state after photoexcitation at 650 nm. The subsequent Z-E isomerization between rings C and D of the linear tetrapyrrole-chromophore is best described by a distribution of rate constants with the first moment at (16 ps)(-1). Excitation at 615 nm leads to a slightly broadened distribution. The reverse E-Z isomerization, starting from the far-red-absorbing form Pfr, is characterized by two shorter time constants of 0.54 and 3.2 ps. In the case of Cph1-PEB, double-bond isomerization does not take place, and the excited-state lifetime extends into the nanosecond regime. Besides a stimulated emission rise time between 40 and 150 fs, no fast relaxation processes are observed. This suggests that the chromophore-protein interaction along rings A, B, and C does not contribute much to the picosecond dynamics observed in Cph1-PCB but rather the region around ring D near the isomerizing C(15) [double bond] C(16) double bond. The primary reaction dynamics of Cph1-PCB at ambient temperature is found to exhibit very similar features as those described for plant type A phytochrome, i.e., a relatively slow Pr, and a fast Pfr, photoreaction. This suggests that the initial reactions were established already before evolution of plant phytochromes began.

First steps in the phytochrome phototransformation: a comparative femtosecond study on the forward (Pr --> Pfr) and back reaction (Pfr --> Pr)

The primary light-induced events in the reversible Pr right harpoon over left harpoon Pfr phototransformation are investigated by femtosecond absorption spectroscopy using a pump-probe technique. After the selective electronic excitation of Pr and Pfr with pulses at 610 and 730 nm, respectively, the transient absorption spectra were measured as a function of the delay time and subjected to a global fit analysis. As a result of this analysis, the decay-associated spectra of the kinetic components involved in the formation of the first photoproducts in the forward and back reaction are obtained. These spectra provide a more detailed understanding of the primary stages in the light-induced transformations. In addition, the influence of the solvent viscosity on the initial reaction steps was studied. In each direction of reaction, a short-lifetime component is found to be strongly viscosity-dependent, indicating that the primary photochemistry encompasses intramolecular motions of the chromophore or its proximal amino acid side chains. H-D exchange has no significant effect on the kinetics of the initial photoprocesses. This suggests that the isomerization reaction in both directions is not accompanied by a rate-limiting proton transfer.

Ultrafast pump-probe spectroscopy of native etiolated oat phytochrome

Absorption difference profiles were obtained at wavelengths from 640 to 700 nm with 1-2-ps resolution in a study of primary photoprocesses in the Pr-->Pfr transformation in native oat phytochrome. These experiments were performed using low-intensity laser pulses at high repetition rate; fast sample recycling ensured that essentially all phytochrome species were excited from the Pr ground state. The Pr*-stimulated emission decay at wavelengths > 670 nm exhibits major components with lifetimes of approximately 16 and 50-60 ps. Formation of the asymptotic 695-nm lumi-R absorption spectrum rapidly follows stimulated emission decay. Photoexcitation of one or both of the lumi-R intermediates instantaneously recreates fluorescing Pr* phytochrome, which is spectroscopically and kinetically indistinguishable from that generated by direct illumination of ground-state Pr. This is consistent with assignment of lumi-R as a species in which the chromophore has isomerized from the Z,Z,Z to the Z,Z,E conformation. Anisotropy studies indicate that the orientations of the Pr and lumi-R absorption transition moments are nearly parallel, since little anisotropy decay occurs during the 500-ps time window of these experiments.

Events in the phytochrome molecule after irradiation

The photoconversion of Pr to Pfr has been investigated by a large number of investigators. We have previously demonstrated that Z, E isomerization of the tetrapyrrole chromophore is involved in the photoconversion. It is the best candidate for the primary photoreaction. Conformation and configuration of the Pr chromophore will be compared with that of chromophores in phycocyanin. The crystal structure of phycocyanin had been elucidated by x-ray analysis. Proton transfer and/or Z, E isomerization of the tetrapyrrole are probably involved in different steps of the photoconversion in phytochrome and in photoreversible phycobiliproteins. Fluorescence decay kinetics of irradiated Pr and intermediate formation show heterogeneity. Possible reasons for this heterogeneity will be discussed.