Effects of pH on the S3 State of the Oxygen Evolving Complex in Photosystem II Probed by EPR Split Signal Induction

• The electrons extracted from the CaMn4 cluster during water oxidation in photosystem II are transferred to P-680(+) via the redox-active tyrosine D1-Tyr161 (Y-z). Upon Y-z oxidation a proton moves in a hydrogen bond toward D1-His190 (His(z)). The deprotonation and reprotonation mechanism of Y-z-OH/Y-z-O is of key importance for the catalytic turnover of photosystem II. By light illumination at liquid helium temperatures (similar to 5 K) Y-z can be oxidized to its neutral radical, Y-z(center dot). This can be followed by the induction of a split EPR signal from Y-z(center dot) in a magnetic interaction with the CaMn4 cluster, offering a way to probe for Y-z oxidation in active photosystem II. In the S-3 state, light in the near-infrared region induces the split S-3 EPR signal, S-2'Y-z(center dot). Here we report on the pH dependence for the induction of S-2'Y-z(center dot) between pH 4.0 and pH 8.7. At acidic pH the split S-3 EPR signal decreases with the apparent pK(a) (pK(app)) similar to 4.1. This can be correlated to a titration event that disrupts the essential H-bond in the Y-z-His(z) motif. At alkaline pH, the split S-3 EPR signal decreases with the pK(app) similar to 7.5. The analysis of this pH dependence is complicated by the presence of an alkaline-induced split EPR signal (pK(app) similar to 8.3) promoted by a change in the redox potential of Y-z. Our results allow dissection of the proton-coupled electron transfer reactions in the S-3 state and provide further evidence that the radical involved in the split EPR signals is indeed Y-z(center dot).

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NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

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Chemistry

Kemi

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