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Photoactivation Mechanisms of Flavin-Binding Photoreceptors Revealed Through Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Global Analysis Methods

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Flavins and Flavoproteins

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1146))

Abstract

Flavin-binding photoreceptor proteins use the isoalloxazine moiety of flavin cofactors to absorb light in the blue/UV-A wavelength region and subsequently translate it into biological information. The underlying photochemical reactions and protein structural dynamics are delicately tuned by the protein environment and represent fundamental reactions in biology and chemistry. Due to their photo-switchable nature, these proteins can be studied efficiently with laser-flash induced transient absorption and emission spectroscopy with temporal precision down to the femtosecond time domain. Here, we describe the application of both visible and mid-IR ultrafast transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence methods in combination with sophisticated global analysis procedures to elucidate the photochemistry and signal transduction of BLUF (Blue light receptors using FAD) and LOV (Light oxygen voltage) photoreceptor domains.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Chemical Sciences council of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO-CW) through an ECHO grant and a VICI grant to J.T.M.K., and by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

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  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1081, Amsterdam, 1081HV, The Netherlands

    Tilo Mathes, Ivo H. M. van Stokkum & John T. M. Kennis

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  1. Tilo Mathes
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  3. John T. M. Kennis
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Correspondence to John T. M. Kennis .

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  1. Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany

    Stefan Weber

  2. Institut für Physikalische Chemie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany

    Erik Schleicher

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Mathes, T., van Stokkum, I.H.M., Kennis, J.T.M. (2014). Photoactivation Mechanisms of Flavin-Binding Photoreceptors Revealed Through Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Global Analysis Methods. In: Weber, S., Schleicher, E. (eds) Flavins and Flavoproteins. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1146. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0452-5_16

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