Protein ligand migration mapped by nonequilibrium 2D-IR exchange spectroscopy

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Sep 4;104(36):14243-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0607758104. Epub 2007 Jan 29.

Abstract

2D-IR exchange spectroscopy has been introduced recently to map chemical exchange networks in equilibrium with subpicosecond time resolution. Here, we demonstrate the generalization of 2D-IR exchange spectroscopy to nonequilibrium systems and its application to map light-triggered migration of ligands between different sites in a protein. Within picoseconds after a photodissociating laser pulse, carbon monoxide ligands relocate from their binding site A at the heme prosthetic group of myoglobin to a primary docking site B in the distal heme pocket. Multiple CO stretching bands are observed for the CO ligand in sites A and B, indicating that several distinct conformational substates of the myoglobin:ligand complex coexist in solution. Exchange cross-peaks between the bands associated with substates of heme-bound CO and photodissociated CO in the primary docking site reveal the substate connectivity at physiological temperature.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ligands
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Myoglobin / chemistry*
  • Myoglobin / genetics
  • Myoglobin / metabolism*
  • Spectrophotometry, Infrared / methods*
  • Swine
  • Valine / genetics
  • Valine / metabolism

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Myoglobin
  • Valine