Alternative Electron-Transfer Channels Ensure Ultrafast Deactivation of Light-Induced Excited States in Riboflavin Binding Protein

J Phys Chem Lett. 2017 Jul 20;8(14):3321-3327. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b01575. Epub 2017 Jul 7.

Abstract

Flavoproteins, containing flavin chromophores, are enzymes capable of transferring electrons at very high speeds. The ultrafast photoinduced electron-transfer (ET) kinetics of riboflavin binding protein to the excited riboflavin was studied by femtosecond spectroscopy and found to occur within a few hundred femtoseconds [ Zhong and Zewail, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2001, 98, 11867-11872 ]. This ultrafast kinetics was attributed to the presence of two aromatic rings that could transfer the electron to riboflavin: the side chains of tryptophan 156 and tyrosine 75. However, the underlying ET mechanism remained unclear. Here, using a hybrid quantum mechanical-molecular dynamics approach, we perform ET dynamics simulations taking into account the motion of the protein and the solvent upon ET. This approach reveals that ET occurs via a major reaction channel involving tyrosine 75 (83%) and a minor one involving tryptophan 156 (17%). We also show that the protein environment is designed to ensure the fast quenching of the riboflavin excited state.

MeSH terms

  • Electron Transport*
  • Kinetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Protein Binding*
  • Quantum Theory*
  • Riboflavin
  • Tryptophan / chemistry
  • Tyrosine / chemistry

Substances

  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • riboflavin-binding protein
  • Tyrosine
  • Tryptophan
  • Riboflavin