ABRF ESRG 2006 study: Edman sequencing as a method for polypeptide quantitation

The Edman Sequencing Research Group (ESRG) designs studies on the use of Edman degradation for protein and peptide analysis. These studies provide a means for participating laboratories to compare their analyses against a benchmark of those from other laboratories that provide this valuable service. The main purpose of the 2006 study was to determine how accurate Edman sequencing is for quantitative analysis of polypeptides. Secondarily, participants were asked to identify a modified amino acid residue, N-epsilon-acetyl lysine [Lys(Ac)], present within one of the peptides. The ESRG 2006 peptide mixture consisted of three synthetic peptides. The Peptide Standards Research Group (PSRG) provided two peptides, with the following sequences: KAQYARSVLLEKDAEPDILELATGYR (peptide B), and RQAKVLLYSGR (peptide C). The third peptide, peptide C*, synthesized and characterized by ESRG, was identical to peptide C but with acetyl lysine in position 4. The mixture consisted of 20% peptide B and 40% each of peptide C and its acetylated form, peptide C*. Participating laboratories were provided with two tubes, each containing 100 picomoles of the peptide mixture (as determined by quantitative amino acid analysis) and were asked to provide amino acid assignments, peak areas, retention times at each cycle, as well as initial and repetitive yield estimates for each peptide in the mixture. Details about instruments and parameters used in the analysis were also collected. Participants in the study with access to a mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF or ESI) were asked to provide information about the relative peak areas of the peptides in the mixture as a comparison with the peptide quantitation results from Edman sequencing. Positive amino acid assignments were 88% correct for peptide C and 93% correct for peptide B. The absolute initial sequencing yields were an average of 67% for peptide (C+C*) and 65.6 % for peptide B. The relative molar ratios determined by Edman sequencing were an average of 4.27 (expected ratio of 4) for peptides (C+C*)/B, and 1.49 for peptide C*/C (expected ratio of 1); the seemingly high 49% error in quantification of Lys(Ac) in peptide C* can be attributed to commercial unavailability of its PTH standard. These values compare very favorably with the values obtained by mass spectrometry.

Implications of high-molecular-weight oligomers of the binary toxin from Bacillus sphaericus

The mosquito-larvicidal binary toxin produced by Bacillus sphaericus is composed of BinB and BinA, which have calculated molecular weights of 51.4 and 41.9 kDa, respectively. NaOH extracts of B. sphaericus spores were analyzed using SDS-PAGE. Stained gels showed bands with molecular weights corresponding to those of BinB and BinA as well as two additional bands at 110 and 125 kDa. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrum of the purified 110 and 125 kDa bands showed two peaks at 104,160 and 87,358 Da that are assigned to dimers of BinB and BinA, respectively. Mass spectral analysis of trypsin-digested 110 and 125 kDa bands showed peaks at 51,328, 43,523, 43,130, and 40,832 Da that assigned to undigested BinB, two forms of digested BinB and digested BinA, respectively. Dynamic light scattering studies showed a solution of the purified 110 and 125 kDa bands was comprised almost entirely (99.6% of total mass) of a particle with a hydrodynamic radius of 5.6+/-1.2 nm and a calculated molecular weight of 186+/-38 kDa. These data demonstrate that the binary toxin extracted from B. sphaericus spores can exist in solution as an oligomer containing two copies each of BinB and BinA.

Redox regulation of energy transfer efficiency in antennas of green photosynthetic bacteria

The efficiency of energy transfer from the peripheral chlorosome antenna structure to the membrane-bound antenna in green sulfur bacteria depends strongly on the redox potential of the medium. The fluorescence spectra and lifetimes indicate that efficient quenching pathways are induced in the chlorosome at high redox potential. The midpoint redox potential for the induction of this effect in isolated chlorosomes from Chlorobium vibrioforme is -146 mV at pH 7 (vs the normal hydrogen electrode), and the observed midpoint potential (n = 1) decreases by 60 mV per pH unit over the pH range 7-10. Extraction of isolated chlorosomes with hexane has little effect on the redox-induced quenching, indicating that the component(s) responsible for this effect are bound and not readily extractable. We have purified and partially characterized the trimeric water-soluble bacteriochlorophyll a-containing protein from the thermophilic green sulfur bacterium Chlorobium tepidum. This protein is located between the chlorosome and the membrane. Fluorescence spectra of the purified protein indicate that it also contains groups that quench excitations at high redox potential. The results indicate that the energy transfer pathway in green sulfur bacteria is regulated by redox potential. This regulation appears to operate in at least two distinct places in the energy transfer pathway, the oligomeric pigments in the interior of the chlorosome and in the bacteriochlorophyll a protein. The regulatory effect may serve to protect the cell against superoxide-induced damage when oxygen is present. By quenching excitations before they reach the reaction center, reduction and subsequent autooxidation of the low potential electron acceptors found in these organisms is avoided.

Analysis of sulfur biochemistry of sulfur bacteria using X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Many sulfide-oxidizing organisms, including the photosynthetic sulfur bacteria, store sulfur in "sulfur globules" that are readily detected microscopically. The chemical form of sulfur in these globules is currently the focus of a debate, because they have been described as "liquid" by some observers, although no known allotrope of sulfur is liquid at physiological temperatures. In the present work we have used sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy to identify and quantify the chemical forms of sulfur in a variety of bacterial cells, including photosynthetic sulfur bacteria. We have also taken advantage of X-ray fluorescence self-absorption to derive estimates of the size and density of the sulfur globules in photosynthetic bacteria. We find that the form of sulfur that most resembles the globule sulfur is simply solid S(8), rather than more exotic forms previously proposed.

Synthesis of the marine sponge cycloheptapeptide phakellistatin 5(1)

Phakellistatin 5 (1), a constituent of The Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk) marine sponge Phakellia costada, was synthesized by solution-phase and solid-phase techniques. Because the linear peptide bearing (R)-Asn resisted cyclization, the synthesis of this peptide was repeated using the PAL resin attachment proceeding from N-Fmoc-D-Asp-alpha-OCH(2)CH=CH(2). After addition of the final unit (Ala), the allyl ester was removed under neutral conditions with Pd(o) [P(C(6)H(5))(3)](4). Removal of the final Fmoc-protecting group and cyclization with PyAOP provided (R)-Asn-phakellistatin 5 (2) in 28% overall yield. The same synthetic route from (S)-Asp led to natural phakellistatin 5 (1) in 15% overall recovery. The solution-phase and solid-phase synthetic products derived from (S)-Asp were found to be chemically but not biologically identical with natural phakellistatin 5 (1). This important fact suggested that a trace, albeit highly cancer-cell growth inhibitory, constituent accompanied the natural product or that there is a subtle conformational difference between the synthetic and natural cyclic peptides.

Molecular genetic evidence for extracytoplasmic localization of sulfur globules in Chromatium vinosum

Purple sulfur bacteria store sulfur as intracellular globules enclosed by a protein envelope. We cloned the genes sgpA, sgpB, and sgpC, which encode the three different proteins that constitute the sulfur globule envelope of Chromatium vinosum D (DSMZ 180(T)). Southern hybridization analyses and nucleotide sequencing showed that these three genes are not clustered in the same operon. All three genes are preceded by sequences resembling sigma70-dependent promoters, and hairpin structures typical for rho-independent terminators are found immediately downstream of the translational stop codons of sgpA, sgpB, and sgpC. Insertional inactivation of sgpA in Chr. vinosum showed that the presence of only one of the homologous proteins SgpA and SgpB suffices for formation of intact sulfur globules. All three sgp genes encode translation products which - when compared to the isolated proteins - carry amino-terminal extensions. These extensions meet all requirements for typical signal peptides indicating an extracytoplasmic localization of the sulfur globule proteins. A fusion of the phoA gene to the sequence encoding the proposed signal peptide of sgpA led to high specific alkaline phosphatase activities in Escherichia coli, further supporting the envisaged targeting process. Together with electron microscopic evidence these results provide strong indication for an extracytoplasmic localization of the sulfur globules in Chr. vinosum and probably in other Chromatiaceae. Extracytoplasmic formation of stored sulfur could contribute to the transmembranous Deltap that drives ATP synthesis and reverse electron flow in Chr. vinosum.

Isolation and characterization of sulfur globule proteins from Chromatium vinosum and Thiocapsa roseopersicina

Purple sulfur bacteria store sulfur as intracellular globules enclosed by a protein envelope. The proteins associated with sulfur globules of Chromatium vinosum and Thiocapsa roseopersicina were isolated by extraction into 50% aqueous acetonitrile containing 1% trifluoroacetic acid and 10 mM dithiothreitol. The extracted proteins were separated by reversed-phase HPLC, revealing three major proteins from C. vinosum and two from T. roseopersicina. All of these proteins have similar, rather unusual amino acid compositions, being rich in glycine and aromatic amino acids, particularly tyrosine. The molecular masses of the C. vinosum proteins were determined to be 10,498, 10,651, and 8,479 Da, while those from T. roseopersicina were found to be 10,661 and 8,759 Da by laser desorption time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The larger T. roseopersicina protein is N-terminally blocked, probably by acetylation, but small amounts of the unblocked form (mass = 10,619) were also isolated by HPLC. Protein sequencing showed that the two larger C. vinosum proteins are homologous to each other and to the large T. roseopersicina protein. The 8,479 Da C. vinosum and 8,759 Da T. roseopersicina proteins are also homologous, indicating that sulfur globule proteins are conserved between different species of purple sulfur bacteria.

Isolation, characterization, and primary structure of rubredoxin from the photosynthetic bacterium, Heliobacillus mobilis

Rubredoxin is a small nonheme iron protein that serves as an electron carrier in bacterial systems. Rubredoxin has now been isolated and characterized from the strictly anaerobic phototroph, Heliobacillus mobilis. THe molecular mass (5671.3 Da from the amino acid sequence) was confirmed and partial formylation of the N-terminal methionyl residue was established by matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectroscopy. The complete 52-amino-acid sequence was determined by a combination of N-terminal sequencing by Edman degradation and C-terminal sequencing by a novel method using carboxypeptidase treatment in conjunction with amino acid analysis and laser desorption time of flight mass spectrometry. The molar absorption coefficient of Hc. mobilis rubredoxin at 490 nm is 6.9 mM-1 cm-1 and the midpoint redox potential at pH 8.0 is -46 mV. The EPR spectrum of the oxidized form shows resonances at g = 9.66 and 4.30 due to a high-spin ferric iron. The amino acid sequence is homologous to those of rubredoxins from other species, in particular, the gram-positive bacteria, and the phototrophic green sulfur bacteria, and the evolutionary implications of this are discussed.

Single core polypeptide in the reaction center of the photosynthetic bacterium Heliobacillus mobilis: structural implications and relations to other photosystems

The gene for a reaction center core polypeptide from the anoxygenic photosynthetic bacterium Heliobacillus mobilis was cloned and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequence consists of 609 residues with a molecular mass of 68 kDa. An adjacent open reading frame is not transcribed under our experimental conditions. No evidence for a second related reaction center core gene was found. The primary sequence of the reaction center protein (P800 protein) shows a high percentage of sequence identity to photosystem I in a cysteine-containing loop, which is the putative binding site of the iron-sulfur center FX and in the preceding hydrophobic region. Our data imply a homodimeric organization of the reaction center. This is fundamentally different from photosystem I and most other photosynthetic reaction centers, where the reaction center core is composed of two similar but nonidentical subunits.

Optical spectroscopy of a highly fluorescent aggregate of bacteriochlorophyll c

Bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c and a similar model compound, Mg-methyl bacteriopheophorbide d, form several types of aggregates in nonpolar solvents. One of these aggregates is highly fluorescent, with a quantum yield higher than that of the monomer. This aggregate is also unusual in that it shows a rise time in its fluorescence emission decay at certain wavelengths, which is ascribed to a change in conformation of the aggregate. An analysis of fluorescence depolarization data is consistent with either a linear aggregate of four or five monomers or preferably a cyclic arrangement of three dimers.

Isolation and structure of the marine sponge cell growth inhibitory cyclic peptide phakellistatin 1

A new cell growth inhibitory (P-388 murine leukemia ED50 7.5 micrograms/ml) cycloheptapeptide designated phakellistatin 1 was isolated from two Indo-Pacific sponges, Phakellia costata and Stylotella aurantium. Structural elucidation was accomplished utilizing high field nmr, amino acid analyses, and mass spectral techniques (fab, tandem ms/ms), followed by chiral gas chromatographic procedures for absolute configuration assignments (all S-amino acid units). By these methods phakellistatin 1 [1] was found to be cyclo (Pro-Ile-Pro-Ile-Phe-Pro-Tyr), and this assignment was finally confirmed by an X-ray crystal structure determination.

Alkylation of cysteine with acrylamide for protein sequence analysis

Alkylation of cysteine in proteins with acrylamide under mildly alkaline conditions yields a thioether derivative, Cys-S-beta-propionamide (Cys-S-Pam), which is stable during automated Edman degradation. Its phenylthiohydantoin derivative, PTH-Cys-S-Pam, is easily separated from other PTH-amino acids by HPLC and is thus useful for cysteine identification during protein sequencing. PTH-Cys-S-Pam was first noticed during sequencing polypeptides blotted onto polyvinylidene difluoride membranes from polyacrylamide gels, in which cysteine had reacted with residual unpolymerized acrylamide. Cysteine in proteins is easily alkylated by reaction of proteins in aqueous solution with acrylamide. Methods are also presented for alkylation of cysteine in proteins adsorbed on fiberglass disks in the reaction cartridge of a protein sequencer. Finally, PTH-Cys-S-Pam was synthesized chemically. The synthetic compound is unstable in neutral solution, but can be stabilized by acidification. It has the same HPLC retention time as the product formed from cysteine when sequencing proteins alkylated with acrylamide.

Förster energy transfer in chlorosomes of green photosynthetic bacteria

Energy transfer properties of whole cells and chlorosome antenna complexes isolated from the green sulfur bacteria Chlorobium limicola (containing bacteriochlorophyll c), Chlorobium vibrioforme (containing bacteriochlorophyll d) and Pelodictyon phaeoclathratiforme (containing bacteriochlorophyll e) were measured. The spectral overlap of the major chlorosome pigment (bacteriochlorophyll c, d or, e) with the bacteriochlorophyll a B795 chlorosome baseplate pigment is greatest for bacteriochlorophyll c and smallest for bacteriochlorophyll e. The absorbance and fluorescence spectra of isolated chlorosomes were measured, fitted to gaussian curves and the overlap factors with B795 calculated. Energy transfer times from the bacteriochlorophyll c, d or e to B795 were measured in whole cells and the results interpreted in terms of the Förster theory of energy transfer.

Isolation, characterization, and amino acid sequences of auracyanins, blue copper proteins from the green photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus

Three small blue copper proteins designated auracyanin A, auracyanin B-1, and auracyanin B-2 have been isolated from the thermophilic green gliding photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. All three auracyanins are peripheral membrane proteins. Auracyanin A was described previously (Trost, J. T., McManus, J. D., Freeman, J. C., Ramakrishna, B. L., and Blankenship, R. E. (1988) Biochemistry 27, 7858-7863) and is not glycosylated. The two B forms are glycoproteins and have almost identical properties to each other, but are distinct from the A form. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis apparent monomer molecular masses are 14 (A), 18 (B-2), and 22 (B-1) kDa. The amino acid sequences of the B forms are presented. All three proteins have similar absorbance, circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectra, but the electron spin resonance signals are quite different. Laser flash photolysis kinetic analysis of the reactions of the three forms of auracyanin with lumiflavin and flavin mononucleotide semiquinones indicates that the site of electron transfer is negatively charged and has an accessibility similar to that found in other blue copper proteins. Copper analysis indicates that all three proteins contain 1 mol of copper per mol of protein. All three auracyanins exhibit a midpoint redox potential of +240 mV. Light-induced absorbance changes and electron spin resonance signals suggest that auracyanin A may play a role in photosynthetic electron transfer. Kinetic data indicate that all three proteins can donate electrons to cytochrome c-554, the electron donor to the photosynthetic reaction center.

Protein sequences and redox titrations indicate that the electron acceptors in reaction centers from heliobacteria are similar to Photosystem I

Photosynthetic reaction centers isolated from Heliobacillus mobilis exhibit a single major protein on SDS-PAGE of 47 000 Mr. Attempts to sequence the reaction center polypeptide indicated that the N-terminus is blocked. After enzymatic and chemical cleavage, four peptide fragments were sequenced from the Heliobacillus mobilis apoprotein. Only one of these sequences showed significant specific similarity to any of the protein and deduced protein sequences in the GenBank data base. This fragment is identical with 56% of the residues, including both cysteines, found in the highly conserved region that is proposed to bind iron-sulfur center FX in the Photosystem I reaction center peptide that is the psaB gene product. The similarity to the psaA gene product in this region is 48%.Redox titrations of laser-flash-induced photobleaching with millisecond decay kinetics on isolated reaction centers from Heliobacterium gestii indicate a midpoint potential of -414 mV with n=2 titration behavior. In membranes, the behavior is intermediate between n=1 and n=2, and the apparent midpoint potential is -444 mV. This is compared to the behavior in Photosystem I, where the intermediate electron acceptor A1, thought to be a phylloquinone molecule, has been proposed to undergo a double reduction at low redox potentials in the presence of viologen redox mediators.These results strongly suggest that the acceptor side electron transfer system in reaction centers from heliobacteria is indeed analogous to that found in Photosystem I. The sequence similarities indicate that the divergence of the heliobacteria from the Photosystem I line occurred before the gene duplication and subsequent divergence that lead to the heterodimeric protein core of the Photosystem I reaction center.

Protein sequences and redox titrations indicate that the electron acceptors in reaction centers from heliobacteria are similar to Photosystem I

Photosynthetic reaction centers isolated from Heliobacillus mobilis exhibit a single major protein on SDS-PAGE of 47 000 Mr. Attempts to sequence the reaction center polypeptide indicated that the N-terminus is blocked. After enzymatic and chemical cleavage, four peptide fragments were sequenced from the Heliobacillus mobilis apoprotein. Only one of these sequences showed significant specific similarity to any of the protein and deduced protein sequences in the GenBank data base. This fragment is identical with 56% of the residues, including both cysteines, found in highly conserved region that is proposed to bind iron-sulfur center Fx in the Photosystem I reaction center peptide that is the psaB gene product. The similarity to the psaA gene product in this region is 48%. Redox titrations of laser-flash-induced photobleaching with millisecond decay kinetics on isolated reaction centers from Heliobacterium gestii indicate a midpoint potential of -414 mV with n = 2 titration behavior. In membranes, the behavior is intermediate between n = 1 and n = 2, and the apparent midpoint potential is -444 mV. This is compared to the behavior in Photosystem I, where the intermediate electron acceptor A1, thought to be a phylloquinone molecule, has been proposed to undergo a double reduction at low redox potentials in the presence of viologen redox mediators. These results strongly suggest that the acceptor side electron transfer system in reaction centers from heliobacteria is indeed analogous to that found in Photosystem I. The sequence similarities indicate that the divergence of the heliobacteria from the Photosystem I line occurred before the gene duplication and subsequent divergence that lead to the heterodimeric protein core of the Photosystem I reaction center.

Energy transfer kinetics in whole cells and isolated chlorosomes of green photosynthetic bacteria

Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy and global data analysis techniques have been used to study the flow of excitations in antennae of the green photosynthetic bacteria Chloroflexus aurantiacus and Chlorobium vibrioforme f. thiosulfatophilum. The transfer of energy from bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c in Chloroflexus or BChl d in Chlorobium to BChl a 795 was resolved in both whole cells and isolated chlorosomes. In Chloroflexus, the decay of excitations in BChl c occurs in ∼16 ps and a corresponding rise in BChl a emission at 805 nm is detected in global analyses. This band then decays in 46 ps in whole cells due to energy transfer into the membrane. The 805 nm fluorescence in isolated chlorosomes shows a fast decay component similar to that of whole cells, which is consistent with trapping by residual membrane antenna complexes. In Chlorobium, the kinetics are sensitive to the presence of oxygen. Under anaerobic conditions, BChl d decays in 66 ps while the lifetime shortens to 11 ps in aerobic samples. The effect is reversible and occurs in both whole cells and isolated chlorosomes. Emission from BChl a is similarly affected by oxygen, indicating that oxidant-induced quenching can occur from all chlorosome pigments.

Fluorescence lifetimes of dimers and higher oligomers of bacteriochlorophyll c from Chlorobium limicola

Fluorescence lifetimes have been measured for bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c isolated from Chlorobium limicola in different states of aggregation in non-polar solvents. Two different homologs of BChl c were used, one with an isobutyl group at the 4 position, the other with n-propyl. Species previously identified as dimers (Olson and Pedersen 1990, Photosynth Res, this issue) decayed with lifetimes of 0.64 ns for the isobutyl homolog, 0.71 ns for n-propyl. Decay-associated spectra indicate that the absorption spectrum of the isobutyl dimer is slightly red-shifted from that of the n-propyl dimer. Aggregates absorbing maximally at 710 nm fluoresced with a principal lifetime of 3.1 ns, independent of the homolog used. In CCl4, only the isobutyl homolog forms a 747-nm absorbing oligomer spectrally similar to BChl c in vivo. This oligomer shows non-exponential fluorescence decay with lifetimes of 67 and 19 ps. Because the two components show different excitation spectra, the higher oligomer is probably a mixture of more than one species, both of which absorb at ∼747 nm.

Circular dichroism of green bacterial chlorosomes

Positive and negative bands in previously measured circular dichroism (CD) spectra of Chlorobium limicola chlorosomes appeared to be sign-reversed relative to those of Chloroflexus aurantiacus chlorosomes in the 740-750 nm spectral region where bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c absorbs maximally. It was not clear, however, whether this difference was intrinsic to the chlorosomes or was due to differences in the procedures used to prepare them. We therefore repeated the CD measurements using chlorosomes isolated from both Cb. limicola f. thiosulfatophilum and Cf. aurantiacus using the method of Gerola and Olson (1986, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 848: 69-76). Contrary to the earlier results, both types of chlorosomes had very similar CD spectra, suggesting that both have similar arrangements of BChl c molecules. The previously reported difference between the CD spectra of Chlorobium and Chloroflexus chlorosomes is due to the instability of Chlorobium chlorosomes, which can undergo a hypsochromic shift in their near infrared absorption maximum accompanied by an apparent inversion in their near infrared CD spectrum during isolation. Treating isolated chlorosomes with the strong ionic detergent sodium dodecylsulfate, which removes BChl a, does not alter the arrangement of BChl c molecules in either Chloroflexus or Chlorobium chlorosomes, as indicated by the lack of an effect on their CD spectra.

Effects of oxidants and reductants on the efficiency of excitation transfer in green photosynthetic bacteria

The efficiency of energy transfer in chlorosome antennas in the green sulfur bacteria Chlorobium vibrioforme and Chlorobium limicola was found to be highly sensitive to the redox potential of the suspension. Energy transfer efficiencies were measured by comparing the absorption spectrum of the bacteriochlorophyll c or d pigments in the chlorosome to the excitation spectrum for fluorescence arising from the chlorosome baseplate and membrane-bound antenna complexes. The efficiency of energy transfer approaches 100% at low redox potentials induced by addition of sodium dithionite or other strong reductants, and is lowered to 10-20% under aerobic conditions or after addition of a variety of membrane-permeable oxidizing agents. The redox effect on energy transfer is observed in whole cells, isolated membranes and purified chlorosomes, indicating that the modulation of energy transfer efficiency arises within the antenna complexes and is not directly mediated by the redox state of the reaction center. It is proposed that chlorosomes contain a component that acts as a highly quenching center in its oxidized state, but is an inefficient quencher when reduced by endogenous or exogenous reductants. This effect may be a control mechanism that prevents cellular damage resulting from reaction of oxygen with reduced low-potential electron acceptors found in the green sulfur bacteria. The redox modulation effect is not observed in the green gliding bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus, which contains chlorosomes but does not contain low-potential electron acceptors.

Antenna organization in green photosynthetic bacteria. 1. Oligomeric bacteriochlorophyll c as a model for the 740 nm absorbing bacteriochlorophyll c in Chloroflexus aurantiacus chlorosomes

Bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c was extracted from Chloroflexus aurantiacus and purified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. This pigment consists of a complex mixture of homologues, the major component of which is 4-ethyl-5-methylbacteriochlorophyll c stearyl ester. Unlike previously characterized BChls c, the pigment from C. aurantiacus is a racemic mixture of diastereoisomers with different configurations at the 2a chiral center. Diluting a concentrated methylene chloride solution of BChl c with hexane produces an oligomer with absorption maxima at 740-742 and at 460-462 nm. Both the absorption spectrum and the fluorescence emission spectrum (maximum at 750 nm) of this oligomer closely match those of BChl c in chlorosomes. Further support for this model comes from the ability of alcohols, which disrupt BChl c oligomers by ligating the central Mg atom, to convert BChl c in chlorosomes to a monomeric form when added in low concentrations. The lifetime of fluorescence from the 740 nm absorbing BChl c oligomer is about 80 ps. Although exciton quenching might be unusually fast in the in vitro BChl c oligomer because of its large size and/or the presence of minor impurities, this result suggests that energy transfer from the BChl c antenna in chlorosomes must be very fast if it is to be efficient.

Antenna organization in green photosynthetic bacteria. 2. Excitation transfer in detached and membrane-bound chlorosomes from Chloroflexus aurantiacus

The photosynthetic antenna of Chloroflexus aurantiacus includes bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) C740 and BChl a792, both of which occur in chlorosomes, and B808-866 (containing BChl a808 and BChl a866), which is membrane-located (subscripts refer to near-infrared absorption maxima in vivo). BChl a792 is thought to mediate excitation transfer from BChl c740 to BChl a808. Lifetimes of fluorescence from BChl c740 and BChl a792 were measured in isolated and membrane-bound chlorosomes in order to study energy transfer from these pigments. In both preparations, the lifetime of BChl c740 fluorescence was at or below the instrumental limit of temporal resolution (about 30-50 ps), implying extremely fast excitation transfer from this pigment. Attempts to disrupt excitation transfer from BChl c740, either by conversion of part of this pigment to a monomeric form absorbing at 671 nm or by partial destruction of BChl a792 by oxidation with K3Fe(CN)6, had no discernible effects on the lifetime of BChl c740 fluorescence. Most (usually greater than 90%) of the fluorescence from BChl a792 decayed with a lifetime of 93 +/- 21 ps in membrane-attached chlorosomes and 155 +/- 22 ps in isolated chlorosomes at room temperature. Assuming that the only difference between these preparations is the occurrence of excitation transfer from BChl a792 to B808-866, a 41% efficiency was calculated for this process. This value is lower than the 60% efficiency of excitation transfer from BChl c740 to B808-866 determined by comparison of fluorescence excitation and absorption spectra of membranes with attached chlorosomes and compares even less favorably with the 100% efficiency of excitation transfer found in whole cells by the same method.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inhibition of photosynthetic sulfide oxidation by organic cations

Photosynthetic sulfide oxidation by the purple sulfur bacterium Chromatium vinosum is strongly inhibited by the organic cations benzyl viologen ( BV2 +) and tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+) at micromolar concentrations. Both are much more inhibitory at pH 8 than at pH 7. Inhibition probably results from uptake of benzyl viologen and tetraphenylphosphonium in response to an electrical potential gradient across the plasma membrane which increases in magnitude with increasing pH. Although both compounds appear to have the same mode of action, the biochemical mechanism of their inhibition remains to be determined.

Primary charge separation in bacterial photosynthesis: oxidized chlorophylls and reduced pheophytin

Bacteriopheophytin, the magnesium-free base of bacteriochlorophyll, undergoes reversible one-electron reduction in organic solvents to yield an anionic free radical with characteristic optical and electron spin resonance spectra. The reduction potential of bacteriopheophytin, E1/2 approximately --0.55 V against a normal hydrogen electrode, compared to E1/2 approximately --0.85 V for bacteriochlorophyll, renders it a likely electron acceptor in the primary charge separation of photosynthesis. Comparison of these data with picosecond optical changes recently observed upon pulsed laser excitation of bacterial reaction centers leads us to propose that bacteriopheophytin is indeed a transient electron acceptor and that the primary charge separation of bacterial photosynthesis occurs between the bacteriochlorophyll complex P870 and bacteriopheophytin to yield the radicals of the oxidized chlorophyll dimer cation and reduced pheophytin anion.

A light-initiated, dark oxidation of bacteriochlorophyll from reaction center particles

When reaction center particles from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides strain R26 are illuminated and then extracted with methanol, about one-third of the extracted bacteriochlorophyll slowly becomes oxidized, The oxidation does not occur under anaerobic conditions or in the absence of the detergent lauryldimethylamine oxide. Alkaline conditions also prevent the reaction. A dark interval between illumination and extraction delays the onset of bacteriochlorophyll oxidation in a predictable way. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that illumination generates a reaction initiator which is fairly stable in methanol but decays with a half-life of about 4.5 min in reaction center particles after illumination ceases.