Proton exchange processes in phytochromes and retinal proteins investigated by MAS NMR (B01)

• Subject Area: Biophysics
• Term: from 2013 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221545957

Protonation dynamics associated with structural changes in phytochromes are investigated by very fast magic-angle-spinning (MAS) NMR, detecting exchangeable protons directly. Proton exchange pattern within the chromophore and with residues towards the tongue region between the Pr, Meta-F, and Pfr states of the bacteriophytochromes Agp2 (batho), Agp1 (prototypic), and Cph1 will be analyzed. In this context, the proposal of a keto-enol tautomerism in the biliverdin of Agp2 will be scrutinized including a derivation of kinetic parameters. Furthermore, we will localize exchangeable protons in the channels of channelrhodopsins C1C2 and iC++slow and study their exchange pattern.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1078: Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Peter Hegemann, until 12/2020; Professor Dr. Hartmut Oschkinat