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The effect of hydration on protein flexibility in photosystem II of green plants studied by quasielastic neutron scattering

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Abstract

The effect of hydration on protein dynamics in photosystem II (PS II) membrane fragments from spinach has been investigated by using the method of quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) at room temperature. The QENS data obtained indicate that the protein dynamics is strongly dependent on the extent of hydration. In particular, the hydration-induced activation of localized diffusive protein motions and Q −A reoxidation by QB in PS II appear to be correlated in their onset at a hydration value of about 45% relative humidity (r.h.). These findings underline the crucial functional relevance of localized diffusive protein motions on the picosecond-timescale for the reactions of light-induced photosynthetic water splitting under formation of plastoquinol and molecular oxygen in PS II of green plants.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 429, TP A1) is gratefully acknowledged. We are also grateful to S. Kussin and M. Weß (TU Berlin) for their help in sample preparation as well as to G. Steiner and B. Urban (HMI Berlin) for technical assistance during the neutron scattering experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Volmer-Laboratories for Biophysical Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Strasse des 17. Juni 135, 10623, Berlin, Germany

    J. Pieper & G. Renger

  2. Darmstadt University of Technology, Petersenstrasse 22, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    T. Hauß

  3. Hahn-Meitner-Institut Berlin, Glienicker Str. 100, 14109, Berlin, Germany

    T. Hauß & A. Buchsteiner

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  1. J. Pieper
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  2. T. Hauß
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  3. A. Buchsteiner
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  4. G. Renger
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Correspondence to J. Pieper.

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Advanced neutron scattering and complementary techniques to study biological systems. Contributions from the meetings, “Neutrons in Biology”, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, UK, 11–13 July and “Proteins At Work 2007”, Perugia, Italy, 28–30 May 2007.

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Pieper, J., Hauß, T., Buchsteiner, A. et al. The effect of hydration on protein flexibility in photosystem II of green plants studied by quasielastic neutron scattering. Eur Biophys J 37, 657–663 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-008-0297-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00249-008-0297-9

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