| Abstract: | Abstract— Resonance Raman spectra of the chromophores of the cyanobacterial light-harvesting proteins phycocyanin (CPC) and allophycocyanin (APC) were recorded using 364 nm excitation. The1500–1700 cm-1 regions of these spectra were analyzed for the pH-induced structural changes accompanying the disruption of the native trimers into monomers as well as the progressive denaturation of these monomers. Computer-assisted decomposition of the 1642 cm-1 marker bands of these spectra yielded up to four components (named I-IV), the frequencies of which were constant within 5 cm-1 (CPC) and 10 cm-1 (APC). The relative intensities of two of these components, namely I and III, were sensitive to chromophore conformations. The previously reported downshift of the 1642 cm-1 band upon folding of the chromophores was shown to result from a weakening of component I and a concomitant enhancement of component III. Components I-IV had different relative intensity patterns in CPC and APC spectra. In particular, the higher relative intensity of component I at 1646 cm-1 indicated more extended average conformations of the chromophores in trimeric APC than in trimeric CPC. This difference likely resulted from the extra β-155 chromophore present in CPC. Component III was sizably active in RR spectra of monomelic APC but was not observed either in those of monomelic CPC or in those of trimeric APC and CPC. This indicated that, in APC monomers, chromophore(s) did not assume the native conformations found in the trimer, while monomer formation did not sizably alter the structures of the CPC chromophores. |
