title: Evidence for the proximity of calcium to the manganese cluster of photosystem II: determination by X-ray absorption spectroscopy.
abstract: The photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex contains a cluster of four manganese atoms and requires both Ca and Cl for activity. The question of Ca proximity to the Mn cluster has been investigated by performing Mn X-ray absorption experiments on native samples of photosystem II (PS II) and on samples depleted of Ca and reconstituted by either Ca or Sr. Analysis of X-ray K-edge spectra demonstrates no significant differences in oxidation state or symmetry between Ca- and Sr-reactivated preparations. Differences are observed in the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). The amplitude of a Fourier transform peak due to scatters at distances greater than 3 A is larger for samples reactivated with strontium than for calcium-reactivated samples. Taking into account the stoichiometry of Mn and Ca atoms in PS II, and considering physically reasonable structures, curve-fitting analyses of the EXAFS data using FEFF5-calculated parameters favor a model where both manganese and calcium (or strontium) scatterers contribute to the Fourier peak at approximately 3 A. Other models for the approximately 3 A peak with multiple Mn-Mn interactions or multiple Mn-Ca(Sr) interactions can also be fit to the data, but are considered less likely. This result provides confirmation for the structural proximity of Ca to the Mn cluster suggested previously [Yachandra, V. K., et al. (1993) Science 260, 675-679]. Possible structural arrangements for a calcium-binding site are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Structural Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley 94720, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Latimer
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: DeRose
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mukerji
authors.forename: V K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Yachandra
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D001665:Binding Sites; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000737:chemistry; D013324:Strontium / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D008345:Manganese; D002118:Calcium; D013324:Strontium