Energy transfer between the flavin chromophores of electron-transferring flavoprotein fromMegasphaera elsdenii as inferred from time-resolved red-edge and blue-edge fluorescence spectroscopy

Both a mode-locked argon-ion laser and synchrotron radiation were used as excitation sources to obtain time-resolved polarized fluorescence of the two FAD cofactors in electron transferring flavoprotein fromMegasphaera elsdenii. Red-edge excited and blue-edge detected fluorescence anisotropy decay curves did not contain a fast relaxation process which was observed upon mainband excitation and detection. This relaxation was assigned to homo-energy transfer between the two FAD cofactors. Failure of energy transfer as observed with edge spectroscopy on this protein excludes restricted reorientational motion of the flavins as a possible mechanism of depolarization. From the global analysis of the fluorescence anisotropy decay surface obtained at multiple excitation and detection wavelengths, the distance between and the relative orientation of the flavins could be estimated. The methodology described has general applicability in other multichromophoric biopolymers and has the potential to acquire accurate geometrical parameters in these systems.     

Time-resolved fluorescence relaxation of 3-methyllumiflavin in polar solution

We have studied the fluorescent properties of a well-defined model flavin compound (3-methyllumiflavin) in a relatively polar solvent like propylene glycol or ethanol. Inhomogeneous spectral broadening effects were directly time-resolved by detection at the extreme blue and red edges of the fluorescence band of 3-methyllumiflavin using excitation in the main absorption band. At the high-energy side of the emission band a rapid decay component (tens of picoseconds) was resolved indicative for the disappearance of the initially prepared, nonequilibrium state with a characteristic dipolar relaxation time. At the low-energy side the rise of a solvent relaxed fluorescent species could be time-resolved. The wavelength-dependent effects on the dipolar relaxation were abolished when excitation was at the low-energy side of the absorption band. The experimental decays of the flavin solvate at different energies of fluorescence and excitation are presented as they represent an easy diagnosis for energy dependent solvation dynamics. Wavelength dependent rotation of 3-methyllumiflavin, examined by fluorescence anisotropy decay, turned out to be absent for 3-methyllumiflavin in propylene glycol between 263 and 293 K, probably because of the small change in dipole moment upon flavin excitation.     

Time-resolved fluorescence analysis of the mobile flavin cofactor in p -hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase

Conformational heterogeneity of the FAD cofactor in p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH) was investigated with time-resolved polarized flavin fluorescence. For binary enzyme/substrate (analogue) complexes of wild-type PHBH and Tyr222 mutants, crystallographic studies have revealed two distinct flavin conformations; the ‘in’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring located in the active site, and the ‘out’ conformation with the isoalloxazine ring disposed towards the protein surface. Fluorescence-lifetime analysis of these complexes revealed similar lifetime distributions for the ‘in’ and ‘out’ conformations. The reason for this is twofold. First, the active site of PHBH contains various potential fluorescence-quenching sites close to the flavin. Fluorescence analysis of uncomplexed PHBH Y222V and Y222A showed that Tyr222 is responsible for picosecond fluorescence quenching free enzyme. In addition, other potential quenching sites, including a tryptophan and two tyrosines involved in substrate binding, are located nearby. Since the shortest distance between these quenching sites and the isoalloxazine ring differs only little on average, these aromatic residues are likely to contribute to fluorescence quenching. Second, the effect of flavin conformation on the fluorescence lifetime distribution is blurred by binding of the aromatic substrates: saturation with aromatic substrates induces highly efficient fluorescence quenching. The flavin conformation is therefore only reflected in the small relative contributions of the longer lifetimes.     

Kinetics and mechanism of electron-induced splitting of a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer with or without an electron acceptor

DNA repair has received heightened attention in recent years as ozone depletion threatens to significantly increase DNA damage by UVB radiation[1—6]. The major lesions formed in DNA by this radiation are cis-syn cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers, which are created by the linkage of two neighboring pyrimidine bases in DNA via C5-C5 and C6-C6 atoms by [2+2] cycloaddition[2,5—8]. This potentially lethal or mutagenic damage can be repaired either by the removal of the damaged bases by excisio…     

Theoretical prediction of maxima in association constants for complex formation between flavin mononucleotide and indoleacetate in the presence of polyelectrolytes

The effects of ionene polymers (6,3-ionene, 6,6-ionene, 6,8-ionene, and 6,12-ionene) with various charge densities upon association constants K for the complexation between flavin mononucleotide and indoleacetate have been studied. Except for 6,12-ionene, K increases with increasing polymer concentration then passes through a maximum, and declines at high polymer concentrations. The value of the maximum K increases in the order 6,8-ionene > 6,3-ionene > 6,6-ionene. In contrast, 6,12-ionene gives only a monotone increasing curve with increasing polymer concentration. These curves are analyzed using the theory of the partition coefficient proposed in the previous paper. The types of the curves that the theory predicts are classified in greater detail than in the previous paper, and examples are given. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photocycle dynamics of the E149A mutant of cryptochrome 3 from Arabidopsis thaliana

The E149A mutant of the cryDASH member cryptochrome 3 (cry3) from Arabidopsis thaliana was characterized in vitro by optical absorption and emission spectroscopic studies. The mutant protein non-covalently binds the chromophore flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). In contrast to the wild-type protein it does not bind N5,N10-methenyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrofolate (MTHF). Thus, the photo-dynamics caused by FAD is accessible without the intervening coupling with MTHF. In dark adapted cry3-E149A, FAD is present in the oxidized form (FAD_ox), semiquinone form (FADH), and anionic hydroquinone form (FAD_redH⁻). Blue-light photo-excitation of previously unexposed cry3-E149A transfers FAD_ox to the anionic semiquinone form (FAD⁻) with a quantum efficiency of about 2% and a back recovery time of about 10 s (photocycle I). Prolonged photo-excitation leads to an irreversible protein re-conformation with structure modification of the U-shaped FAD and enabling proton transfer. Thus, a change in the photocycle dynamics occurs with photo-conversion of FAD_ox to FADH, FADH to FAD_redH⁻, and thermal back equilibration in the dark (photocycle II). The photocycle dynamics of cry3-E149A is compared with the photocycle behaviour of wild-type cry3 and other photo-sensory cryptochromes.     

Activity-based probes for studying the activity of flavin-dependent oxidases and for the protein target profiling of monoamine oxidase inhibitors

High profile: new activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) probes have been designed that target exclusively monoamine oxidases A and B within living cells (see picture; FAD=flavin adenine dinucleotide, FMN=flavin monodinucleotide). With these probes it could be shown that the MAO inhibitor deprenyl, which is in clinical use against Parkinson's disease, shows unique protein specificity despite its covalent mechanism of action.     

Amperometric Determination of Picomolar Levels of Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide by Cyclic Oxidation-Reduction in Apo-Glucose Oxidase System

Abstract

Acidification of a solution of glucose oxidase in 35 percent glycerol with 10 percent sulfuric acid and a gel filtration of this acidified glucose oxidase solution yielded apo-glucose oxidase with low residual enzyme activity. Further treatment with charcoal gave apo-glucose oxidase which is devoid of enzyme activity. Using this apo-glucose oxidase, it was possible to measure flavin adenine dinucleotide amperometrically at extremely low concentrations (10_?12 M) with ease, rapidity, and convenience.