Temperature jump-induced secondary structural change of the membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin in the premelting temperature region: A nanosecond time-resolved Fourier transform infrared study

The secondary structural changes of the membrane protein, bacteriorhodopsin, are studied during the premelting reversible transition by using laser-induced temperature jump technique and nanosecond time-resolved Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The helical structural changes are triggered by using a 15 degrees C temperature jump induced from a preheated bacteriorhodopsin in D2O solution at a temperature of 72 degrees C. The structural transition from alpha(II)- to alpha(I)-helices is observed by following the change in the frequency of the amide I band from 1667 to 1651 cm(-1) and the shift in the frequency of the amide II vibration from 1542 cm(-1) to 1436 cm(-1) upon H/D exchange. It is found that although the amide I band changes its frequency on a time scale of <100 ns, the H/D exchange shifts the frequency of the amide II band and causes a complex changes in the 1651-1600 cm(-1) and 1530-1430 cm(-1) frequency region on a longer time scale (>300 ns). Our result suggests that in this "premelting transition" temperature region of bacterioriorhodopsin, an intrahelical conformation conversion of the alpha(II) to alpha(I) leads to the exposure of the hydrophobic region of the protein to the aqueous medium.