The effect of lipid environment in purple membrane on bacteriorhodopsin

The decay rate of the Bacteriorhodopsin (BR) photocycle intermediate M412 and proton, the proton pump efficiency (H+/M412), the ratios of M412 to other intermediates and the rotational correlation time (tauc) in purple membrane (PM) fragments treated by the zwitterionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) with different concentrations were studied. The results show that: (1) The largest effect of CHAPS on M412 decay rate and proton decay rate of BR, tauc of PM and the ratios of M412 to other intermediates in BR photocycle is in the range of its critical micelle concentration (CMC). This indicates that changes of the ratios of M412 to other intermediates, tauc, M412 decay and proton decay occur and are due to the variation of the lipid environment. (2) The dependency of proton yield on CHAPS concentrations is basically consistent with that of M412s%. This indicates the relation between proton pumping function and M412. These studies show the importance of maintaining a native environment.     

INTERACTIONS OF BOTH MELITTIN AND ITS SITE-SPECIFIC MUTANTS WITH BACTERIORHODOPSIN OF Halobacterium halobium: SITES OF ELECI'ROSTATIC INTERACI'ION ON MELITI'IN

Abstract Melittin and its site-specific mutants differentially delay the slow-decaying component of the photocycle intermediate M₄₁₂ of bacteriorhodopsin in the purple membrane and the acetylated purple membrane whose several lysine residues are modified. This effect is attributed to the interaction of the total positive charges of melittin or its mutants with the total negative charges of bacteriorhodopsin. The effects of melittin and its mutants on the Triton X-100–solubilized bacteriorhodopsin monomers are somewhat complicated but are associated with their charges. These results show that there is electrostatic interaction between bacteriorhodopsin and melittin and that both N-and C-termini of melittin function as sites of the interaction, with Arg 22 and Arg 24 making a prominent contribution to the effective surface charge of melittin. Melittin, at certain concentrations, partially restores the decreased photoactivity of the bacteriorhodopsin monomers trapped in the Triton-lipid-protein mixed micelles, which suggests that melittin may compete with Triton X-100 for the binding sites on the bacteriorhodopsin monomers. Other kinds of interactions between bacteriorhodopsin and melittin are also indicated. The possible states of melittin in membranes are discussed.     

Photocycle of 13-cis-retinal in bacteriorhodopsin caused by destruction to the cooperative effect of purple membrane

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LIGHT-INDUCED PROTON DISSOCIATION AND ASSOCIATION IN BACTERIORHODOPSIN

Abstract— Light-induced proton release and uptake by acetylated and unmodified bacteriorhodopsin were measured. Bacteriorhodopsin, when illuminated, shows a net proton release at neutral and alkaline pH's, but in acidic pH, it shows an uptake of protons. In the presence of high concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride, light caused only proton release even in acidic pH and the maximum extent of the release was one proton per bacteriorhodopsin molecule around pH 8.
Acetylation of bacteriorhodopsin caused no alteration in the absorption spectrum of purple complex (bR₅₇₀) and M₄₁₂-intermediate, but decreased the decay rate of the M₄₁₂-intermediate. Light-induced release of protons was not observed even in neutral pH values, and only the proton uptake was noticed by acetylated purple membrane fragments. In high concentrations of guanidine hydrochloride, no proton uptake or release by illumination was observed. Vesicles were reconstituted from acetylated purple membrane. These vesicles had almost no ability for light-induced proton transport. The role of amino group(s) in light-induced proton release and transport through the purple membrane is discussed.     

Photocycle of 13-cis-retinal in bacteriorhodopsin caused by destruction to the cooperative effect of purple membrane

The steady absorption and kinetic changes of M₄₁₂ intermediate of the light- and dark-adapted bacteriorhodopsin (BR) solubilized by different concentrated Triton X-100 were investigated. The results indicated that the cooperative effect existing within the trimeric BR of native purple membrane (PM) was damaged in the system containing the surfactant since the component and structure of the bilayer lipid membrane in PM varied due to the solubilization of partial PM lipids by Triton X-100. The destruction to the cooperative effect of BR ultimately caused 13-cis-retinal of the dark-adapted BR to take part in BR photocycle and also to generate the deprotonated M₄₁₂ intermediate. Project supported by the key and major projects from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. Kj951-A1-501-05 and Kj952-S1-03)     

温度和离子对紫膜LB膜光循环的影响

用闪光动力学光谱仪测量了水平拉制的紫膜LB膜中菌紫质中间体M₄₁₂的衰减过程,观察了温度和离子对M₄₁₂衰减过程的影响。实验结果表明:在一定的温度范围内(10℃-60℃),随着温度的升高,M₄₁₂的衰减速率加快。对M₄₁₂s的衰减的抑制作用,La³⁺在低浓度时就很明显,而K⁺则在较高浓度时才表现出来,Ca²⁺的影响不明显;La³⁺对M₄₁₂f的衰减无明显影响,K⁺和Ca²⁺则稍微加快了其速率,pH的变化(H⁺浓度)明显影响到M₄₁₂的衰减速率,尤其在高pH情况,M₄₁₂s的衰减比正常pH值时要慢一个数量级。     

TIME-RESOLVED RESONANCE RAMAN STUDIES ON THE PHOTOCHEMICAL CYCLE OF BACTERIORHODOPSIN

Abstract— Kinetic resonance Raman (RR) experiments were designed to study the time-behaviour of the retinal-binding protein bacteriorhodopsin (BR) in its photochemical cycle. The unphotolyzed chro-mophore B-570 and the two intermediates L -550 and M-412 were probed by the characteristic C=C stretching vibrations of the retinal moiety. Time resolution was achieved with a spinning cell as flow system in combination with two CW lasers in a pump-probe configuration. RR spectra were probed at 475 nm at various delay times between pump and probe event. The deconvolution of the spectra into the various components B-570, L-550 and M-412 was carried out by curve fitting procedures. It was found that at pH7.4 L-550 decays — with a time-constant of 62 μs — not completely but to a residual level of 35% of its initial value. This intermediate L -amplitude finally disappears in the ms-range (4.5 ms) synchroneously with the intermediate M -412. An analogeous time-behaviour was found at pH 4.6. In the basic range also an " L " -intermediate could be identified which is coupled to the long-lived M-component. To explain the peculiar time-dependence it is proposed that during the fast decay of L a dynamic equilibrium between L and M is established. Then during the reconstitution of B -570 the two intermediates disappear synchroneously. A molecular model is presented in which the dynamic equilibrium between L and M is explained by an oscillatory motion of a proton from the Schiff base group of the chromophore to its counterion.     

SUPPRESSION OF LIPID PHOTOPEROXIDATION BY QUERCETIN AND ITS GLYCOSIDES IN SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— Quercetin, quercitrin and rutin suppressed lipid photoperoxidation in spinach chloroplasts in the presence of 100 μ M carbonylcyanide m -chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) or 100 μ M methyl viologen (MV). Fifty percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation by quercetin was observed between 30 and 50 μ M . Concentrations of quercetin and rutin higher than 100 μ M were required to obtain 50% inhibition. Ouercitrin was more effective than rutin in the suppression of lipid photoperoxidation.
Photooxidation of the flavonols by chloroplasts in the presence of MV was suppressed by superoxide dismutase (SOD) more than 90%, and the rates of the oxidation decreased in order of quercetin, quer citrin and rutin suggesting that the reactivity of the flavonols with O₂-decreased in that order. The photooxidation of the flavonols by CCCP-poisoned chloroplasts was partially suppressed by SOD. Radicals generated in the course of lauroyl peroxide degradation also oxidized the flavonols and the oxidation was insensitive to SOD. In these experiments, oxidation rate of quercetin was faster than those of its glycosides. The results obtained suggest that flavonols can function as antioxidants in chloroplasts by scavenging both O₂-and the radicals formed during lipid peroxidation.     

Kinetics of channel formation in bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) and tethered BLMs: monazomycin and melittin

The kinetics of channel formation by the polyene-like antibiotic monazomycin, both in a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) and in a tethered BLM (tBLM), and by the peptide melittin in a tBLM, is investigated. Stepping the applied potential from a value at which channels are not formed to one at which they are formed yields current vs time curves that are sigmoidal on a BLM, while they show a maximum on a tBLM; in the latter case, sigmoidal curves are obtained by plotting the charge against time. These curves are interpreted on the basis of a general kinetic model, which accounts for the potential-dependent penetration of adsorbed monomeric molecules into the lipid bilayer, followed by their aggregation with channel formation by a mechanism of nucleation and growth. In the case of monazomycin, which is present in the solution in the form of relatively hydrophilic clusters and is adsorbed as such on top of the lipid bilayer, penetration into the bilayer following a potential jump is assumed to be preceded by a potential-independent disaggregation of the adsorbed clusters into adsorbed monomers.     

THE ROLE OF ARGININES 82 AND 227 IN THE BACTERIORHODOPSIN PROTON PUMP

Abstract
Arginine residues 82 and 227 in bacteriorhodopsin were replaced by glutamine residues, using the site-directed mutagenesis techniques. Mutant bacteriorhodopsins were found to be competent in formation and decomposition of the photocycle M412 intermediate as well as in generation of photoelectric potential provided that pH of the medium is sufficiently high. Lowering of pH results in transition of bacteriorhodopsin into a blue acidic form which cannot produce M412 and photo-potential. The p K values of these transitions for Arg-227 → Gln and Arg-82 → Gln mutants are shifted correspondently for 1 and 4 pH units to a higher pH region in comparison with native bacteriorhodopsin. The rate of the M412 formation in both mutants was similar to that in the native protein. As to M412 decay, it is much slower in Arg-227 → Gln mutant than in native and Arg-82 → Gln bacteriorhodopsins. In all cases, the decay depends only slightly upon pH. It is concluded that Arg-82 is involved in maintenance of a bacteriorhodopsin structure that is resistant to the pH decrease down to 4 whereas Arg-227 is required first of all for the process of Schiff base reprotonation.     

OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPY OF BILAYER MEMBRANES

Abstract— The absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of natural and model bilayer lipid membranes is reviewed. Basic structural features of biological membranes and the relative advantages of black lipid membranes (BLM) and of liposomes are discussed. Theoretical considerations show that the wavelengths of absorption maxima are affected by the refractive index and dielectric constant of the medium surrounding the chromophore. Techniques of obtaining photoelectric action spectra, direct absorption spectra, and reflection spectra of BLM are described. Polarized spectra can give information about the orientation of membrane constituents and show, for example, that the porphyrin ring of chlorophyll in BLM is tilted at 45 ± 5° to the membrane surface. Absorption maxima of chlorophyll in BLM are compared with solution spectra of various chlorophyll adducts and aggregates. It is concluded that chlorophyll in BLM exists largely as solvated monomer and dimer (or oligomer), depending on concentration, and is not coordinated with water. From the theory of fluorescence spectroscopy it follows that aggregation and the polarity of the environment affect the fluorescence yield and lifetime of a membrane component, and also the wavelength of its emission maximum. The microviscosity of the membrane matrix affects the anisotropy of fluorescence. Techniques of steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy and of fluorescence lifetime measurements are reviewed. Examples of the use of fluorescent probes in membrane studies are given. Certain probes such as anilinonaphthalene sulfonate (ANS) preferentially bind to membrane proteins. The location of a probe in a particular membrane region can be pinpointed from its fluorescence yield and emission maximum. The orientation of the hydrocarbon chains of membrane lipids has been found, from fluorescence polarization of certain probes, to be normal to the membrane surface as postulated a priori on the basis of the lipid bilayer model. Anisotropy of fluorescence shows that elongated probe molecules rotate rapidly about their long axes when surrounded by phospholipids but become immobilized when bound to proteins. Changes in intensity and anisotropy of fluorescence as function of temperature have demonstrated the existence of phase transitions and phase equilibria of membrane lipids. Excimer fluorescence has been used as a measure of the available lipid core volume of membranes. Mechanisms of energy transfer between membrane components are reviewed. The theoretical dependence of energy transfer on distance and orientation for several rigid and fluid membrane models is discussed in terms of the structural information it can provide. Fluorescence sensitization resulting from energy transfer within and across bilayer membranes has been demonstrated in various systems. Quantitative measurement of energy transfer efficiency in BLM has shown that such transfer is about five times more efficient than in solutions at comparable donor-acceptor distances. Lipid membranes can be viewed as structures which maintain their components at high concentrations, in a reactive state, and at favourable orientations.     

THE ROLE OF ARGININES 82 AND 227 IN THE BACTERIORHODOPSIN PROTON PUMP*

Abstract— Arginine residues 82 and 227 in bacteriorhodopsin were replaced by glutamine residues, using the site-directed mutagenesis techniques. Mutant bacteriorhodopsins were found to be competent in formation and decomposition of the photocycle M412 intermediate as well as in generation of photoelectric potential provided that pH of the medium is sufficiently high. Lowering of pH results in transition of bacteriorhodopsin into a blue acidic form which cannot produce M412 and photo-potential. The pK values of these transitions for Arg-227 → Gln and Arg-82 → Gln mutants are shifted correspondently for 1 and 4 pH units to a higher pH region in comparison with native bacteriorhodopsin. The rate of the M412 formation in both mutants was similar to that in the native protein. As to M412 decay, it is much slower in Arg-227 → Gln mutant than in native and Arg-82 → Gln bacteriorhodopsins. In all cases, the decay depends only slightly upon pH. It is concluded that Arg-82 is involved in maintenance of a bacteriorhodopsin structure that is resistant to the pH decrease down to 4 whereas Arg-227 is required first of all for the process of Schiff base reprotonation.     

PROTON TRANSLOCATION and CONFORMATIONAL CHANGES DURING THE BACTERIORHODOPSIN PHOTOCYCLE: TIME-RESOLVED STUDIES WITH MEMBRANE-BOUND OPTICAL PROBES and X-RAY DIFFRACTION*

Abstract– For the first time, we monitored time-resolved conformational changes inherent in bacterio-rhodopsin's reaction cycle as well as the H⁺-release events directly at the surface of bacteriorhodopsin (bR) at room temperature. Signals of optical pH-indicators in the aqueous bulk phase were compared with those of probes covalently linked to bR. The kinetics of H⁺-translocation and the correlation of the photocycle with the pumping cycle can only be determined with indicators bound to bR. The proton appears at the extracellular surface during the L₅₅₀ to M₄₁₂ transition. Upon short photo-excitation, diffraction patterns were obtained from both guanidine hydrochloride-treated wild type bR and an Asp96Asn mutant with millisecond time resolution by x-ray synchrotron radiation. The measured time course and location of the structural changes confirm and extend our previous static neutron diffraction study at -180°C. The temporal correlation of photocycle intermediates and proton translocation steps with structural changes in the protein under similar environmental conditions strongly contribute to the understanding of the pumping mechanism.     

ELECTRONIC PROCESSES AND PHOTOELECTRIC ASPECTS OF BILAYER LIPID MEMBRANES

Abstract— Owing to the complexity of biological membranes, many model systems have been studied in order to gain insight into the molecular mechanism of specific functions. One such model membrane extensively investigated in the past decade is the so-called bilayer lipid membrane (BLM). With suitable modifications, a BLM less than 100 A thick separating two aqueous solutions has been used as a model for a variety of biological membranes. This paper is devoted to a review of the properties and electronic processes of modified BLM.
Recent experiments using these membranes which contain photosynthetic pigments or dyes have demonstrated that, upon illumination, an EMF and a current can be generated. The connection between the photoelectric BLM and light-sensitive biological membranes and the rationale for this work are described.
Additionally, the effects of physical chemical parameters such as electric field, temperature, light intensity, duration of illumination and chemical agents (electron acceptors, donors, uncouplers, etc.) on the photoresponses of BLM are discussed. Other results indicate that BLM containing photoactive compounds behave similar to that of a silicon solar cell with one side of the membrane reducing and the other side oxidizing. The transverse pathway for the electron across the BLM could be provided by carotenoids such as β-carotene. Photoelectric BLM of this type represents a unique kind of energy transducing system and may well be useful in the conversion of solar energy into electricity and/or other forms of energy.     

INTERACTION OF DIBUCAINEHCl LOCAL ANESTHETICS WITH BACTERIORHODOPSIN IN PURPLE MEMBRANE: A SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY

Several spectroscopic techniques (absorption, emission, transient absorption and differential scanning calorimetry--DSC) were used to investigate the deprotonation of dibucaine.HCl in a hydrophobic environment, and the interaction sites and mechanisms of the local anesthetic dibucaine.HCl on bacteriorhodopsin (bR) in purple membrane. The important results are summarized as follows: (1) the visible absorption features of native (lambda max = 568 nm) and deionized (lambda max = 608 nm) bR are sensitive to the amount of dibucaine.HCl added; (2) the emission spectrum of dibucaine.HCl embedded in the retinal-free mutant bR is similar to that of dibucaine free base in Triton X-100 micellar solutions; (3) the phosphorescence emission of dibucaine at 77 K is completely quenched by bR and the fluorescence quenching rate for the incorporated dibucaine.HCl in bR was determined as kq = 4.09 x 10(13) M-1 s-1; (4) the incorporation of dibucaine.HCl in bR inhibits the slow component rate of formation of M412 and decreases the amount of M412 formation in the photochemical cycle of bR; and (5) the thermal stability of native bR was measured by DSC in the presence and absence of dibucaine and yielded an endothermic transition at 95.9 +/- 1.0 degrees C with 13.6 J/g (3.25 +/- 0.12 cal/g) of enthalpy changes. All observations suggest that the action site of the local anesthetic, dibucaine.HCl, is near or at the chromophore, i.e. the retinal Schiff base of bR. The anesthetic action on bR purple membrane is probably via a specific site binding, but not a conformational mechanism.     

Effect of light-harvesting complex II on ion transport across model lipid membranes

The effect of the incorporation of the major light-harvesting complex of photosystem II (LHCII) to planar bilayer lipid membranes (BLMs) formed from soybean asolectin and unilamellar small liposomes formed from egg-yolk phosphatidylcholine on ion transport across the lipid bilayer has been studied. The specific conductivity of the BLM rises from 5.2 +/- 0.8 x 10(-9) up to 510 x 10(-9) O(-1) cm(-2) upon the incorporation of LHCII. The conductivity of the membrane with LHCII depends upon the ionic strength of the bathing solution and is higher by a factor of five when the KCl concentration increases from 0.02 to 0.22 M. Such a strong effect has not been observed in the same system without LHCII. The liposome model is also applied to analyse the effect of LHCII on the bilayer permeability to protons. Unilamellar liposomes with a diameter less than 50 nm have been prepared, containing (trapped inside) Neutral Red, a pigment sensitive to proton concentration. A gradient of protons on the membrane is generated by the acidification of the liposome suspension and spectral changes of Neutral Red are recorded in time, reflecting the penetration of protons into the internal space of liposomes. Two components of proton permeation across liposome membranes are observed: a fast one (proceeding within seconds) and a slow one (operating on the time scale of minutes). The rate of both components of proton transport across LHCII-containing membranes is higher than for liposomes alone. The enhancement effect of LHCII on the ion transport across the lipid membrane is discussed in terms of aggregation of the pigment-protein complexes. The possible physiological importance of such an effect in controlling ion permeability across the thylakoid membrane is discussed.     

PHOTOSENSITIZATION SYSTEMS OF COVALENTLY LINKED PHTHALOCYANINE COMPLEXES IN BOTH BILAYER LIPID MEMBRANES AND TIN OXIDE PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL

Abstract Zinc phthalolocyanine photosensitized donor-acceptor systems for light energy conversion and for the design of photoelectrochemical molecular devices are presented. Covalently linked phthalocyanine complexes were incorporated in bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) and deposited on SnO₂ transparent electrodes. Their photovoltages were measured and compared. It has been found that a more favorable orientation and closer proximity are attained in the diad compounds between the donor (phthalocyanine)-acceptor (anthraquinone) pair than in the reference compound for efficient light-induced charge separation and transfer. The triad compound is the best among all tested compounds. The decrease in the fluorescence yield and lifetime induced by quinones was examined and the apparent electron-transfer rate constants were calculated.     

ELECTROCHROMIC BAND SHIFTS OF CAROTENOID IN A BLUE-GREEN ALGA

Abstract— The excitation with a short flash of cells of a blue-green alga, Synechococcus sp., induced, besides photooxidation of cytochrome c -553 and P-700, small absorption changes of complex kinetics in the wavelength region between 450 and 570 nm. The absorption changes were resolved into two kinetic components different in their sensitivity to gramicidin D.
The ionophore-sensitive component (Gs), which rose very rapidly on flash illumination and decayed with a half-time of 3 ms, has spectral features indicating a red shift of carotenoid absorption bands. Gs was sensitive to valonomycin but not to 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU). The relaxation rate of Gs was markedly slowed down in the presence of tri- n -butyltin chloride. Phenazine methosulfate induced a secondary slow rise following the initial rapid rise. A similar slow rise appeared in the dark-starved cells but disappeared on the addition of methyl viologen. It is concluded from these results that Gs is an electrochromic band shift of carotenoid responding to the electric field formed by the primary charge separation of the photosystem I reaction center and its decay is related to the proton translocation through a proton channel of the membrane.
The ionophore-resistant component rose and decayed with the half-times of 0.2 and 2 ms, respectively. Its difference spectrum suggests a blue band shift of carotenoid. The ionophore-resistant component was also insensitive to DCMU. However, this component may be related in some way to flash-induced electron flow, because the photoresponse was altered by dibromothymoquinone, bathophenanthroline and 2- n -heptyl-hydroxyquinoline- N -oxide or the dark starvation of cells, which were all effective in inhibiting the cytochrome c -553 reduction.     

All-trans to 13-cis retinal isomerization in light-adapted bacteriorhodopsin at acidic pH

The flash photolysis kinetic spectra of the intermediate M(412) of bacteriorhodopsin were monitored during the process of acid titration. In the light-adapted state, the maximum peak amplitude of M(412) absorbance of bacteriorhodopsin decreased (pK(a)=3.40+/-0.05) as the pH decreased from 7.3 to 1.9. In the dark-adapted state, the maximum peak amplitude of M(412) absorbance of bacteriorhodopsin increased as the pH decreased from 6.9 to 4.1, and then decreased (pK(a)=2.85+/-0.05) as the pH dropped to 2.1. These different trends in the change in the maximum peak amplitude suggested that not only the transition of purple membrane to blue membrane had taken place in both light and dark-adapted states, but also the fraction of all-trans-bR had changed during the acid titration. The pH-dependent absorption changes at 640 nm of bacteriorhodopsin in both light- and dark-adapted states were also observed. The pK(a)-values of the purple-to-blue transition were 3.80+/-0.05 in light-adapted state and 3.40+/-0.05 in dark-adapted state, respectively. According to Balashov's method, the fraction of all-trans-bR was assayed as the pH decreased. All these results indicated that the purple-to-blue transition of light-adapted bacteriorhodopsin was accompanied by an all-trans to 13-cis retinal isomerization at acidic pH.