SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF REACTION CENTERS OF THE (M)Y210W MUTANT OF THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIUM RHODOBACTER-SPHAEROIDES

The tyrosine-(M)210 of the reaction center of RHodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 has been changed to a tryptophan using site-directed mutagenesis. The reaction center of this mutant has been characterized by low-temperature absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, time-resolved sub-picosecond spectroscopy, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The charge separation process showed bi-exponential kinetics at room temperature, with a main time constant of 36 ps and an additional fast time constant of 5.1 ps. Temperature dependent fluorescence measurements predict that the lifetime of P-* becomes 4-5 times slower at cryogenic temperatures. From EPR and absorbance-detected magnetic resonance (ADMR, LD-ADMR) we conclude that the dimeric structure of P is not significantly changed upon mutation. In contrast, the interaction of the accessory bacteriochlorophyll B-A with its environment appears to be altered, possibly because of a change in its position.