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T Kouyama

Publications and source records attributed to T Kouyama.

32 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Effect of partial delipidation of purple membrane on the photodynamics of bacteriorhodopsin.

The effect of lipid-protein interaction on the photodynamics of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) was investigated by using partially delipidated purple membrane (pm). When pm was incubated with a mild detergent, Tween 20, the two major lipid components of pm, phospholipids and glycolipids, were released in different ways: the amount of phospholipids released was proportional to the logarithm of the incubation time; the release of glycolipids became noticeable after the release of approximately 2 phospholipids/bR, but soon leveled off at approximately 50% of the initial content. It was found that the thermal decay of the photocycle intermediate N560 was inhibited by the removal of less than 2 phospholipids per bR. This inhibition was partly explained by an increase in the local pH near the membrane surface. More significant changes in the bR photoreactions were observed when greater than 2 phospholipids/bR were removed: (1) the extent of light adaptation became much smaller, and this reduction correlated with the release of glycolipids; (2) N560 became difficult to detect; (3) the M412 intermediate, which is characterized by a pH-insensitive lifetime, was replaced by a long-lived M-like photoproduct with a pH-sensitive lifetime. The heavy delipidation apparently altered the mechanism by which the deprotonated Schiff base receives a proton. An important conformational change in the protein moiety is suggested to take place during the M412 state, this conformational change being inhibited in the rigid lipid environment.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Independent flexible motion of submolecular domains of the Ca2+,Mg2+-ATPase of sarcoplasmic reticulum measured by time-resolved fluorescence depolarization of site-specifically attached probes.

The Ca2+-transporting ATPase of rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum was site-specifically labeled with either N-(1-anilinonaphth-4-yl)maleimide (ANM) or 5-[[(iodoacetamido)-ethyl]amino]naphthalene-1-sulfonate (IAEDANS), and the segmental motion of submolecular domains of the ATPase molecule was examined by means of time-resolved and steady-state fluorescence anisotropy measurements. The ANM-binding domain showed wobbling with a rotational relaxation time phi = 69 ns in the absence of free Ca2+ without any independent wobbling of the ANM moiety. The IAEDANS-binding domain showed a significantly slower wobbling with phi = 190 ns in the absence of Ca2+. The present results demonstrated for the first time that the ATPase molecule is composed of distinct domains whose mobilities are considerably different from each other. The binding of Ca2+ to the transport site increased the segmental motion of ANM-labeled domain, leading to a phi value of 65 ns. Solubilization of the ANM-labeled SR membranes by deoxycholate led to a further increase in the segmental flexibility (phi = 48 ns in the absence of free Ca2+), indicating that the mobility of the ANM-binding domain was considerably restricted through interaction with the membrane. The mobility of the ANM-binding domain of solubilized ATPase was also increased to some extent upon binding of Ca2+.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Correlation between internal motion and emission kinetics of tryptophan residues in proteins.

Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements of tryptophan residues were carried out for 44 proteins. Internal rotational motion with a sub-nanosecond correlation time (0.9 +/- 0.6 ns at 10 degrees C) was seen in a large number of proteins, though its amplitude varied from protein to protein. It was found that tryptophan residues which were almost fixed within a protein had either a long (greater than 4 ns) or short (less than 2 ns) fluorescence lifetime, whereas a residue undergoing a large internal motion had an intermediate lifetime (1.5-3 ns). It is suggested that the emission kinetics of a tryptophan residue is coupled with its internal motion. In particular, an immobile tryptophan residue emitting at long wavelength was characterized by a long lifetime (greater than 4 ns). It appears that a tryptophan residue fixed in a polar region has little chance of being quenched by neighboring groups.

Fluorescence Polarization↗

Bacteriorhodopsin photoreaction: identification of a long-lived intermediate N (P,R350) at high pH and its M-like photoproduct.

An alkaline suspension of light-adapted purple membrane exposed to continuous light showed a large absorption depletion at 580 nm and a small increase around 350 nm. We attribute this absorption change to an efficient photoconversion of bR570 into a photoproduct N (P,R350), which has a major absorption maximum between 550 and 560 nm but has lower absorbance than bR570. N was barely detectable at low pH, low ionic strength, and physiological temperature. However, when the thermal relaxation of N to bR570 was inhibited by increasing pH, increasing ionic strength, and decreasing temperature, its relaxation time could be as long as 10 s at room temperature. N is also photoactive; when it is present in significant concentrations, e.g., accumulated by background light, the flash-induced absorption changes of purple membrane suspensions were affected. Double-excitation experiments showed an M-like photoproduct of N,NM, with an absorption maximum near 410 nm and a much longer lifetime than M412. It may be in equilibrium with an L-like precursor NL. We suggest that N occurs after M412 in the photoreaction cycle and that its photoproduct NM decays into bR570. Thus, at high pH and high light intensity, the overall photoreaction of bR may be approximated by the two-photon cycle bR570----M412----N----(NL----NM)----bR570, whereas at neutral pH and low light intensity it can be described by the one-photon cycle bR570----M412----N----O640----bR570.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Structure and function of bacteriorhodopsin.

Bacteriorhodopsin (bR) is a powerful light-driven proton pump. We have developed a procedure to prepare bR-containing membrane vesicles in which a pH gradient as large as 4 pH units can be generated and maintained in the light. Using such a system, we have demonstrated that bR exhibits a high proton pump activity in a wide pH region; it works well at least between pH 4 and 9.5. For the large light-induced pH change in the external medium, the presence of a high concentration (approximately 0.1 M) of magnesium or transition metal ion is required. It is suggested that the influx of magnesium ion, electrically coupled with the proton release, takes place in the light. The three-dimensional structure of bR was studied by fluorescence energy transfer techniques. It was shown that the retinal chromophore is located 10 A below a surface of purple membrane. The in-plane location and orientation of retinal was also determined; it exists in a pocket surrounded by the helices 3, 4, 5, and 6. The position of a fluorescent probe labeled to Lys 41 was determined to be near the helix 7. Based on the results obtained, we propose a model of the bR structure. The dynamic structure of bR was investigated by fluorescence depolarization techniques. It was shown that the retinal chromophore is tightly buried in a pocket within the protein. In the presence of detergents like octylglucoside, its tertiary structure can be stable near the electric isosbestic point. The rate of dissociation/association process of bR molecules is sensitive to the pH of the medium. Dimeric and/or trimeric bR can exist stably if the concentration of detergent and other solvent conditions are adequately controlled. The photoreaction of bR in purple membrane, including the dark/light adaptation, the trans photocycle and the primary photoreaction, was reported. With respect to the trans photocycle, we found that, at alkaline pH, an M-like photoproduct (NM) is generated by excitation of a long-lived photoproduct N560 which has a major absorption maximum near 560 nm. We suggest that, at alkaline pH, the overall photoreaction of bR under steady illumination is approximated by the two-photon cycle: bR570 approximately greater than M412----N560 approximately greater than NM----bR570. With respect to the primary photoreaction, we found that the fluorescence quantum yield of the near-infrared emission of bR was greatly enhanced at acidic pH (approximately pH 2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Photoconversion from the light-adapted to the dark-adapted state of bacteriorhodopsin.

Dark and light adaptation of bacteriorhodopsin in purple membrane multilayers at less than 100% relative humidity differs from that seen in suspensions. Equilibrium between the two bacteriorhodopsin isomers (bR cis 550 and bR trans 570) in the light-adapted state becomes dependent on the wavelength of actinic light. Excitation at the red edge of the visible absorption band causes dark adaptation in a light-adapted sample. Using polarized actinic and measuring light, we show that acceleration of the dark adaptation through heating by actinic light cannot explain this observation. A light-driven bR trans 570 to bR cis 550 reaction that competes with the well-known 13 cis-to-all-trans light adaptation reaction must exist under our experimental conditions. Trans-to-cis conversion is a one-photon process distinct from the two photon process observed by others in purple membrane suspensions (Sperling, W., C. N. Rafferty, K. D. Kohl, and N. A. Dencher, 1978, FEBS (Fed. Eur. Biochem. Soc.) Lett. 97:129-132). Its quantum efficiency increases monotonously on reducing the hydration level, and is paralleled by an increase in the lifetime of the M410 intermediate of the trans photocycle. We suggest that at this point a branch leads from the all-trans into the 13-cis photocycle. It is probably the same reaction that causes the reduced light adaptation in monomeric bacteriorhodopsin (Casadio, R., H. Gutowitz, P. Mowery, M. Taylor, and W. Stoeckenius, 1980, Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 590:13-23; Casadio, R., and W. Stoeckenius, 1980, Biochemistry. 19:3374-3381).

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Excited-state dynamics of bacteriorhodopsin.

Near infrared emission of bacteriorhodopsin at neutral pH and at room temperature was characterized by a large Stokes shift. This characteristic was lost in an acidic pH (approximately pH 2) where a remarkable enchancement (more than 10 times) in the fluorescence quantum yield accompanied the red shift in the main absorption band. It is suggested from fluorescence polarization measurements that the emission occurs from the first allowed excited state of the retinylidene chromophore, irrespective of pH. We suggest that the large Stokes shift observed at neutral pH is a result of a charge displacement (e.g., proton translocation) that occurs immediately after excitation, and is prevented by protonation (in the ground state) of an amino-acid residue in the protein.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Fluorescence energy transfer studies of transmembrane location of retinal in purple membrane.

A diffusion-enhanced energy transfer technique was employed for the determination of transmembrane location of the retinal chromophore in the purple membrane. Theoretical considerations showed that the rate of energy transfer from an energy donor embedded within a membrane to acceptors dissolved in solvent could be described by an analytical function of the distance a of closest approach between the donor and acceptor, if the "rapid-diffusion limit" was attained. The criterion for this limit was given by the relation: (RO)6 much less than 20D tau Da4, where RO is the characteristic distance of energy transfer, D is the diffusion coefficient of the acceptor and tau D is the fluorescence lifetime of the donor in the absence of acceptor. By photo-reduction of the purple membrane with sodium borohydride, the retinal chromophore was converted to a highly fluorescent derivative, which showed a broad emission band in the visible region. From analysis of the fluorescence decay curves of the photo-reduced purple membrane in the presence of various concentrations of cobalt-ethylenediamine tetraacetate (Co-EDTA: energy acceptor), the depth of the chromophore from the membrane surface was estimated to be 8 (+/-3) A. This result was supported by investigations of energy transfer processes in a system where the native purple membranes and the photo-reduced membranes were stacked in parallel: the energy acceptor in this system was the native retinal chromophore.

Bacteriorhodopsins↗

Effect of double bonds on the dynamic properties of the hydrocarbon region of lecithin bilayers.

The motional properties of the hydrophobic fluorescent probe 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene have been assessed in liposomes of various lecithins: dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (POPC), 1- palmitoyl-2-linoleoylphosphatidylcholine (PLPC), and 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoylphosphatidylcholine (PAPC). The temperature dependence of the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy was determined within the range of 10-50 degrees C. Nanosecond measurements were also made and the results analyzed by a model of wobbling diffusion confined within a cone. In this treatment the cone angle (theta c) obtained relates to the degree of order of the fatty acyl chains, and the wobbling diffusion constant (Dw) relates to the rate of motion of the hydrocarbon chains. Theta c was increased (order decreased) and Dw increased (rate increased) for the first double bond (POPC) as compared to the fully saturated DPPC. In all four unsaturated lecithins the temperature dependences of theta c and Dw were similar: theta c increased by about 4-5 degrees, and Dw increased by a factor of 1.5 per 10 degrees C. DPPC in the liquid-crystalline phase also showed a similar trend. The absolute values, on the other hand, showed some differences: for theta c, DOPC (78 degrees at 37 degrees C) greater than PAPC (75 degrees) greater than POPC (70 degrees) congruent to PLPC (69 degrees) greater than DPPC (20 degrees), and for Dw, PAPC (0.28 ns-1) greater than DOPC (0.22 ns-1) congruent to PLPC (0.24 ns-1) greater than POPC (0.21 ns-1) greater than DPPC (0.05 ns-1). The differences among the unsaturated lecithins are relatively small suggesting that the first double bond introduced into a lecithin plays the most important role at physiological temperatures. In 1:1 mixtures of the disaturated lecithin, DPPC, with the unsaturated lecithins, the temperature of the phase transition of the former was lowered and broadened, by approximately the same amount, irrespective of the differences in unsaturation.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Fluorimetry study of N-(1-pyrenyl)iodoacetamide-labelled F-actin. Local structural change of actin protomer both on polymerization and on binding of heavy meromyosin.

A fluorescent reagent, N-(1-pyrenyl)iodoacetamide, was conjugated to rabbit skeletal muscle actin at the site of the most reactive sulfhydryl group, and fluorescence characteristics (excitation and emission spectra, quantum yields, lifetimes) of the conjugate were investigated. Associated with polymerization of labelled G-actin, the fluorescence intensity at 407 nm, after excitation at 365 nm, was enhanced by a factor of about 25. It was reduced to about 25% on the binding of heavy meromyosin (or subfragment 1). The results suggest that binding of heavy meromyosin to the protomer of F-actin alters the local structure of the protomer towards a G-actin-like one.

Actins↗

Pulse-fluorometry study on actin and heavy meromyosin using F-actin labelled with N-(1-pyrene)maleimide.

The single-photoelectron counting technique was used for measurement of the fluorescence decay kinetics of N-(1-pyrene)maleimide conjugated to the fast reactive cysteine of actin. The fluorescence decay curve of the labelled G-actin could not be described by a single-exponential function but by a double-exponential function. Polymerization of actin was accompanied by significant changes in the decay parameters of the two decay components. We found that the ionic strength, which plays an important role in the G-F equilibrium, scarcely affected these parameters provided that the labelled actin exists in the monomeric state. Thus it is suggested that the conformational change of actin protomer occurs at the time of association. When heavy meromyosin was added to the labelled F-actin, the decay parameter changed monotonically on increasing saturation of binding of heavy meromyosin and it levelled-off around a ratio of heavy meromyosin:actin of 0.5 mol/mol. Decay parameters under the influence of heavy meromyosin had values intermediate between those observed for the labelled G-actin and for the labelled F-actin. Therefore, it is suggested that binding of heavy meromyosin to F-actin alters the conformation of actin protomer towards that similar to G-actin.

Actins↗