Stefania Abbruzzetti | Università degli Studi di Parma (Italy) (original) (raw)

Papers by Stefania Abbruzzetti

Biophysical Journal, 2011

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. DOI: 10.1039/C4PP00337C, 2015

The protein encoded by the gene slr1393 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Slr139... more The protein encoded by the gene slr1393 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Slr1393) is composed of three GAF domains, a PAS domain, and a histidine kinase motif. The third GAF domain (referred to as GAF3) was previously characterized as the sole domain in this protein able to carry phycocyanobilin (PCB) as chromophore and to accomplish photochemistry. GAF3 shows photochromicity, able to switch between a red-absorbing parental state (GAF3R, λmax = 649 nm) and a green-absorbing photoproduct state (GAF3G, λmax = 536 nm) upon appropriate irradiation. In this study we have determined the photochemical quantum yields for the interconversion between both forms using two methods: an “absolute” method and a reference-based control. The latter is a comparative procedure which exploits a well-known blue-light photoreceptor, YtvA from Bacillus subtilis, and the cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1 as actinometers. The former is an ad hoc developed, four laser-based set up where two cw lasers provide the pump beams to induce photoswitching (red to green and green to red, respectively) and two cw lasers simultaneously monitor the appearance and disappearance of the two species. Interestingly, fit analysis of the recorded transient absorbance changes provided a quantum yield for the green → red conversion (»0.3), at least three times larger than for the red → green conversion (»0.08). These data are in agreement with the results from the comparative method, documenting the usefulness of the here developed ‘direct’ method for quantum yields determination. The light-induced switching capability of this photochromic protein allowed measuring the kinetics of GAF3 immobilized on a glass plate, and within living, overexpressing Escherichia coli cells.

Themed issue on "Photofunctional proteins", Mar 1, 2015

"Light is Life: this should always be the slogan of humanity, but it is presently particularly tr... more "Light is Life: this should always be the slogan of humanity, but it is presently particularly true: 2015 has been in fact proclaimed the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies by the United Nations General Assembly. It is therefore especially significant that Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences (PPS) opens the year with a themed issue dedicated to photofunctional proteins, i.e. proteins whose functional properties are changed by illumination...."
Editorial for a Themed issue of Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences on "Photofunctional proteins"

PLOS ONE, 2015

Studies of CO ligand binding revealed that two protein states with different ligand affinities ex... more Studies of CO ligand binding revealed that two protein states with different ligand affinities exist in the protoglobin from Methanosarcina acetivorans (in MaPgb*, residue Cys(E20)101 was mutated to Ser). The switch between the two states occurs upon the ligation of MaPgb*. In this work, site-directed mutagenesis was used to explore the role of selected amino acids in ligand sensing and stabilization and in affecting the equilibrium between the "more reactive" and "less reactive" conformational states of MaPgb*. A combination of experimental data obtained from electronic and resonance Raman absorption spectra, CO ligand-binding kinetics, and X-ray crystallography was employed. Three amino acids were assigned a critical role: Trp(60)B9, Tyr(61)B10, and Phe(93)E11. Trp(60)B9 and Tyr(61)B10 are involved in ligand stabilization in the distal heme pocket; the strength of their interaction was reflected by the spectra of the CO-ligated MaPgb* and by the CO dissociation rate constants. In contrast, Phe(93)E11 is a key player in sensing the heme-bound ligand and promotes the rotation of the Trp(60)B9 side chain, thus favoring ligand stabilization. Although the structural bases of the fast CO binding rate constant of MaPgb* are still unclear, Trp(60)B9, Tyr(61)B10, and Phe(93)E11 play a role in regulating heme/ligand affinity.

Biophysical journal, Jan 30, 2015

Trapping quaternary structures of hemoglobin in single crystals or by encapsulation in silica gel... more Trapping quaternary structures of hemoglobin in single crystals or by encapsulation in silica gels has provided a demanding set of data to test statistical mechanical models of allostery. In this work, we compare the results of those experiments with predictions of the four major allosteric models for hemoglobin: the quaternary two-state model of Monod, Wyman, and Changeux; the tertiary two-state model of Henry et al., which is the simplest extension of the Monod-Wyman-Changeux model to include pre-equilibria of tertiary as well as quaternary conformations; the structure-based model of Szabo and Karplus; and the modification of the latter model by Lee and Karplus. We show that only the tertiary two-state model can provide a near quantitative explanation of the single-crystal and gel experimental results.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2007

AHb1 is a hexacoordinated type 1 nonsymbiotic hemoglobin recently discovered in Arabidopsis thali... more AHb1 is a hexacoordinated type 1 nonsymbiotic hemoglobin recently discovered in Arabidopsis thaliana. To gain insight into the ligand migration inside the protein, we studied the CO rebinding kinetics of AHb1 encapsulated in silica gels, in the presence of glycerol. The CO rebinding kinetics after nanosecond laser flash photolysis exhibits complex ligand migration patterns, consistent with the existence of discrete docking sites in which ligands can temporarily be stored before rebinding to the heme at different times. This finding may be of relevance to the physiological NO dioxygenase activity of this protein, which requires sequential binding of two substrates, NO and O2, to the heme.

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2006

Haem proteins have long been the most studied proteins in biophysics, and have become paradigms f... more Haem proteins have long been the most studied proteins in biophysics, and have become paradigms for the characterization of fundamental biomolecular processes as ligand binding and regulatory conformational transitions. The presence of the haem prosthetic group, the absorbance spectrum of which has a ligation sensitive region conveniently located in the UV-visible range, has offered a powerful and sensitive tool for the investigation of molecular functions. The central Fe atom is capable of reversibly binding diatomic ligands, including O 2 , CO, and NO. The Fe-ligand bond is photolabile, and a reactive unligated state can be transiently generated with a pulsed laser. The photodissociated ligands quickly rebind to the haem and the process can be monitored by transient absorbance methods. The ligand rebinding kinetics reflects protein dynamics and ligand migration within the protein inner cavities. The characterization of these processes was done in the past mainly by low temperature experiments. The use of silica gels to trap proteins allows the characterization of internal ligand dynamics at room temperature. In order to show the potential of the laser flash photolysis techniques, combined with modern numerical analysis methods, we report experiments conducted on two non-symbiotic haemoglobins from Arabidopsis thaliana. The comparison between time courses recorded on haemoglobins in solution and encapsulated in silica gels allows for the highlighting of different interplays between protein dynamics and ligand migration.

Journal of the American Chemical Society, Jan 13, 2005

The kinetics of proton release after laser photolysis of 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl sulfate (caged su... more The kinetics of proton release after laser photolysis of 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl sulfate (caged sulfate) have been characterized by time-resolved absorbance and photoacoustic methods. The absorbance at approximately 400 nm is observed to rise with a biphasic behavior in which a prompt component (formation of the nitronic acid) is followed by a slower (tau approximately 63 +/- 6 ns) phase (deprotonation of the nitronic acid). The decay of this intermediate occurs with a lifetime which is affected by the pH of the solution and the laser pulse energy. In buffered aqueous solution at pH 7, 20 degrees C the aci-nitro decay rate is 18 +/- 4 s(-1). Protons are released to the solution with rate (1.58 +/- 0.09) x 10(7) s(-1) at neutral pH from the nitronic acid intermediate. From the numerical analysis of the protonation kinetics of suitable pH indicators, we could estimate the pK(a) of the nitronic acid as 3.69 +/- 0.05. At acidic pH, a substantial fraction of the aci-nitro intermediate is ...

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2005

We have used a nanosecond pH-jump technique, coupled with simultaneous transient absorption and f... more We have used a nanosecond pH-jump technique, coupled with simultaneous transient absorption and fluorescence emission detection, to characterize the dynamics of the acid-induced spectral changes in the GFPmut2 chromophore. Disappearance of the absorbance at 488 nm and the green fluorescence emission occurs with a thermally activated, double exponential relaxation. To understand the source of the two transients we have introduced mutations in amino acid residues that interact with the chromophore (H148G, T203V, and E222Q). Results indicate that the faster transient is associated with proton binding from the solution, while the second process, smaller in amplitude, is attributed to structural rearrangement of the amino acids surrounding the chromophore. The protonation rate shows a 3-fold increase for the H148G mutant, demonstrating that His148 plays a key role in protecting the chromophore from the solvent. The deprotonation rate for T203V is an order of magnitude smaller, showing that the hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl of Thr203 is important in stabilizing the deprotonated form of the chromophore. A kinetic model suggests that, in addition to protecting the chromophore from the solvent, His148 may act as the primary acceptor for the protons on the way to the chromophore.

PloS one, 2012

Protoglobin from Methanosarcina acetivorans (MaPgb) is a dimeric globin with peculiar structural ... more Protoglobin from Methanosarcina acetivorans (MaPgb) is a dimeric globin with peculiar structural properties such as a completely buried haem and two orthogonal tunnels connecting the distal cavity to the solvent. CO binding to and dissociation from MaPgb occur through a biphasic kinetics. We show that the heterogenous kinetics arises from binding to (and dissociation from) two tertiary conformations in ligation-dependent equilibrium. Ligation favours the species with high binding rate (and low dissociation rate). The equilibrium is shifted towards the species with low binding (and high dissociation) rates for the unliganded molecules. A quantitative model is proposed to describe the observed carbonylation kinetics.

Trihaem cytochrome c 3 (also known as cytochrome c 551.5 and cytochrome c 7 ) is isolated from th... more Trihaem cytochrome c 3 (also known as cytochrome c 551.5 and cytochrome c 7 ) is isolated from the periplasmic space of Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, a sulfur-reducing bacterium. Thermodynamic and kinetic data for the trihaem cytochrome c 3 are presented and discussed in the context of the possible physiological implications of its functional properties with respect to the natural habitat of D. acetoxidans, namely as a symbiont with green sulfur bacteria working as a mini-sulfuretum. The thermodynamic properties were determined through the fit of redox titration data, followed by NMR and visible spectroscopy, to a model of four functional centres that describes the network of cooperativities between the three haems and one protolytic centre. The kinetics of trihaem cytochrome c 3 reduction by sodium dithionite were studied using the stopped-flow technique and the data were fitted to a kinetic model that makes use of the thermodynamic properties to obtain the rate constants of the individual haems. This analysis indicates that the electrons enter the cytochrome mainly via haem I. The reduction potentials of the haems in this cytochrome show little variation with pH within the physiological range, and the kinetic studies show that the rates of reduction are also independent of pH in the range studied. Thus, although the trihaem cytochrome c 3 is readily reduced by hydrogenases from Desulfovibrio sp. and its haem core is similar to that of the homologous tetrahaem cytochromes c 3 , its physico-chemical properties are quite different, which suggests that these multihaem cytochromes with similar structures perform different functions.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014

Monod, Wyman, and Changeux (MWC) explained allostery in multisubunit proteins with a widely appli... more Monod, Wyman, and Changeux (MWC) explained allostery in multisubunit proteins with a widely applied theoretical model in which binding of small molecules, so-called allosteric effectors, affects reactivity by altering the equilibrium between more reactive (R) and less reactive (T) quaternary structures. In their model, each quaternary structure has a single reactivity. Here, we use silica gels to trap protein conformations and a new kind of laser photolysis experiment to show that hemoglobin, the paradigm of allostery, exhibits two ligand binding phases with the same fast and slow rates in both R and T quaternary structures. Allosteric effectors change the fraction of each phase but not the rates. These surprising results are readily explained by the simplest possible extension of the MWC model to include a preequilibrium between two tertiary conformations that have the same functional properties within each quaternary structure. They also have important implications for the long-standing question of a structural explanation for the difference in hemoglobin oxygen affinity of the two quaternary structures.

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2015

The protein encoded by the gene slr1393 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Slr139... more The protein encoded by the gene slr1393 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Slr1393) is composed of three GAF domains, a PAS domain, and a histidine kinase motif. The third GAF domain (referred to as GAF3) was previously characterized as the sole domain in this protein, being able to carry phycocyanobilin (PCB) as the chromophore and to accomplish photochemistry. GAF3 shows photochromicity, and is able to switch between a red-absorbing parental state (GAF3R, λmax = 649 nm) and a green-absorbing photoproduct state (GAF3G, λmax = 536 nm) upon appropriate irradiation. In this study we have determined the photochemical quantum yields for the interconversion between both forms using two methods: an "absolute" method and a reference-based control. The latter is a comparative procedure which exploits a well-characterized blue-light photoreceptor, YtvA from Bacillus subtilis, and the cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1 as actinometers. The former is an ad hoc developed, four laser-based setup where two cw lasers provide the pump beams to induce photoswitching (red to green and green to red, respectively) and two cw lasers simultaneously monitor the appearance and disappearance of the two species. Interestingly, fit analysis of the recorded transient absorbance changes provided a quantum yield for the green → red conversion (≈0.3) at least three times larger than for the red → green conversion (≈0.08). These data are in agreement with the results from the comparative method documenting the usefulness of the 'direct' method developed here for quantum yields' determination. The light-induced switching capability of this photochromic protein allowed measuring the kinetics of GAF3 immobilized on a glass plate, and within living, overexpressing Escherichia coli cells.

Methods in Enzymology, 2008

The presence of internal hydrophobic cavities and packing defects has been demonstrated for sever... more The presence of internal hydrophobic cavities and packing defects has been demonstrated for several small globular proteins, including hemoglobins. The reduced thermodynamic stability appears to be compensated for by the capability of controlling ligand diffusion through the protein matrix to the active site, possibly by stocking more than one reactant molecule in selected sites. Photolysis of carbon monoxide complexes of hemoglobins encapsulated in silica gels leads to multiphasic geminate rebinding kinetics at room temperature, reflecting rebinding also from different temporary docking sites inside the protein matrix. A careful analysis of the ligand rebinding kinetics allows the determination of the microscopic rates for the underlying reactions, including those governing the migration to and from the docking sites. This chapter describes the experimental approach used to characterize the ligand rebinding kinetics for heme proteins in silica gels after nanosecond laser flash photolysis and the computational methods necessary to retrieve the kinetic parameters.

Protein Science, 2001

To understand the interplay between tertiary and quaternary transitions associated with hemoglobi... more To understand the interplay between tertiary and quaternary transitions associated with hemoglobin function and regulation, oxygen binding curves were obtained for hemoglobin A fixed in the T quaternary state by encapsulation in wet porous silica gels. At pH 7.0 and 15°C, the oxygen pressure at half saturation (p50) was measured to be 12.4 ± 0.2 and 139 ± 4 torr for hemoglobin gels prepared in the absence and presence of the strong allosteric effectors inositol hexaphosphate and bezafibrate, respectively. Both values are in excellent agreement with those found for the binding of the first oxygen to hemoglobin in solution under similar experimental conditions. The corresponding Hill coefficients of hemoglobin gels were 0.94 ± 0.02 and 0.93 ± 0.03, indicating, in the frame of the Monod, Wyman, and Changeux model, that high and low oxygen-affinity tertiary T-state conformations have been isolated in a pure form. The values, slightly lower than unity, reflect the different oxygen affinity of ␣and ␤-hemes. Significantly, hemoglobin encapsulated in the presence of the weak effector phosphate led to gels that show intermediate oxygen affinity and Hill coefficients of 0.7 to 0.8. The heterogeneous oxygen binding results from the presence of a mixture of the high and low oxygen-affinity T states. The Bohr effect was measured for hemoglobin gels containing the pure conformations and found to be more pronounced for the high-affinity T state and almost absent for the low-affinity T state. These findings indicate that the functional properties of the T quaternary state result from the contribution of two distinct, interconverting conformations, characterized by a 10-fold difference in oxygen affinity and a different extent of tertiary Bohr effect. The very small degree of T-state cooperativity observed in solution and in the crystalline state might arise from a ligand-induced perturbation of the distribution between the high-and low-affinity T-state conformations.

Journal of Dairy Science, 2015

Using a combination of molecular modeling and spectroscopic experiments, the naturally occurring,... more Using a combination of molecular modeling and spectroscopic experiments, the naturally occurring, pharmacologically active hypericin compound is shown to form a stable complex with the dimeric form of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG). Binding is predicted to occur at the narrowest cleft found at the interface between monomers in the dimeric β-LG. The complex is able to preserve the fluorescence and singlet oxygen photosensitizing properties of the dye. The equilibrium constant for hypericin binding has been determined as K a = 1.40 ± 0.07 μM −1 , equivalent to a dissociation constant, K d = 0.71 ± 0.03 μM. The complex is active against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Overall, the results are encouraging for pursuing the potential application of the complex between hypericin and β-LG as a nanodevice with bactericidal properties for disinfection.

PloS One, in press, 2014

We report thermal recovery kinetics of the lit state into the parental dark state, measured for t... more We report thermal recovery kinetics of the lit state into the parental dark state, measured for the blue light-sensing photoreceptor YtvA inside overexpressing E. coli and B. subtilis bacterial cells, performed for the wild type and several mutated proteins. Recovery was followed as a recovery of the fluorescence, as this property is only found
for the parental but not for the photochemically generated lit state. When cells were deposited onto a microscope glass plate, the observed thermal recovery rate in the photocycle was found ca. ten times faster in comparison to purified YtvA in solution.
When the E. coli or B. subtilis colonies were soaked in an isotonic buffer, the dark relaxation became again much slower and was very similar to that observed for YtvA in solution. The observed effects show that rate constants can be tuned by the cellular environment through factors such as hydration.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 2015

Myoglobin (Mb) and neuroglobin (Ngb) are representative members of pentacoordinated and bis-histi... more Myoglobin (Mb) and neuroglobin (Ngb) are representative members of pentacoordinated and bis-histidyl, hexacoordinated globins. In spite of their low sequence identity, they show surprisingly similar three-dimensional folds. The ability of Ngb to form a hexacoordinated bis-histidyl complex with the distal HisE7 has a strong impact on ligand affinity. The factors governing such different behaviors have not been completely understood yet, even though they are extremely relevant to establish structure-function relationships within the globin superfamily. In this work we generated chimeric proteins by swapping a previously identified regulatory segment - the CD region - and evaluated comparatively the structural and functional properties of the resulting proteins by molecular dynamics simulations, and spectroscopic and kinetic investigations. Our results show that chimeric proteins display heme coordination properties displaced towards those expected for the corresponding CD region. In particular, in the absence of exogenous ligands, chimeric Mb is found as a partially hexacoordinated bis-histidyl species, whereas chimeric Ngb shows a lower equilibrium constant for forming a hexacoordinated bis-histidyl species. While these results confirm the regulatory role of the CD region for bis-histidyl hexacoordination, they also suggest that additional sources contribute to fine tune the equilibrium. General significance Globins constitute a ubiquitous group of heme proteins widely found in all kingdoms of life. These findings raise challenging questions regarding the structure-function relationships in these proteins, as bis-histidyl hexacoordination emerges as a novel regulatory mechanism of the physiological function of globins.

The Protein Journal, 2004

We have here investigated the dissociation kinetics of the His side chains axially ligated to the... more We have here investigated the dissociation kinetics of the His side chains axially ligated to the heme-iron in the ferric (1-56 residues) N-fragment of horse cyt c. The ligand deligation induced by acidic pH-jump occurs as a biexponential process with different pre-exponential factors, consistent with a structural heterogeneity in solution and the presence of two differently coordinated species. In analogy with GuHCl-denatured cyt c, our data indicate the presence in solution of two ferric forms of the N-fragment characterized by bis-His coordination, as summarized in the following scheme: His18-Fe(III)-His26 Ð His18-Fe(III)-His33. We have found that the pre-exponential factors depend on the extent of the pH-jump. This may be correlated with the different pK a values shown by His26 and His33; due to steric factors, His26 binds to the heme-Fe(III) less strongly than His33, as recently shown by studies on denatured cyt c. Interestingly, the two lifetimes are affected by temperature but not by the extent of the pH-jump. The lower pK a for the deligation reaction required the use of an improved laser pH-jump setup, capable of inducing changes in H þ concentration as large as 1 mM after the end of the laser pulse. For the ferric N-fragment, close activation entropy values have been determined for the two histidines coordinated to the iron; this result significantly differs from that for GuHCl-denatured cyt c, where largely different values of activation entropy were calculated. This underlines the role played by the missing segment (residues 57-104) peptide chain in discriminating deligation of the ''nonnative'' His from the sixth coordination position of the metal.

Biophysical Journal, 2011

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. DOI: 10.1039/C4PP00337C, 2015

The protein encoded by the gene slr1393 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Slr139... more The protein encoded by the gene slr1393 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Slr1393) is composed of three GAF domains, a PAS domain, and a histidine kinase motif. The third GAF domain (referred to as GAF3) was previously characterized as the sole domain in this protein able to carry phycocyanobilin (PCB) as chromophore and to accomplish photochemistry. GAF3 shows photochromicity, able to switch between a red-absorbing parental state (GAF3R, λmax = 649 nm) and a green-absorbing photoproduct state (GAF3G, λmax = 536 nm) upon appropriate irradiation. In this study we have determined the photochemical quantum yields for the interconversion between both forms using two methods: an “absolute” method and a reference-based control. The latter is a comparative procedure which exploits a well-known blue-light photoreceptor, YtvA from Bacillus subtilis, and the cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1 as actinometers. The former is an ad hoc developed, four laser-based set up where two cw lasers provide the pump beams to induce photoswitching (red to green and green to red, respectively) and two cw lasers simultaneously monitor the appearance and disappearance of the two species. Interestingly, fit analysis of the recorded transient absorbance changes provided a quantum yield for the green → red conversion (»0.3), at least three times larger than for the red → green conversion (»0.08). These data are in agreement with the results from the comparative method, documenting the usefulness of the here developed ‘direct’ method for quantum yields determination. The light-induced switching capability of this photochromic protein allowed measuring the kinetics of GAF3 immobilized on a glass plate, and within living, overexpressing Escherichia coli cells.

Themed issue on "Photofunctional proteins", Mar 1, 2015

"Light is Life: this should always be the slogan of humanity, but it is presently particularly tr... more "Light is Life: this should always be the slogan of humanity, but it is presently particularly true: 2015 has been in fact proclaimed the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies by the United Nations General Assembly. It is therefore especially significant that Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences (PPS) opens the year with a themed issue dedicated to photofunctional proteins, i.e. proteins whose functional properties are changed by illumination...."
Editorial for a Themed issue of Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences on "Photofunctional proteins"

PLOS ONE, 2015

Studies of CO ligand binding revealed that two protein states with different ligand affinities ex... more Studies of CO ligand binding revealed that two protein states with different ligand affinities exist in the protoglobin from Methanosarcina acetivorans (in MaPgb*, residue Cys(E20)101 was mutated to Ser). The switch between the two states occurs upon the ligation of MaPgb*. In this work, site-directed mutagenesis was used to explore the role of selected amino acids in ligand sensing and stabilization and in affecting the equilibrium between the "more reactive" and "less reactive" conformational states of MaPgb*. A combination of experimental data obtained from electronic and resonance Raman absorption spectra, CO ligand-binding kinetics, and X-ray crystallography was employed. Three amino acids were assigned a critical role: Trp(60)B9, Tyr(61)B10, and Phe(93)E11. Trp(60)B9 and Tyr(61)B10 are involved in ligand stabilization in the distal heme pocket; the strength of their interaction was reflected by the spectra of the CO-ligated MaPgb* and by the CO dissociation rate constants. In contrast, Phe(93)E11 is a key player in sensing the heme-bound ligand and promotes the rotation of the Trp(60)B9 side chain, thus favoring ligand stabilization. Although the structural bases of the fast CO binding rate constant of MaPgb* are still unclear, Trp(60)B9, Tyr(61)B10, and Phe(93)E11 play a role in regulating heme/ligand affinity.

Biophysical journal, Jan 30, 2015

Trapping quaternary structures of hemoglobin in single crystals or by encapsulation in silica gel... more Trapping quaternary structures of hemoglobin in single crystals or by encapsulation in silica gels has provided a demanding set of data to test statistical mechanical models of allostery. In this work, we compare the results of those experiments with predictions of the four major allosteric models for hemoglobin: the quaternary two-state model of Monod, Wyman, and Changeux; the tertiary two-state model of Henry et al., which is the simplest extension of the Monod-Wyman-Changeux model to include pre-equilibria of tertiary as well as quaternary conformations; the structure-based model of Szabo and Karplus; and the modification of the latter model by Lee and Karplus. We show that only the tertiary two-state model can provide a near quantitative explanation of the single-crystal and gel experimental results.

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 2007

AHb1 is a hexacoordinated type 1 nonsymbiotic hemoglobin recently discovered in Arabidopsis thali... more AHb1 is a hexacoordinated type 1 nonsymbiotic hemoglobin recently discovered in Arabidopsis thaliana. To gain insight into the ligand migration inside the protein, we studied the CO rebinding kinetics of AHb1 encapsulated in silica gels, in the presence of glycerol. The CO rebinding kinetics after nanosecond laser flash photolysis exhibits complex ligand migration patterns, consistent with the existence of discrete docking sites in which ligands can temporarily be stored before rebinding to the heme at different times. This finding may be of relevance to the physiological NO dioxygenase activity of this protein, which requires sequential binding of two substrates, NO and O2, to the heme.

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 2006

Haem proteins have long been the most studied proteins in biophysics, and have become paradigms f... more Haem proteins have long been the most studied proteins in biophysics, and have become paradigms for the characterization of fundamental biomolecular processes as ligand binding and regulatory conformational transitions. The presence of the haem prosthetic group, the absorbance spectrum of which has a ligation sensitive region conveniently located in the UV-visible range, has offered a powerful and sensitive tool for the investigation of molecular functions. The central Fe atom is capable of reversibly binding diatomic ligands, including O 2 , CO, and NO. The Fe-ligand bond is photolabile, and a reactive unligated state can be transiently generated with a pulsed laser. The photodissociated ligands quickly rebind to the haem and the process can be monitored by transient absorbance methods. The ligand rebinding kinetics reflects protein dynamics and ligand migration within the protein inner cavities. The characterization of these processes was done in the past mainly by low temperature experiments. The use of silica gels to trap proteins allows the characterization of internal ligand dynamics at room temperature. In order to show the potential of the laser flash photolysis techniques, combined with modern numerical analysis methods, we report experiments conducted on two non-symbiotic haemoglobins from Arabidopsis thaliana. The comparison between time courses recorded on haemoglobins in solution and encapsulated in silica gels allows for the highlighting of different interplays between protein dynamics and ligand migration.

Journal of the American Chemical Society, Jan 13, 2005

The kinetics of proton release after laser photolysis of 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl sulfate (caged su... more The kinetics of proton release after laser photolysis of 1-(2-nitrophenyl)ethyl sulfate (caged sulfate) have been characterized by time-resolved absorbance and photoacoustic methods. The absorbance at approximately 400 nm is observed to rise with a biphasic behavior in which a prompt component (formation of the nitronic acid) is followed by a slower (tau approximately 63 +/- 6 ns) phase (deprotonation of the nitronic acid). The decay of this intermediate occurs with a lifetime which is affected by the pH of the solution and the laser pulse energy. In buffered aqueous solution at pH 7, 20 degrees C the aci-nitro decay rate is 18 +/- 4 s(-1). Protons are released to the solution with rate (1.58 +/- 0.09) x 10(7) s(-1) at neutral pH from the nitronic acid intermediate. From the numerical analysis of the protonation kinetics of suitable pH indicators, we could estimate the pK(a) of the nitronic acid as 3.69 +/- 0.05. At acidic pH, a substantial fraction of the aci-nitro intermediate is ...

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2005

We have used a nanosecond pH-jump technique, coupled with simultaneous transient absorption and f... more We have used a nanosecond pH-jump technique, coupled with simultaneous transient absorption and fluorescence emission detection, to characterize the dynamics of the acid-induced spectral changes in the GFPmut2 chromophore. Disappearance of the absorbance at 488 nm and the green fluorescence emission occurs with a thermally activated, double exponential relaxation. To understand the source of the two transients we have introduced mutations in amino acid residues that interact with the chromophore (H148G, T203V, and E222Q). Results indicate that the faster transient is associated with proton binding from the solution, while the second process, smaller in amplitude, is attributed to structural rearrangement of the amino acids surrounding the chromophore. The protonation rate shows a 3-fold increase for the H148G mutant, demonstrating that His148 plays a key role in protecting the chromophore from the solvent. The deprotonation rate for T203V is an order of magnitude smaller, showing that the hydrogen bond with the hydroxyl of Thr203 is important in stabilizing the deprotonated form of the chromophore. A kinetic model suggests that, in addition to protecting the chromophore from the solvent, His148 may act as the primary acceptor for the protons on the way to the chromophore.

PloS one, 2012

Protoglobin from Methanosarcina acetivorans (MaPgb) is a dimeric globin with peculiar structural ... more Protoglobin from Methanosarcina acetivorans (MaPgb) is a dimeric globin with peculiar structural properties such as a completely buried haem and two orthogonal tunnels connecting the distal cavity to the solvent. CO binding to and dissociation from MaPgb occur through a biphasic kinetics. We show that the heterogenous kinetics arises from binding to (and dissociation from) two tertiary conformations in ligation-dependent equilibrium. Ligation favours the species with high binding rate (and low dissociation rate). The equilibrium is shifted towards the species with low binding (and high dissociation) rates for the unliganded molecules. A quantitative model is proposed to describe the observed carbonylation kinetics.

Trihaem cytochrome c 3 (also known as cytochrome c 551.5 and cytochrome c 7 ) is isolated from th... more Trihaem cytochrome c 3 (also known as cytochrome c 551.5 and cytochrome c 7 ) is isolated from the periplasmic space of Desulfuromonas acetoxidans, a sulfur-reducing bacterium. Thermodynamic and kinetic data for the trihaem cytochrome c 3 are presented and discussed in the context of the possible physiological implications of its functional properties with respect to the natural habitat of D. acetoxidans, namely as a symbiont with green sulfur bacteria working as a mini-sulfuretum. The thermodynamic properties were determined through the fit of redox titration data, followed by NMR and visible spectroscopy, to a model of four functional centres that describes the network of cooperativities between the three haems and one protolytic centre. The kinetics of trihaem cytochrome c 3 reduction by sodium dithionite were studied using the stopped-flow technique and the data were fitted to a kinetic model that makes use of the thermodynamic properties to obtain the rate constants of the individual haems. This analysis indicates that the electrons enter the cytochrome mainly via haem I. The reduction potentials of the haems in this cytochrome show little variation with pH within the physiological range, and the kinetic studies show that the rates of reduction are also independent of pH in the range studied. Thus, although the trihaem cytochrome c 3 is readily reduced by hydrogenases from Desulfovibrio sp. and its haem core is similar to that of the homologous tetrahaem cytochromes c 3 , its physico-chemical properties are quite different, which suggests that these multihaem cytochromes with similar structures perform different functions.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014

Monod, Wyman, and Changeux (MWC) explained allostery in multisubunit proteins with a widely appli... more Monod, Wyman, and Changeux (MWC) explained allostery in multisubunit proteins with a widely applied theoretical model in which binding of small molecules, so-called allosteric effectors, affects reactivity by altering the equilibrium between more reactive (R) and less reactive (T) quaternary structures. In their model, each quaternary structure has a single reactivity. Here, we use silica gels to trap protein conformations and a new kind of laser photolysis experiment to show that hemoglobin, the paradigm of allostery, exhibits two ligand binding phases with the same fast and slow rates in both R and T quaternary structures. Allosteric effectors change the fraction of each phase but not the rates. These surprising results are readily explained by the simplest possible extension of the MWC model to include a preequilibrium between two tertiary conformations that have the same functional properties within each quaternary structure. They also have important implications for the long-standing question of a structural explanation for the difference in hemoglobin oxygen affinity of the two quaternary structures.

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2015

The protein encoded by the gene slr1393 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Slr139... more The protein encoded by the gene slr1393 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (Slr1393) is composed of three GAF domains, a PAS domain, and a histidine kinase motif. The third GAF domain (referred to as GAF3) was previously characterized as the sole domain in this protein, being able to carry phycocyanobilin (PCB) as the chromophore and to accomplish photochemistry. GAF3 shows photochromicity, and is able to switch between a red-absorbing parental state (GAF3R, λmax = 649 nm) and a green-absorbing photoproduct state (GAF3G, λmax = 536 nm) upon appropriate irradiation. In this study we have determined the photochemical quantum yields for the interconversion between both forms using two methods: an "absolute" method and a reference-based control. The latter is a comparative procedure which exploits a well-characterized blue-light photoreceptor, YtvA from Bacillus subtilis, and the cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1 as actinometers. The former is an ad hoc developed, four laser-based setup where two cw lasers provide the pump beams to induce photoswitching (red to green and green to red, respectively) and two cw lasers simultaneously monitor the appearance and disappearance of the two species. Interestingly, fit analysis of the recorded transient absorbance changes provided a quantum yield for the green → red conversion (≈0.3) at least three times larger than for the red → green conversion (≈0.08). These data are in agreement with the results from the comparative method documenting the usefulness of the 'direct' method developed here for quantum yields' determination. The light-induced switching capability of this photochromic protein allowed measuring the kinetics of GAF3 immobilized on a glass plate, and within living, overexpressing Escherichia coli cells.

Methods in Enzymology, 2008

The presence of internal hydrophobic cavities and packing defects has been demonstrated for sever... more The presence of internal hydrophobic cavities and packing defects has been demonstrated for several small globular proteins, including hemoglobins. The reduced thermodynamic stability appears to be compensated for by the capability of controlling ligand diffusion through the protein matrix to the active site, possibly by stocking more than one reactant molecule in selected sites. Photolysis of carbon monoxide complexes of hemoglobins encapsulated in silica gels leads to multiphasic geminate rebinding kinetics at room temperature, reflecting rebinding also from different temporary docking sites inside the protein matrix. A careful analysis of the ligand rebinding kinetics allows the determination of the microscopic rates for the underlying reactions, including those governing the migration to and from the docking sites. This chapter describes the experimental approach used to characterize the ligand rebinding kinetics for heme proteins in silica gels after nanosecond laser flash photolysis and the computational methods necessary to retrieve the kinetic parameters.

Protein Science, 2001

To understand the interplay between tertiary and quaternary transitions associated with hemoglobi... more To understand the interplay between tertiary and quaternary transitions associated with hemoglobin function and regulation, oxygen binding curves were obtained for hemoglobin A fixed in the T quaternary state by encapsulation in wet porous silica gels. At pH 7.0 and 15°C, the oxygen pressure at half saturation (p50) was measured to be 12.4 ± 0.2 and 139 ± 4 torr for hemoglobin gels prepared in the absence and presence of the strong allosteric effectors inositol hexaphosphate and bezafibrate, respectively. Both values are in excellent agreement with those found for the binding of the first oxygen to hemoglobin in solution under similar experimental conditions. The corresponding Hill coefficients of hemoglobin gels were 0.94 ± 0.02 and 0.93 ± 0.03, indicating, in the frame of the Monod, Wyman, and Changeux model, that high and low oxygen-affinity tertiary T-state conformations have been isolated in a pure form. The values, slightly lower than unity, reflect the different oxygen affinity of ␣and ␤-hemes. Significantly, hemoglobin encapsulated in the presence of the weak effector phosphate led to gels that show intermediate oxygen affinity and Hill coefficients of 0.7 to 0.8. The heterogeneous oxygen binding results from the presence of a mixture of the high and low oxygen-affinity T states. The Bohr effect was measured for hemoglobin gels containing the pure conformations and found to be more pronounced for the high-affinity T state and almost absent for the low-affinity T state. These findings indicate that the functional properties of the T quaternary state result from the contribution of two distinct, interconverting conformations, characterized by a 10-fold difference in oxygen affinity and a different extent of tertiary Bohr effect. The very small degree of T-state cooperativity observed in solution and in the crystalline state might arise from a ligand-induced perturbation of the distribution between the high-and low-affinity T-state conformations.

Journal of Dairy Science, 2015

Using a combination of molecular modeling and spectroscopic experiments, the naturally occurring,... more Using a combination of molecular modeling and spectroscopic experiments, the naturally occurring, pharmacologically active hypericin compound is shown to form a stable complex with the dimeric form of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG). Binding is predicted to occur at the narrowest cleft found at the interface between monomers in the dimeric β-LG. The complex is able to preserve the fluorescence and singlet oxygen photosensitizing properties of the dye. The equilibrium constant for hypericin binding has been determined as K a = 1.40 ± 0.07 μM −1 , equivalent to a dissociation constant, K d = 0.71 ± 0.03 μM. The complex is active against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Overall, the results are encouraging for pursuing the potential application of the complex between hypericin and β-LG as a nanodevice with bactericidal properties for disinfection.

PloS One, in press, 2014

We report thermal recovery kinetics of the lit state into the parental dark state, measured for t... more We report thermal recovery kinetics of the lit state into the parental dark state, measured for the blue light-sensing photoreceptor YtvA inside overexpressing E. coli and B. subtilis bacterial cells, performed for the wild type and several mutated proteins. Recovery was followed as a recovery of the fluorescence, as this property is only found
for the parental but not for the photochemically generated lit state. When cells were deposited onto a microscope glass plate, the observed thermal recovery rate in the photocycle was found ca. ten times faster in comparison to purified YtvA in solution.
When the E. coli or B. subtilis colonies were soaked in an isotonic buffer, the dark relaxation became again much slower and was very similar to that observed for YtvA in solution. The observed effects show that rate constants can be tuned by the cellular environment through factors such as hydration.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 2015

Myoglobin (Mb) and neuroglobin (Ngb) are representative members of pentacoordinated and bis-histi... more Myoglobin (Mb) and neuroglobin (Ngb) are representative members of pentacoordinated and bis-histidyl, hexacoordinated globins. In spite of their low sequence identity, they show surprisingly similar three-dimensional folds. The ability of Ngb to form a hexacoordinated bis-histidyl complex with the distal HisE7 has a strong impact on ligand affinity. The factors governing such different behaviors have not been completely understood yet, even though they are extremely relevant to establish structure-function relationships within the globin superfamily. In this work we generated chimeric proteins by swapping a previously identified regulatory segment - the CD region - and evaluated comparatively the structural and functional properties of the resulting proteins by molecular dynamics simulations, and spectroscopic and kinetic investigations. Our results show that chimeric proteins display heme coordination properties displaced towards those expected for the corresponding CD region. In particular, in the absence of exogenous ligands, chimeric Mb is found as a partially hexacoordinated bis-histidyl species, whereas chimeric Ngb shows a lower equilibrium constant for forming a hexacoordinated bis-histidyl species. While these results confirm the regulatory role of the CD region for bis-histidyl hexacoordination, they also suggest that additional sources contribute to fine tune the equilibrium. General significance Globins constitute a ubiquitous group of heme proteins widely found in all kingdoms of life. These findings raise challenging questions regarding the structure-function relationships in these proteins, as bis-histidyl hexacoordination emerges as a novel regulatory mechanism of the physiological function of globins.

The Protein Journal, 2004

We have here investigated the dissociation kinetics of the His side chains axially ligated to the... more We have here investigated the dissociation kinetics of the His side chains axially ligated to the heme-iron in the ferric (1-56 residues) N-fragment of horse cyt c. The ligand deligation induced by acidic pH-jump occurs as a biexponential process with different pre-exponential factors, consistent with a structural heterogeneity in solution and the presence of two differently coordinated species. In analogy with GuHCl-denatured cyt c, our data indicate the presence in solution of two ferric forms of the N-fragment characterized by bis-His coordination, as summarized in the following scheme: His18-Fe(III)-His26 Ð His18-Fe(III)-His33. We have found that the pre-exponential factors depend on the extent of the pH-jump. This may be correlated with the different pK a values shown by His26 and His33; due to steric factors, His26 binds to the heme-Fe(III) less strongly than His33, as recently shown by studies on denatured cyt c. Interestingly, the two lifetimes are affected by temperature but not by the extent of the pH-jump. The lower pK a for the deligation reaction required the use of an improved laser pH-jump setup, capable of inducing changes in H þ concentration as large as 1 mM after the end of the laser pulse. For the ferric N-fragment, close activation entropy values have been determined for the two histidines coordinated to the iron; this result significantly differs from that for GuHCl-denatured cyt c, where largely different values of activation entropy were calculated. This underlines the role played by the missing segment (residues 57-104) peptide chain in discriminating deligation of the ''nonnative'' His from the sixth coordination position of the metal.