The functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering
This short review summarizes our current knowledge about the functional relevance of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers. In the case of Photosystem II membrane fragments, elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering experiments reveal a dynamical transition at about 240 K correspondi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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EDP Sciences
2015-01-01
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| Series: | EPJ Web of Conferences |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20158302013 |
| _version_ | 1818385353636052992 |
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| author | Pieper Jörg |
| author_facet | Pieper Jörg |
| author_sort | Pieper Jörg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This short review summarizes our current knowledge about the functional relevance of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers. In the case of Photosystem II membrane fragments, elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering experiments reveal a dynamical transition at about 240 K corresponding to the activation of picosecond molecular motions. Likewise, a “freezing” of molecular dynamics is observed upon dehydration. Intriguingly, these effects correlate with the pronounced temperature- and hydration-dependence of specific electron transfer steps in Photosystem II indicating that molecular dynamics is an indispensable prerequisite for its function. Thus, electron transfer in Photosystem II appears to be a prototypical example for a dynamics-function correlation. Finally, the laser-neutron pump-probe technique is shown to permit in-situ monitoring of molecular dynamics in specific functional states of a protein in real time. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:36:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-397aee3281874cbd80d0a47b5c80e827 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2100-014X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T03:36:49Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | EDP Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | EPJ Web of Conferences |
| spelling | doaj.art-397aee3281874cbd80d0a47b5c80e8272022-12-21T23:18:35ZengEDP SciencesEPJ Web of Conferences2100-014X2015-01-01830201310.1051/epjconf/20158302013epjconf-Qens-Wins2014_02013The functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scatteringPieper JörgThis short review summarizes our current knowledge about the functional relevance of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers. In the case of Photosystem II membrane fragments, elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering experiments reveal a dynamical transition at about 240 K corresponding to the activation of picosecond molecular motions. Likewise, a “freezing” of molecular dynamics is observed upon dehydration. Intriguingly, these effects correlate with the pronounced temperature- and hydration-dependence of specific electron transfer steps in Photosystem II indicating that molecular dynamics is an indispensable prerequisite for its function. Thus, electron transfer in Photosystem II appears to be a prototypical example for a dynamics-function correlation. Finally, the laser-neutron pump-probe technique is shown to permit in-situ monitoring of molecular dynamics in specific functional states of a protein in real time.http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20158302013 |
| spellingShingle | Pieper Jörg The functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering EPJ Web of Conferences |
| title | The functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering |
| title_full | The functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering |
| title_fullStr | The functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering |
| title_full_unstemmed | The functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering |
| title_short | The functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering |
| title_sort | functional role of protein dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers investigated by elastic and quasielastic neutron scattering |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/20158302013 |
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