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Low-frequency fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the oxygen-evolving complex in Photosystem II*

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Abstract

In this communication, we report our progress on the development of low-frequency Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic techniques to study metal-substrate and metal-ligand vibrational modes in the Photosystem II/oxygen-evolving complex (PS II/OEC). This information will provide important structural and mechanistic insight into the OEC. Strong water absorption in the low-frequency region (below 1000 cm−1), a lack of suitable materials, and temperature control problems have limited previous FTIR spectroscopic studies of the OEC to higher frequencies (>1000 cm−1). We have overcome these technical difficulties that have blocked access to the low-frequency region and have developed successive instruments that allow us to move deeper into the low-frequency region (down to 350 cm−1), while increasing both data accumulation efficiency and S/N ratio. We have detected several low-frequency modes in the S2/S1spectrum that are specifically associated with these two states. Our results demonstrate the utility of FTIR techniques in accessing low-frequency modes in Photosystem II and in proteins generally.

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Author notes

  1. Matthew T. Gardner

    Present address: Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Hsiu-An Chu, Matthew T. Gardner & Warwick Hillier

  2. Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA

    Gerald T. Babcock

Authors
  1. Hsiu-An Chu
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  2. Matthew T. Gardner
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  3. Warwick Hillier
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  4. Gerald T. Babcock
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Correspondence to Gerald T. Babcock.

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Chu, HA., Gardner, M.T., Hillier, W. et al. Low-frequency fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of the oxygen-evolving complex in Photosystem II*. Photosynthesis Research 66, 57–63 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010779327960

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1010779327960

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