Photo-CIDNP 13C magic angle spinning NMR on bacterial reaction centres: exploring the electronic structure of the special pair and its surroundings

Biol Chem. 2001 Aug;382(8):1271-6. doi: 10.1515/BC.2001.158.

Abstract

Photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarisation (photo-CIDNP) in intact bacterial reaction centres has been observed by 13C-solid state NMR under continuous illumination with white light. Strong intensity enhancement of 13C NMR signals of the aromatic rings allows probing the electronic ground state of the two BChl cofactors of the special pair at the molecular scale with atomic selectivity. Differences between the two BChl cofactors are discussed. Several aliphatic 13C atoms of cofactors, as well as 13C atoms of the imidazole ring of histidine residue(s), show nuclear-spin polarisation to the same extent as the aromatic nuclei of the cofactors. Mechanisms and applications of polarisation transfer are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Isotopes / chemistry
  • Chlorophyll / chemistry
  • Histidine / chemistry
  • Magnesium / chemistry
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Photochemistry / methods
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / chemistry*
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / metabolism
  • Rhodobacter sphaeroides / chemistry

Substances

  • Carbon Isotopes
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
  • Chlorophyll
  • Histidine
  • Magnesium