Ultrafast Structural Evolution and Chromophore Inhomogeneity inside a Green-Fluorescent-Protein-Based Ca(2+) Biosensor

J Phys Chem Lett. 2016 Apr 7;7(7):1225-30. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b00236. Epub 2016 Mar 18.

Abstract

Understanding excited-state structural dynamics of fluorescent-protein-based biosensors for Ca(2+) imaging is crucial for developing new in vivo Ca(2+) indicators and advancing bioimaging. We implemented wavelength-tunable femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) with a 530 nm Raman pump to uncover the working mechanism of an intensiometric fluorescent-protein biosensor, G-GECO1.1, highlighting the deprotonation process of its embedded chromophore. Besides confirming the dynamic difference of excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) in the Ca(2+)-free/bound protein, we revealed a chromophore two-ring twisting process with time constants of 36/60 ps that competes with ESPT. In contrast with FSRS data collected using the 800 nm Raman pump, the bluer Raman pump enables us to access a subset of reactant population with partially deprotonated character that exhibits an additional ESPT component on the ∼5 ps time scale. These findings provide deep mechanistic insights into the inhomogeneity and subpopulation-specific conformational dynamics of biosensor chromophores, which will guide the rational design of improved biosensors for metal ion imaging.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biosensing Techniques / methods*
  • Calcium / analysis*
  • Cations, Divalent / analysis
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / chemistry*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*

Substances

  • Cations, Divalent
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Calcium