title: Unraveling photoexcited conformational changes of bacteriorhodopsin by time resolved electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.
abstract: By means of time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, the photoexcited structural changes of site-directed spin-labeled bacteriorhodopsin are studied. A complete set of cysteine mutants of the C-D loop, positions 100-107, and of the E-F loop, including the first alpha-helical turns of helices E and F, positions 154-171, was modified with a methanethiosulfonate spin label. The EPR spectral changes occurring during the photocycle are consistent with a small movement of helix C and an outward tilt of helix F. These helix movements are accompanied by a rearrangement of the E-F loop and of the C-terminal turn of helix E. The kinetic analysis of the transient EPR data and the absorbance changes in the visible spectrum reveals that the conformational change occurs during the lifetime of the M intermediate. Prominent rearrangements of nitroxide side chains in the vicinity of D96 may indicate the preparation of the reprotonation of the Schiff base. All structural changes reverse with the recovery of the bacteriorhodopsin initial state.
authors.affiliation: Lehrstuhl für Biophysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rink
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Oesterhelt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gerwert
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Steinhoff
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods; D008958:Models, Molecular; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D010777:Photochemistry; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000528:radiation effects; D013113:Spin Labels; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013113:Spin Labels; D001436:Bacteriorhodopsins