title: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of phytochrome: difference spectra of the intermediates of the photoreactions.
abstract: The photocycle of 124 kDa phytochrome A from Avena sativa was studied by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy at low temperatures. Difference spectra between the parent state Pr and the intermediates of the Pr-->Pfr pathway, i.e. lumi-R, meta-Ra, and meta-Rc, and between Pfr and the intermediates of the Pfr-->Pr pathway, lumi-F and meta-F, were obtained in 1H2O and 2H2O for the first time. Each spectrum shows characteristic spectral features which allow a clear distinction between the different intermediates. A general feature is that greater changes occur with increasing temperature, i.e. at the later steps of the photoreactions. Nevertheless, the changes in the spectral regions of the protein (amide I and amide II) were found to be surprisingly small, excluding larger conformational changes of the protein. All spectra of the intermediates are characterized by a strong negative band around 1700 cm-1. This band is tentatively assigned to the C = O stretch of ring D of the chromophore. Since it is not observed in the difference spectra between the parent states, it is concluded that ring D is located in a similar molecular environment in Pr and Pfr. In the photoproducts lumi-R and lumi-F, this band undergoes an upshift to 1720 cm-1. The high frequencies suggest that the chromophore is protonated in these intermediates as well as in Pr and Pfr.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biophysik und Strahlenbiologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Foerstendorf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mummert
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schäfer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Scheer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siebert
mesh_terms: D018554:Avena / Q000737:chemistry*; D010777:Photochemistry; D010834:Phytochrome / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D010834:Phytochrome