title: Drastic changes in the ligand structure of the oxygen-evolving Mn cluster upon Ca2+ depletion as revealed by FTIR difference spectroscopy.
abstract: A Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectrum of the oxygen-evolving Mn cluster upon the S(1)-to-S(2) transition was obtained with Ca(2+)-depleted photosystem II (PSII) membranes to investigate the structural relevance of Ca(2+) to the Mn cluster. Previously, Noguchi et al. [Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1228 (1995) 189] observed drastic changes in the carboxylate stretching region of the S(2)/S(1) FTIR spectrum upon Ca(2+) depletion, whereas Kimura and co-workers [Biochemistry 40 (2001) 14061; ibid. 41 (2002) 5844] later claimed that these changes were not ascribed to Ca(2+) depletion itself but caused by the interaction of EDTA to the Mn cluster and/or binding of K(+) at the Ca(2+) site. In the present study, the preparation of the Ca(2+)-depleted PSII sample and its FTIR measurement were performed in the absence of EDTA and K(+). The obtained S(2)/S(1) spectrum exhibited the loss of carboxylate bands at 1587/1562 and 1364/1403 cm(-1) and diminished amide I intensities, which were identical to the previous observations in the presence of EDTA and K(+). This result indicates that the drastic FTIR changes are a pure effect of Ca(2+) depletion, and provides solid evidence for the general view that Ca(2+) is strongly coupled with the Mn cluster.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Materials Science, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8573, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Taguchi
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Noguchi
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D008024:Ligands; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D008345:Manganese; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium