Bestrhodopsins constitute a class of light-regulated pentameric ion channels that consist of one or two rhodopsins in tandem fused with bestrophin ion channel domains. Here, we report on the isomerization dynamics in the rhodopsin tandem domains of Phaeocystis antarctica bestrhodopsin, which binds all-trans retinal Schiff-base (RSB) absorbing at 661 nm and, upon illumination, converts to the meta-stable P540 state with an unusual 11-cis RSB. The primary photoproduct P682 corresponds to a mixture of highly distorted 11-cis and 13-cis RSB directly formed from the excited state in 1.4 ps. P673 evolves from P682 in 500 ps and contains highly distorted 13-cis RSB, indicating that the 11-cis fraction in P682 converts to 13-cis. Next, P673 establishes an equilibrium with P595 in 1.2 µs, during which RSB converts to 11-cis and then further proceeds to P560 in 48 µs and P540 in 1.0 ms while remaining 11-cis. Hence, extensive isomeric switching occurs on the early ground state potential energy surface (PES) on the hundreds of ps to µs timescale before finally settling on a metastable 11-cis photoproduct. We propose that P682 and P673 are trapped high up on the ground-state PES after passing through either of two closely located conical intersections that result in 11-cis and 13-cis RSB. Co-rotation of C11=C12 and C13=C14 bonds results in a constricted conformational landscape that allows thermal switching between 11-cis and 13-cis species of highly strained RSB chromophores. Protein relaxation may release RSB strain, allowing it to evolve to a stable 11-cis isomeric configuration in microseconds.

• Keywords
• conical intersection, far-red absorbing rhodopsin, femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy, femtosecond to millisecond spectroscopy, multiple retinal isomerization,
• MeSH
• Diterpenes * MeSH
• Isomerism MeSH
• Protein Conformation MeSH
• Retinaldehyde * chemistry   MeSH
• Rhodopsin * metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Names of Substances
• 13-cis-retinal MeSH Browser
• Diterpenes * MeSH
• Retinaldehyde * MeSH
• Rhodopsin * MeSH

Blue light sensing using flavin (BLUF) domains constitute a family of flavin-binding photoreceptors of bacteria and eukaryotic algae. BLUF photoactivation proceeds via a light-driven hydrogen-bond switch among flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and glutamine and tyrosine side chains, whereby FAD undergoes electron and proton transfer with tyrosine and is subsequently re-oxidized by a hydrogen back-shuttle in picoseconds, constituting an important model system to understand proton-coupled electron transfer in biology. The specific structure of the hydrogen-bond patterns and the prevalence of glutamine tautomeric states in dark-adapted (DA) and light-activated (LA) states have remained controversial. Here, we present a combined femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS), computational chemistry, and site-selective isotope labeling Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study of the Slr1694 BLUF domain. FSRS showed distinct vibrational bands from the FADS1 singlet excited state. We observed small but significant shifts in the excited-state vibrational frequency patterns of the DA and LA states, indicating that these frequencies constitute a sensitive probe for the hydrogen-bond arrangement around FAD. Excited-state model calculations utilizing four different realizations of hydrogen bond patterns and glutamine tautomeric states were consistent with a BLUF reaction model that involved glutamine tautomerization to imidic acid, accompanied by a rotation of its side chain. A combined FTIR and double-isotope labeling study, with 13C labeling of FAD and 15N labeling of glutamine, identified the glutamine imidic acid C═N stretch vibration in the LA state and the Gln C═O in the DA state. Hence, our study provides support for glutamine tautomerization and side-chain rotation in the BLUF photoreaction.

• MeSH
• Bacterial Proteins chemistry   MeSH
• Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide chemistry   MeSH
• Photoreceptors, Microbial * chemistry   MeSH
• Glutamine * chemistry   MeSH
• Organic Chemicals MeSH
• Protons MeSH
• Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared MeSH
• Light MeSH
• Tyrosine MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• Bacterial Proteins MeSH
• Flavin-Adenine Dinucleotide MeSH
• Photoreceptors, Microbial * MeSH
• Glutamine * MeSH
• Organic Chemicals MeSH
• Protons MeSH
• Tyrosine MeSH