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Structure of an effector-induced inactivated state of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase: the binary complex between enzyme and xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate.

BACKGROUND: Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco) catalyzes the addition of CO2 to ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate in all photosynthetic organisms. During catalysis, the bisphosphate is depleted by reactions other than carboxylation and some of the products are potent inhibitors of rubisco. We have used one of these, xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate as an analogue of the natural substrate and co-crystallized it with the enzyme. RESULTS: We have solved the crystal structure of Synechococcus rubisco with bound xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate to 2.3 A and compared it with the previously solved 2'-carboxylarabinitol 1,5-bisphosphate (2CABP) enzyme quaternary complex. Unlike 2CABP, xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate forms a binary complex with no activating CO2 or essential metal present. Five flexible elements that restrict access to the active site in the 2CABP complex also close off the active site in the xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate complex, stabilized by interactions with the hydrated form of the analogue. CONCLUSIONS: Xylulose 1,5-bisphosphate induces closure of critical loops of the protein without essential cofactors resident at the active site. In the case of rubisco in one species, catalysis is completely inhibited.

Models, Molecular↗

Construction and analysis of a recombinant cyanobacterium expressing a chromosomally inserted gene for an ethylene-forming enzyme at the psbAI locus.

The coding sequence of a gene for a Pseudomonas syringae ethylene-forming enzyme was inserted at the psbAI locus in a cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 via rps12-mediated gene replacement. The recombinant strain photoautotrophically produced ethylene at 451 nl ml(-1) h(-1) OD730(-1), but showed a depressed specific growth rate as well as a yellow-green phenotype indicating a severe metabolic stress. The rate of ethylene production in the recombinant culture decreased as a result of competition with faster growing ethylene-non-forming mutants that carried short nucleotide insertions within the coding sequence of the gene for the ethylene-forming enzyme.

Journal Article↗

Photobiological hydrogen production.

The principles and recent progress in the research and development of photobiological hydrogen production are reviewed. Cyanobacteria produce hydrogen gas using nitrogenase and/or hydrogenase. Hydrogen production mediated by native hydrogenases in cyanobacteria occurs under in the dark under anaerobic conditions by degradation of intracellular glycogen. In vitro and in vivo coupling of the cyanobacterial photosynthetic system with a clostridial hydrogenase via cyanobacterial ferredoxin was demonstrated in the presence of light. Genetic transformation of Synechococcus PCC7942 with the hydrogenase gene from Clostridium pasteurianum was successful; the active enzyme was expressed in PCC7942. The strong hydrogen producers among photosynthetic bacteria were isolated and characterized. Coculture of Rhodobacter and Clostriudium was applied for hydrogen production from glucose. A mutant strain of Rhodobacter sphaeroides RV whose light-harvesting proteins were altered was obtained by UV irradiation. Hydrogen productivity by the mutant was improved when irradiated with monochromatic light of some wavelengths. The development of photobioreactors for hydrogen production is also reviewed.

Journal Article↗

Enzyme-catalysed nitrate reduction-themes and variations as revealed by protein film voltammetry.

Protein film voltammetry has been used to define the catalytic performance of two nitrate reductases: the respiratory nitrate reductase, NarGH, from Paracoccus pantotrophus and the assimilatory nitrate reductase, NarB, from Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942. NarGH and NarB present distinct "fingerprints" of catalytic activity when viewed in this way. Potentials that provide insufficient driving force for significant rates of nitrate reduction by NarB result in appreciable rates of nitrate reduction by NarGH. However, both enzymes display complex modulations in their rate of substrate reduction when viewed across the electrochemical potential domain.

Catalysis↗

Charge recombination reactions in photosystem II. 2. Transient absorbance difference spectra and their temperature dependence.

Absorbance difference spectra of the transient states in photosystem II (PS II) have been examined in the Qv absorption region between 660 and 700 nm. The P680+Pheo-/P680Pheo, 3P680/P680, and P680+QA-/P680QA spectra were measured in O2-evolving PS II core complexes from Synechococcus and PS II-enriched membrane fragments from spinach. The low-temperature absorbance difference spectra vary only slightly between both PS II preparations. The 3P680/P680 spectrum is characterized by a bleaching at 685 nm at 25 K and indicates weak exciton coupling with neighboring pigment(s). We conclude that P680 absorbs at 685 nm in more intact PS II preparations at cryogenic temperature. The difference spectra of the radical pairs are strongly temperature dependent. At low temperature the P680+QA-/P680QA- spectrum exhibits the strongest bleaching at 675 nm whereas the P680+Phe-/P680Pheo spectra show two distinct bleaching bands at 674 and 684 nm. It is suggested that an electrochronic red shift resulting in a bleaching at 675 nm and an absorbance increase at about 682 nm dominates the spectral features of the charge-separated states. On the basis of the present results and those in the literature, we conclude that the interactions between the pigments and especially the organization of the primary donor must be quite different in PS II compared to bacterial reaction centers, although the basic structural arrangement of the pigments might be similar. Spectral data obtained with samples in the presence of singly and doubly reduced QA indicate that the primary photochemistry in PS II is not strongly influenced by the redox state of QA at low temperature and confirm the results of the accompanying paper [Van Mieghem, F. J. E., Brettel, K., Hillmann, B., Kamlowski, A., Rutherford, A. W., & Schlodder, E. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 4798-4813]. The spectra of the primary radical pair and the reaction center triplet obtained with more intact PS II preparations differ widely from those of D1/D2/cyt b-559 complexes. In the latter sample, where 3P680 formation results in a bleaching at 680 nm, the P680+Pheo-/P680Pheo spectrum shows only one broad bleaching band at about 680 nm, and the main bleaching due to photoaccumulation of Pheo- at 77 K appears at 682 nm instead of 685 nm in PS II core complexes. This indicates that the removal of the core antenna which is accompanied by the loss of QA causes also structural changes of the reaction center.

Cyanobacteria↗

Characterization of the different spectral forms of glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase by mass spectrometry.

Glutamate 1-semialdehyde aminotransferase produces delta-aminolevulinate for the synthesis of chlorophyll, heme, and other tetrapyrrole pigments. The native enzyme from Synechococcus is pale yellow and has absorption maxima at 338 and 418 nm from vitamin B6. Yellow, colorless, and pink forms of the protein are obtained by treatment with 4,5-dioxovalerate, 4,5-diaminovalerate, and acetylenic GABA, respectively. Compared to the native enzyme, the 418 nm absorption maximum in the yellow enzyme is enhanced and the 338 nm maximum reduced while the colorless enzyme has a heightened maximum at 338 nm and a barely detectable peak at 418 nm. The pink enzyme has an absorption maximum at 560 nm. When the native and colorless enzymes are repeatedly diluted in 0.5 M Na2HPO4, pH 7.0, and reconcentrated, pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate is released and the 338 nm maximum lost. Thus the 338 nm absorption maximum is associated with noncovalently bound pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. NaBH4 reduction proved that the absorbance at 418 nm is from pyridoxal 5'-phosphate cofactor bound by a Schiff base to the protein. When the native, colorless, and yellow enzymes were subjected to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, the B6 cofactor dissociated from the protein and gave a molecular weight of 46,401-46,418. Acetylenic GABA and NaBH4 were used for protein modification, and they reacted with the native and yellow enzymes but had no effect on the colorless enzyme. Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate bound covalently to the protein after NaBH4 reduction. Acetylenic GABA attached covalently to the enzyme produced an additional mass peak, 123-126 mass units higher, in the electrospray ionization spectrum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Binding and functional properties of two new extrinsic components, cytochrome c-550 and a 12-kDa protein, in cyanobacterial photosystem II.

Cytochrome c-550, a low-potential c-type cytochrome, and a 12-kDa protein were recently shown to be associated extrinsically and stoichiometrically with purified photosystem II (PSII) complex of the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus vulcanus [Shen, J.-R., Ikeuchi, M., & Inoue, Y. (1992) FEBS Lett. 301, 145-149]. The binding and functional properties of these two extrinsic components in PSII were studied by means of release-reconstitution and thermoluminescence techniques. The following results were obtained: (i) cyt c-550 rebound appreciably to cyanobacterial PSII in the absence of the 33- and 12-kDa extrinsic proteins, but the presence of these two proteins facilitated the rebinding, affording a full level of binding equal to that in native PSII. (ii) The 12-kDa protein did not rebind to PSII at all unless the 33-kDa protein or cyt c-550 was present. It rebound only partially in the presence of either of these two proteins, but it rebound maximally when reconstituted together with both of them. (iii) Reconstitution with cyt c-550 or the 12-kDa protein alone in the absence of the 33-kDa protein did not restore the O2-evolving activity of CaCl2-washed PSII. Reconstitution with cyt c-550 in combination with the 33-kDa protein appreciably enhanced the activity, but the activity restoration was much more marked and reached a level close to that of the original activity when all three extrinsic proteins were included.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bacterial Proteins↗

Transient electron paramagnetic resonance of the triplet state of P700 in photosystem I: evidence for triplet delocalization at room temperature.

Spin-polarized EPR spectra of the triplet state of P700, the primary electron donor in photosystem I (PS I), have been measured for the first time at room temperature. The measurements were performed on intact PS I from Synechococcus sp. after prereduction of all iron-sulfur centers and on vitamin K1 depleted PS I from Synechocystis 6803. The two preparations give similar spectra with a polarization pattern which indicates that the triplet state is formed via recombination of a radical pair. The axial and nonaxial zero-field splitting (zfs) parameters are found to be magnitude of D = (284 +/- 15) x 10(-4) cm-1 and magnitude of E = (22 +/- 3) x 10(-4) cm-1, respectively. The E-value is 42% smaller than in monomeric chlorophyll a, while the D-value is nearly the same. Measurements of the Synechocystis 6803 sample at 4.5 K yielded zfs parameters which are identical with those of the chlorophyll monomer, in agreement with previous results. In order to explain this behavior, it is proposed that the triplet excitation is delocalized over the two halves of a chlorophyll dimer at room temperature but appears localized on one half at low temperature. The observed zfs parameters are obtained if (1) the magnetic z-axes of the two chlorophylls are collinear, (2) the magnetic y-axes (and x-axes) of the two chlorophylls make an angle of approximately 55 degrees with each other, and (3) the admixture of charge-transfer states to 3P700 is negligible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chlorophyll↗

Forward electron transfer from phylloquinone A1 to iron-sulfur centers in spinach photosystem I.

Forward electron transfer at room temperature from the secondary acceptor A1 (phylloquinone) to the iron-sulfur centers FX, FB, and FA was studied by flash-absorbance spectroscopy in different photosystem I (PSI) preparations in order to resolve the controversy concerning the kinetics of A1-reoxidation during forward electron transfer [half times of 15 ns [Mathis, P., & Sétif, P. (1988) FEBS Lett. 237, 65-68] and 200 ns [Brettel, K. (1988) FEBS Lett. 239, 93-98] were reported for PSI particles from spinach and Synechococcus sp., respectively]. The monophasic kinetics with t1/2 approximately 200 ns could be reproduced with PSI particles from another cyanobacterium (Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803). In so-called PSI-beta particles from spinach, containing all membrane-bound electron carriers and approximately 65 antenna chlorophylls per reaction center, the flash-induced absorbance increase around 370 nm, which is indicative of the formation of A1-, decays biphasically with t1/2 approximately 25 and 150 ns and relative amplitudes of approximately 65 and 35%, respectively. The difference spectra of these two phases were determined between 330 and 500 nm; they agree well below 380 nm but deviate significantly at higher wavelengths. The spectrum of the sum of the two phases is similar to the spectrum of the 200-ns phase in cyanobacteria. Upon chemical reduction of the terminal acceptors FA and FB, only the 25-ns phase is conserved and the absorbance changes remaining after its completion decay with t1/2 approximately 250 microseconds.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electron Transport↗

Mutations in the small subunit of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase affect subunit binding and catalysis.

Fully functional Synechococcus PCC 6301 ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (kcat = 11.8 s-1) was assembled in vitro following separate expression of the large- and small-subunit genes in different Escherichia coli cultures. The small subunits were expressed predominantly as monomers, in contrast to the large subunits which have been shown to be largely octameric when expressed separately [Andrews, T. J. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 12213-12219]. This separate expression system was applied to the study of mutations in the amino-terminal arm of the small subunit, which is one of the major sites of contact with the large subunit in the assembled hexadecamer. It enabled the effects of a mutation on the tightness of binding of the small subunit to the large-subunit octamer to be distinguished from the effects of the same mutation on catalysis carried out by the assembled complex when fully saturated with mutant small subunits. This important distinction cannot be made when both subunits are expressed together in the same cell. Substitutions of conserved amino acid residues at positions 14 (Ala, Val, Gly, or Asp instead of Thr) and 17 (Cys instead of Tyr), which make important contacts with conserved large-subunit residues, were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis. All mutant small subunits were able to bind to large subunits and form active enzymes. A potential intersubunit hydrogen bond involving the Thr-14 hydroxyl group is shown to be unimportant. However, the binding of Gly-14, Asp-14, and Cys-17 mutant small subunits was weaker, and the resultant mutant enzymes had reduced catalytic rates compared to the wild type.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Amino acid substitutions in the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase that influence catalytic activity of the holoenzyme.

Four unique amino acid substitutions were introduced by site-directed mutagenesis into the third conserved region of the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) from Anacystis nidulans (Synechococcus sp., PCC6301), resulting in the formation of four mutant enzymes, I87V, R88K, G91V, and F92L. Wild-type and mutant proteins were purified after synthesis in Escherichia coli. These single amino acid substitutions do not appear to perturb intersubunit interactions or induce any gross conformational changes; purified mutant proteins are stable, for the most part like the wild-type holoenzyme, and exhibit nearly identical CD spectra. Three of the four mutants, however, are severely deficient in carboxylase activity, with kcat less than or equal to 35% of the wild-type enzyme. While the substrate specificity factors were the same for the mutant and wild-type enzymes, significant alterations in some kinetic parameters were observed, particularly in the Michaelis constants for CO2, O2, and RuBP. All four mutant proteins exhibited lower KCO2 values, ranging from 37 to 88% of the wild-type enzyme. Two of the mutants, in addition, exhibited significantly lower KRuBP values, and one mutant showed a substantial decrease in KO2. The effects of the single-site mutations in rbcS of this study strengthen the hypothesis that small subunits may not contribute directly to substrate specificity; however, individual residues of the small subunit substantially influence catalysis by large subunits.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Site-directed conversion of a cysteine to aspartate leads to the assembly of a [3Fe-4S] cluster in PsaC of photosystem I. The photoreduction of FA is independent of FB.

The terminal electron acceptors FA and FB exist as two [4Fe-4S] clusters located on the 8.9-kDa PsaC protein in photosystem I. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to produce a complementary pair of mutant PsaC proteins in which specific cysteine ligands to the [4Fe-4S] clusters were changed to aspartic acid residues. The mutant proteins, denoted C14D and C51D, were overproduced in Escherichia coli; the iron-sulfur clusters were inserted in vitro; and the reconstituted proteins were rebound to the P700-FX core of Synechococcus sp. PCC 6301 in the presence of the PsaD protein. In complexes reconstituted with C51D a rhombic ESR spectrum with g-values of 2.063, 1.934, and 1.879 in the reduced state identifies the intact [4Fe-4S] cluster as FB, while an intense axial spectrum with g-values of 2.020 and 1.997 in the oxidized state identifies the altered cluster in the aspartate site as a [3Fe-4S] cluster. The [3Fe-4S] cluster corresponding to FA can be reduced chemically with dithionite and photochemically by illumination at room temperature but is not reduced by illumination at 15 K. With reconstituted C14D a rhombic ESR spectrum with g-values of 2.043, 1.942, and 1.853 in the reduced state identified the unaltered [4Fe-4S] cluster as FA, while a complex spectrum with a gz-value of 2.194 and an asymmetric gx,y set of resonances between 2.092 and 1.999 indicates an altered cluster of unknown identity in the site containing the aspartate ligand. The ESR signals arising from the altered cluster corresponding to FB are not diminished by illumination at either room temperature or 15 K.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aspartic Acid↗

Laser flash absorption spectroscopy study of ferredoxin reduction by photosystem I in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: evidence for submicrosecond and microsecond kinetics.

The kinetics of reduction of soluble ferredoxin by photosystem I (PSI), both purified from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, were investigated by flash-absorption spectroscopy between 460 and 600 nm. Most experiments were made with isolated monomeric PSI reaction centers prepared with the detergent beta-dodecyl maltoside. Analysis of absorption transients, in parallel at 480 and 580 nm and under several conditions, shows the existence of three different first-order components in the presence of ferredoxin (t1/2 approximately 500 ns, 20 microseconds, and 100 microseconds). A second-order phase of ferredoxin reduction is also present [k = (2-5) x 10(8) s-1 at pH 8 and at moderate ionic strength]. Similar first-order kinetic components were found with membranes from Synechocystis, with dissolved crystals of trimeric PSI reaction centers from Synechococcus, and also when ferredoxin from Synechocystis is replaced by ferredoxin from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The three first-order phases exhibit similar, though not identical, spectra which are consistent with electron transfer from the [4Fe-4S] centers of PSI to the [2Fe-2S] center of ferredoxin and are all attributed to reduction of ferredoxin bound to PSI. At pH 8 and at moderate ionic strength, the dissociation constants associated with each of these components are also similar, with a global value varying between 0.2 and 0.8 microM in different cyanobacterial preparations. The presence of three exponential components is discussed assuming homogeneity of the two partners and using the estimated values for the shortest possible distance of approach of soluble ferredoxin from the different iron-sulfur centers of PSI. It is concluded that the 500-ns phase corresponds to electron transfer from either FA- or FB-, the terminal iron-sulfur acceptors of PSI, to ferredoxin and that the immediate electron donor to ferredoxin is reduced within less than 500 ns. The presence of at least two different types of PSI-ferredoxin complex, all competent in electron transfer, is also deduced from the kinetic behavior.

Cyanobacteria↗

Electron transfer from the acceptor A1 to the iron-sulfur centers in photosystem I as studied by transient EPR spectroscopy.

The electron transfer in photosystem I (PS I) from the secondary acceptor A1 to the iron-sulfur centers is studied by X-band transient EPR with a time resolution of approximately 50 ns. Results are presented for a series of different PS I preparations from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6301 ranging from whole cells to core particles in which the iron-sulfur centers have been successively removed. In addition, results from PS I preparations from spinach and the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 are presented. In all samples containing iron-sulfur centers, two consecutive spin-polarized EPR spectra are observed. The two signals have previously been assigned to the charge-separated states P700+.A1-. and P700+.(FeS)-, where (FeS) is one of the three iron-sulfur centers, FX, FA, or FB [Bock, C., van der Est, A., Brettel, K., & Stehlik, D. (1989) FEBS Lett. 247, 91-96]. In agreement with this, the second spectrum is not observed in the sample in which the iron-sulfur centers have been removed. For (P700-FX), core particles which do not contain FA and FB, the second spectrum can unambiguously be assigned to the pair P700+.FX-. In all samples containing FX, the transition from the first to the second spectrum occurs with t1/e approximately 280 ns (t1/2 approximately 190 ns) both in the presence and absence of FA and FB, which strongly suggests that this phase reflects electron transfer from A1-. to FX in intact PS I.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cyanobacteria↗

Nitrogen ligation to manganese in the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex: continuous-wave and pulsed EPR studies of photosystem II particles containing 14N or 15N.

The possibility of nitrogen ligation to the Mn in the oxygen-evolving complex from photosystem II was investigated with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopies using 14N- and 15N-labeled preparations. Oxygen-evolving preparations were isolated from a thermophilic cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp., grown on a medium containing either 14NO3- or 15NO3- as the sole source of nitrogen. the substructure on the "multiline" EPR signal, which arises from Mn in the S2 state of the enzyme, was measured with continuous-wave EPR. No changes were detected in the substructure peak positions upon substitution of 15N for 14N, indicating that this substructure is not due to superhyperfine coupling from nitrogen ligands. To detect potential nitrogen ligands with superhyperfine couplings of lesser magnitude than could be observed with conventional EPR methods, electron spin-echo envelope modulation experiments were also performed on the multiline EPR signal. The Fourier transform of the light-minus-dark time domain ESEEM data shows a peak at 4.8 MHz in 14N samples which is absent upon substitution with 15N. This gives unambiguous evidence for weak hyperfine coupling of nitrogen to the Mn of the oxygen-evolving complex. Possible origins of this nitrogen interaction are discussed.

Cyanobacteria↗

Flash-induced Fourier transform infrared detection of the structural changes during the S-state cycle of the oxygen-evolving complex in photosystem II.

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectra of all flash-induced S-state transitions of the oxygen-evolving complex were measured using photosystem II (PSII) core complexes of Synechococcus elongatus. The PSII core sample was given eight successive flashes with 1 s intervals at 10 degrees C, and FTIR difference spectra upon individual flashes were measured. The obtained difference spectra upon the first to fourth flashes showed considerably different spectral features from each other, whereas the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth flash spectra were similar to the first, second, third, and fourth flash spectra, respectively. The intensities at the wavenumbers of prominent peaks of the first and second flash spectra showed clear period four oscillation patterns. These oscillation patterns were well fitted with the Kok model with 13% misses. These results indicate that the first, second, third, and fourth flash spectra represent the difference spectra upon the S(1) --> S(2), S(2) --> S(3), S(3) --> S(0), and S(0) --> S(1) transitions, respectively. In these spectra, prominent bands were observed in the symmetric (1300-1450 cm(-)(1)) and asymmetric (1500-1600 cm(-)(1)) stretching regions of carboxylate groups and in the amide I region (1600-1700 cm(-)(1)). Comparison of the band features suggests that the drastic coordination changes of carboxylate groups and the protein conformational changes in the S(1) --> S(2) and S(2) --> S(3) transitions are reversed in the S(3) --> S(0) and S(0) --> S(1) transitions. The flash-induced FTIR measurements during the S-state cycle will be a promising method to investigate the detailed molecular mechanism of photosynthetic oxygen evolution.

Amides↗

Characterization of the manganese O2-evolving complex and the iron-quinone acceptor complex in photosystem II from a thermophilic cyanobacterium by electron paramagnetic resonance and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

The Mn donor complex in the S1 and S2 states and the iron-quinone acceptor complex (Fe2+-Q) in O2-evolving photosystem II (PS II) preparations from a thermophilic cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp., have been studied with X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). Illumination of these preparations at 220-240 K results in formation of a multiline EPR signal very similar to that assigned to a Mn S2 species observed in spinach PS II, together with g = 1.8 and 1.9 EPR signals similar to the Fe2+-QA- acceptor signals seen in spinach PS II. Illumination at 110-160 K does not produce the g = 1.8 or 1.9 EPR signals, nor the multiline or g = 4.1 EPR signals associated with the S2 state of PS II in spinach; however, a signal which peaks at g = 1.6 appears. The most probable assignment of this signal is an altered configuration of the Fe2+-QA- complex. In addition, no donor signal was seen upon warming the 140 K illuminated sample to 215 K. Following continuous illumination at temperatures between 140 and 215 K, the average X-ray absorption Mn K-edge inflection energy changes from 6550 eV for a dark-adapted (S1) sample to 6551 eV for the illuminated (S2) sample. The shift in edge inflection energy indicates an oxidation of Mn, and the absolute edge inflection energies indicate an average Mn oxidation state higher than Mn(II). Upon illumination a significant change was observed in the shape of the features associated with 1s to 3d transitions. The S1 spectrum resembles those of Mn(III) complexes, and the S2 spectrum resembles those of Mn(IV) complexes. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectrum of the Mn complex is similar in the S1 and S2 states. Simulations indicate O or N ligands at 1.75 +/- 0.05 A, transition metal neighbor(s) at 2.73 +/- 0.05 A, which are assumed to be Mn, and terminal ligands which are probably N and O at a range of distances around 2.2 A. The Mn-O bond length of 1.75 A and the transition metal at 2.7 A indicate the presence of a di-mu-oxo-bridged Mn structure. Simulations indicate that a symmetric tetranuclear cluster is unlikely to be present, while binuclear, trinuclear, or highly distorted tetranuclear structures are possible. The striking similarity of these results to those from spinach PS II suggests that the structure of the Mn complex is largely conserved across evolutionarily diverse O2-evolving photosynthetic species.

Chlorophyll↗

A Mössbauer analysis of the low-potential iron-sulfur center in photosystem I: spectroscopic evidence that FX is a [4Fe-4S] cluster.

We report the results of a Mössbauer study of the low-potential iron-sulfur cluster FX in the Photosystem I core protein of Synechococcus 6301. The Mössbauer spectrum of FX in the oxidized state shows an isomer shift of 0.42 mm/s, which is in good agreement with the 0.43 mm/s isomer shift found in [4Fe-4S] proteins but not with the isomer shift of 0.26 mm/s found in [2Fe-2S] proteins. In the reduced state the spectrum is asymmetrically broadened at 80 K, indicating the presence of two very closely spaced doublets with an average isomer shift of 0.55 mm/s, which is also in agreement with [4Fe-4S] proteins. At 4.2 K, the spectrum exhibits broadening and magnetic splitting similar to what is observed for [4Fe-4S] proteins and quite unlike [2Fe-2S] proteins. Given the assumption that the iron atoms of FX are tetrahedrally coordinated with sulfur ligands, the data strongly support the assignment of FX as a [4Fe-4S] cluster.

Chlorophyll↗