Tetranuclear Manganese Cluster Research Articles

Multifrequency Pulsed Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Study of the S2 State of the Photosystem II Manganese Cluster

Multifrequency electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy is employed to measure the strength of the hyperfine coupling of magnetic nuclei to the paramagnetic (S = 1/2) S2 form of photosystem II (PSII). Previous X-band-frequency ESEEM studies indicated that one or more histidine nitrogens are electronically coupled to the tetranuclear manganese cluster in the S2 state of PSII. However, the spectral resolution was relatively poor at the approximately 9 GHz excitation frequency, precluding any in-depth analysis of the corresponding bonding interaction between the detected histidine and the manganese cluster. Here we report ESEEM experiments using higher X-, P-, and Ka-band microwave frequencies to target PSII membranes isolated from spinach. The X- to P-band ESEEM spectra suffer from the same poor resolution as that observed in previous experiments, while the Ka-band spectra show remarkably well-resolved features that allow for the direct determination of the nuclear quadrupolar couplings for a single I = 1(14)N nucleus. The Ka-band results demonstrate that at an applied field of 1.1 T we are much closer to the exact cancellation limit (alpha iso = 2nu(14)N) that optimizes ESEEM spectra. These results reveal hyperfine (alpha iso = 7.3 +/- 0.20 MHz and alpha dip = 0.50 +/- 0.10 MHz) and nuclear quadrupolar (e(2)qQ = 1.98 +/- 0.05 MHz and eta = 0.84 +/- 0.06) couplings for a single (14)N nucleus magnetically coupled to the manganese cluster in the S 2 state of PSII. These values are compared to the histidine imidazole nitrogen hyperfine and nuclear quadrupolar couplings found in superoxidized manganese catalase as well as (14)N couplings in relevant manganese model complexes.

Novel Manganese(II) Sulfonate−Phosphonates with Dinuclear, Tetranuclear, and Hexanuclear Clusters

Hydrothermal reactions of manganese(II) salts with m-sulfophenylphosphonic acid (m-HO3S-Ph-PO3H2, H3L) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) led to six novel manganese(II) sulfonate-phosphonates, namely, [Mn2(HL)2(phen)4][Mn2(HL)2(phen)4(H2O)](2).6H2O (1), [Mn4(L)2(phen)8(H2O)2][ClO4](2).3H2O (2), [Mn(phen)(H2O)4]2[Mn4(L)4(phen)4].10H2O (3), [Mn6(L)4(phen)8(H2O)2].4H2O (4), [Mn6(L)4(phen)8(H2O)2].24H2O (5), and [Mn6(L)4(phen)6(H2O)4].5H2O (6). The structure of 1 contains two types of dinuclear manganese(II) clusters, and 2-3 exhibit two types of tetranuclear manganese(II) cluster units. 4-5 feature two different types of isolated hexanuclear manganese(II) clusters, whereas the hexanuclear manganese(II) clusters in 6 are bridged by sulfonate-phosphonate ligands into a 1D chain. Magnetic property measurements indicate that there exist weak antiferromagnetic interactions between magnetic centers in all six compounds.

Probing the Functional Role of Ca2+ in the Oxygen-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II by Metal Ion Inhibition

Photosynthetic oxygen evolution in photosystem II (PSII) takes place in the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) that is comprised of a tetranuclear manganese cluster (Mn4), a redox-active tyrosine residue (YZ), and Ca2+ and Cl- cofactors. The OEC is successively oxidized by the absorption of 4 quanta of light that results in the oxidation of water and the release of O2. Ca2+ is an essential cofactor in the water-oxidation reaction, as its depletion causes the loss of the oxygen-evolution activity in PSII. In recent X-ray crystal structures, Ca2+ has been revealed to be associated with the Mn4 cluster of PSII. Although several mechanisms have been proposed for the water-oxidation reaction of PSII, the role of Ca2+ in oxygen evolution remains unclear. In this study, we probe the role of Ca2+ in oxygen evolution by monitoring the S1 to S2 state transition in PSII membranes and PSII core complexes upon inhibition of oxygen evolution by Dy3+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ ions. By using a cation-exchange procedure in which Ca2+ is not removed prior to addition of the studied cations, we achieve a high degree of reversible inhibition of PSII membranes and PSII core complexes by Dy3+, Cu2+, and Cd2+ ions. EPR spectroscopy is used to quantitate the number of bound Dy3+ and Cu2+ ions per PSII center and to determine the proximity of Dy3+ to other paramagnetic centers in PSII. We observe, for the first time, the S2 state multiline electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal in Dy3+- and Cd2+-inhibited PSII and conclude that the Ca2+ cofactor is not specifically required for the S1 to S2 state transition of PSII. This observation provides direct support for the proposal that Ca2+ plays a structural role in the early S-state transitions, which can be fulfilled by other cations of similar ionic radius, and that the functional role of Ca2+ to activate water in the O-O bond-forming reaction that occurs in the final step of the S state cycle can only be fulfilled by Ca2+ and Sr2+, which have similar Lewis acidities.

Tetranuclear manganese(III) clusters containing both carboxylate and phosphonate bridging ligands

This paper reports two tetranuclear manganese clusters, namely, [Mn 4O 2(O 2CCH 3) 4(O 3PC 6H 11) 2(phen) 2] ( 1) and [Mn 4O 2(O 2CPh) 4 (O 3PC 6H 11) 2(bpy) 2] ( 2). Both contain a butterfly-like [Mn 4(μ 3-O) 2] 8+ core. The neighboring Mn atoms within the core are bridged by the carboxylate groups, forming approximately a plane. The phosphonate ligands locate above and below the plane, and cap on top of the Mn 3O triangles by using its three phosphonate oxygen atoms. The magnetic measurements of complexes 1 and 2 reveal that dominant antiferromagnetic interactions are propagated between the magnetic centers.

Time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy detects protein-based intermediates in the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving cycle.

Photosynthetic oxygen production by photosystem II (PSII) is responsible for the maintenance of aerobic life on earth. The production of oxygen occurs at the PSII oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), which contains a tetranuclear manganese (Mn) cluster. Photo-induced electron transfer events in the reaction center lead to the accumulation of oxidizing equivalents on the OEC. Four sequential photooxidation reactions are required for oxygen production. The oxidizing complex cycles among five oxidation states, called the S(n) states, where n refers to the number of oxidizing equivalents stored. Oxygen release occurs during the S(3)-to-S(0) transition from an unstable intermediate, known as the S(4) state. In this report, we present data providing evidence for the production of an intermediate during each S state transition. These protein-derived intermediates are produced on the microsecond to millisecond time scale and are detected by time-resolved vibrational spectroscopy on the microsecond time scale. Our results suggest that a protein-derived conformational change or proton transfer reaction precedes Mn redox reactions during the S(2)-to-S(3) and S(3)-to-S(0) transitions.

A carboxylic residue at the high-affinity, Mn-binding site participates in the binding of iron cations that block the site

The role of carboxylic residues at the high-affinity, Mn-binding site in the ligation of iron cations blocking the site [Biochemistry 41 (2000) 5854] was studied, using a method developed to extract the iron cations blocking the site. We found that specifically bound Fe(III) cations can be extracted with citrate buffer at pH 3.0. Furthermore, citrate can also prevent the photooxidation of Fe(II) cations by Y Z . Participation of a COOH group(s) in the ligation of Fe(III) at the high-affinity site was investigated using 1-ethyl-3-[(3-dimethylamino)propyl] carbodiimide (EDC), a chemical modifier of carboxylic amino acid residues. Modification of the COOH groups inhibits the light-induced oxidation of exogenous Mn(II) cations by Mn-depleted photosystem II (PSII[−Mn]) membranes. The rate of Mn(II) oxidation saturates at ≥10 μM in PSII(−Mn) membranes and ≥500 μM in EDC-treated PSII (−Mn) samples. Intact PSII(−Mn) membranes have only one site for Mn(II) oxidation via Y Z (dissociation constant, K d = 0.64 μM), while EDC-treated PSII(−Mn) samples have two sites ( K d = 1.52 and 22 μM; the latter is the low-affinity site). When PSII(−Mn) membranes were incubated with Fe(II) before modifier treatment (to block the high-affinity site) and the blocking iron cations were extracted with citrate (pH 3.0) after modification, the membranes contained only one site ( K d = 2.3 μM) for exogenous Mn(II) oxidation by Y Z radical. In this case, the rate of electron donation via Y Z saturated at a Mn(II) concentration ≥15 μM. These results indicate that the carboxylic residue participating in Mn(II) coordination and the binding of oxidized manganese cations at the HA Z site is protected from the action of the modifier by the iron cations blocking the HA Z site. We concluded that the carboxylic residue (D1 Asp-170) participating in the coordination of the manganese cation at the HA Z site (Mn4 in the tetranuclear manganese cluster [Science 303 (2004) 1831]) is also involved in the ligation of the Fe cation(s) blocking the high-affinity Mn-binding site.

Electronic and spin structures of manganese clusters in the photosynthesis II system

Electronic and spin structures of manganese clusters, Mn 4O 4 ( 1), CaMn 3O 4 ( 2), Mn 3O 4 ( 3), MnX ( 4), and CaMn 4O 4 ( 5), in the photosynthesis II system are investigated using the classical and quantum Heisenberg models. The molecular orbital calculations by the use of general spin orbitals (GSO) are performed for cubane-type calcium manganese cluster 2 with noncollinear spin alignment, which has also been concluded in our previous studies of 1 and 3. The calculated results, together with available experiments, enable us to propose possible electronic states (from S 0 to S 4) of tetranuclear manganese cluster 5, which is the active site of oxygen evolution center (OEC). The low-spin (LS) ground states of 2– 5 are consistent with the ESR and other magnetic observations. A new reaction scheme for oxygen evolution from water is resulted from both theoretical and experimental results for manganese clusters 1– 5 in OEC on the basis of the newly determined X-ray structure by Ferreira et al. [Science 303 (2004) 1831]. In this mechanism, both calcium and manganese ions play important roles for formation of peroxide anion bridge, which is the precursor of molecular oxygen. Implications of computational results are discussed in relation to a key role of the high-valent manganese oxo (Mn(V) O) species in OEC for oxygen evolution from water. Our previous and present computations conclude that Mn(V) O plays a crucial role in both native and artificial OEC systems.

Investigation of the Functional Role of Ca2+ in the Oxygen‐Evolving Complex of Photosystem II: A pH‐Dependence Study of the Substitution of Ca2+ by Sr2+

AbstractThe oxygen‐evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) is the catalytic site for the oxidation of water to O2 in photosynthesis. The OEC consists of a tetranuclear manganese (Mn4) cluster with calcium and chloride ions functioning as essential cofactors. Previous studies have shown that substitution of Ca2+ in the OEC by various divalent and trivalent metal ions results in the loss of oxygen‐evolution activity of PSII. Sr2+ is the only ion that has been found to restore the oxygen‐evolving activity in PSII. Although several models have been proposed for the mechanism of water oxidation in PSII, the functional role of Ca2+ remains unclear. In order to test the proposal that Ca2+ functions as a Lewis acid in water oxidation chemistry, the pH dependence of the oxygen‐evolution activity of intact Ca2+‐containing PSII and Sr2+‐substituted PSII has been investigated. In both samples, the pH dependence exhibits a bell‐shaped curve. Sr2+ substitution shifts the peak of the curve to higher pH in comparison to Ca2+‐containing PSII. The pH‐dependent O2‐evolving rates of these two samples are fit to a diprotic model in which protonation of an essential basic group at acidic pH inhibits activity (pKa1) and deprotonation of an essential acidic group at higher pH inhibits activity (pKa2). Sr2+ substitution has no effect on pKa2. This result suggests that the high pH inhibition may be on the electron‐acceptor side of PSII. On the other hand, Sr2+ substitution causes pKa1 to be shifted to higher pH by 1.0 pH unit. This pH‐shift indicates a direct role of Ca2+/Sr2+ in the OEC. The functional role of Ca2+ in oxygen evolution in PSII is discussed based on these results.

Structural Studies of the Manganese Stabilizing Subunit in Photosystem II

Photosystem II (PSII) is the plant photosynthetic reaction center that carries out the light driven oxidation of water. The water splitting reactions are catalyzed at a tetranuclear manganese cluster. The manganese stabilizing protein (MSP) of PSII stabilizes the manganese cluster and accelerates the rate of oxygen evolution. MSP can be removed from PSII, with an accompanying decrease in activity. Either an Escherichia coli expressed version of MSP or native, plant MSP can be rebound to the PSII reaction center; MSP reconstitution reverses the deleterious effects associated with MSP removal. We have employed Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and solution small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques to investigate the structure of MSP in solution and to define the structural changes that occur before and after reconstitution to PSII. FTIR and SAXS are complementary, because FTIR spectroscopy detects changes in MSP secondary structure and SAXS detects changes in MSP size/shape. From the SAXS data, we conclude that the size/shape and domain structure of MSP do not change when MSP binds to PSII. From FTIR data acquired before and after reconstitution, we conclude that the reconstitution-induced increase in β-sheet content, which was previously reported, persists after MSP is removed from the PSII reaction center. However, the secondary structural change in MSP is metastable after removal from PSII, which indicates that this form of MSP is not the lowest energy conformation in solution.

Nonexponential magnetization relaxation in a manganese single-molecule magnet

Abstract The magnetization relaxation in a tetranuclear manganese cluster Mn4(pdmH) has been investigated with an extraction and a Faraday magnetometer at 0.14– 0.75 K . The relaxation curves in the tunneling regime show the “square-root time” dependence for a short time after reversing the magnetization. This fact suggests the hyperfine and inter-cluster dipolar interactions play important roles for the relaxation.

Water oxidation chemistry of photosystem II.

The O(2)-evolving complex of photosystem II catalyses the light-driven four-electron oxidation of water to dioxygen in photosynthesis. In this article, the steps leading to photosynthetic O(2) evolution are discussed. Emphasis is given to the proton-coupled electron-transfer steps involved in oxidation of the manganese cluster by oxidized tyrosine Z (Y(*)(Z)), the function of Ca(2+) and the mechanism by which water is activated for formation of an O-O bond. Based on a consideration of the biophysical studies of photosystem II and inorganic manganese model chemistry, a mechanism for photosynthetic O(2) evolution is presented in which the O-O bond-forming step occurs via nucleophilic attack on an electron-deficient Mn(V)=O species by a calcium-bound water molecule. The proposed mechanism includes specific roles for the tetranuclear manganese cluster, calcium, chloride, Y(Z) and His190 of the D1 polypeptide. Recent studies of the ion selectivity of the calcium site in the O(2)-evolving complex and of a functional inorganic manganese model system that test key aspects of this mechanism are also discussed.

N-terminal truncations of manganese stabilizing protein identify two amino acid sequences required for binding of the eukaryotic protein to photosystem II and reveal the absence of one binding-related sequence in cyanobacteria.

Manganese stabilizing protein (MSP) is an intrinsically disordered extrinsic subunit of photosystem II that regulates the stability and kinetic performance of the tetranuclear manganese cluster that oxidizes water to oxygen. An earlier study showed that deletion of the (1)E-(3)G domain of MSP caused no loss of activity reconstitution, whereas deletion of the (4)K-(10)E domain reduced binding of the protein from 2 to 1 mol of MSP/mol of photosystem II and lowered activity reconstitution to about 50% of the control value [Popelkova et al. (2002) Biochemistry 41, 2702-2711]. In this work we present evidence that deletion of 13 or 14 amino acid residues from the MSP N-terminus (mutants DeltaS13M and DeltaK14M) does not interfere either with functional binding of one copy of MSP to photosystem II or with reconstitution of oxygen evolution activity to 50% of the control level. Both of these mutants exhibit nonspecific binding to photosystem II at higher protein concentrations. Truncation of the MSP sequence by 18 amino acids (mutant DeltaE18M), however, causes a loss of protein binding and activity reconstitution. This result demonstrates that the N-terminal domain (15)T-(18)E is required for binding of at least one copy of MSP to photosystem II. Analyses of CD spectra reveal changes in the structure of DeltaE18M (loss of beta-sheet, gain of unordered structure). Use of the information gained from these experiments in analyses of N-terminal sequences of MSP from a number of species indicates that higher plants and algae possess two recognition domains that are required for MSP binding to PSII, whereas cyanobacteria lack the first N-terminal domain found in eukaryotes. This may explain the absence of a second copy of MSP in the crystal structure of PSII from Synechococcus elongatus [Zouni et al. (2001) Nature 409, 739-743].

Does histidine 332 of the D1 polypeptide ligate the manganese cluster in photosystem II? An electron spin echo envelope modulation study.

The tetranuclear manganese cluster in photosystem II is ligated by one or more histidine residues, as shown by an electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) study conducted with [(15)N]histidine-labeled photosystem II particles isolated from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 [Tang, X.-S., Diner, B. A., Larsen, B. S., Gilchrist, M. L., Jr., Lorigan, G. A., and Britt, R. D. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 704-708]. One of these residues may be His332 of the D1 polypeptide. Photosystem II particles isolated from the Synechocystis mutant D1-H332E exhibit an altered S(2) state multiline EPR signal that has more hyperfine lines and narrower splittings than the corresponding signal in wild-type PSII particles [Debus, R. J., Campbell, K. A., Peloquin, J. M., Pham, D. P., and Britt, R. D. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 470-478]. These D1-H332E PSII particles are also unable to advance beyond an altered S(2)Y(Z)(*) state, and the quantum yield for forming the S(2) state is very low, corresponding to an 8000-fold slowing of the rate of Mn oxidation by Y(Z)(*). These observations are consistent with His332 being close to the Mn cluster and modulating the redox properties of both the Mn cluster and tyrosine Y(Z). To determine if D1-His332 ligates the Mn cluster, we have conducted an ESEEM study of D1-H332E PSII particles. The histidyl nitrogen modulation observed near 5 MHz in ESEEM spectra of the S(2) state multiline EPR signal of wild-type PSII particles is substantially diminished in D1-H332E PSII particles. This result is consistent with ligation of the Mn cluster by D1-His332. However, alternate explanations are possible. These are presented and discussed.

Mechanism of photosynthetic water oxidation: combining biophysical studies of photosystem II with inorganic model chemistry

A mechanism for photosynthetic water oxidation is proposed based on a structural model of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) and its placement into the modeled structure of the D1/D2 core of photosystem II. The structural model of the OEC satisfies many of the geometrical constraints imposed by spectroscopic and biophysical results. The model includes the tetranuclear manganese cluster, calcium, chloride, tyrosine Z, H190, D170, H332 and H337 of the D1 polypeptide and is patterned after the reversible O 2-binding diferric site in oxyhemerythrin. The mechanism for water oxidation readily follows from the structural model. Concerted proton-coupled electron transfer in the S 2→S 3 and S 3→S 4 transitions forms a terminal Mn(V)O moiety. Nucleophilic attack on this electron-deficient Mn(V)O by a calcium-bound water molecule results in a Mn(III)–OOH species, similar to the ferric hydroperoxide in oxyhemerythrin. Dioxygen is released in a manner analogous to that in oxyhemerythrin, concomitant with reduction of manganese and protonation of a μ-oxo bridge.

Crystal structures of the photosystem II D1 C-terminal processing protease.

We report here the first three-dimensional structure of the D1 C-terminal processing protease (D1P), which is encoded by the ctpA gene. This enzyme removes the C-terminal extension of the D1 polypeptide of photosystem II of oxygenic photosynthesis. Proteolytic processing is necessary to allow the light driven assembly of the tetranuclear manganese cluster, which is responsible for photosynthetic water oxidation. The X-ray structure of the Scenedesmus obliquus enzyme has been determined at 1.8 A resolution using the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method. The enzyme is monomeric and is composed of three folding domains. The middle domain is topologically homologous to known PDZ motifs and is proposed to be the site at which the substrate C-terminus binds. The remainder of the substrate likely extends across the face of the enzyme, interacting at its scissile bond with the enzyme active site Ser 372 / Lys 397 catalytic dyad, which lies at the center of the protein at the interface of the three domains.

Electron paramagnetic resonance signals from the S(3) state of the oxygen-evolving complex. A broadened radical signal induced by low-temperature near-infrared light illumination.

The tetranuclear manganese cluster responsible for the oxidation of water in photosystem II cycles through five redox states denoted S(i)() (i = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4). Progress has been made recently in the detection of weak low-field EPR absorptions in both the perpendicular and parallel modes, associated with the integer spin state S(3) [Matsukawa, T., Mino, H., Yoneda, D., and Kawamori, A. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 4072-4077]. We confirm observation of these signals and have obtained them in high yield by illumination of photosystem II membranes, in which the non-heme iron was chemically preoxidized. It is shown that a split g = 4 signal accompanies the S(3) state signals. The signals diminish in the presence of ethanol and vanish in the presence of methanol. This effect is similar to that exerted by these alcohols to the high-spin component (g = 4.1) of the S(2) state and suggests that the latter spin configuration is the precursor of the S(3) state low-field signals. The S(3) state shows similar sensitivity to infrared illumination as has been observed previously in the S(2) state [Boussac, A., Un, S., Horner, O., and Rutherford, A. W. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 4001-4007]. Illumination of the S(3) state with near-infrared light (700-900 nm), at temperatures around 50 K, results in the modification of the low-field signals and most notably to the appearance of a broad (DeltaH approximately 200 G) radical-type signal centered at g = 2. The signal is tentatively assigned to the interaction of the Mn cluster in a modified S(2) state with a radical.

Reconstruction of the Water‐Oxidizing Complex in Manganese‐Depleted Photosystem II Preparations Using Mononuclear Manganese Complexes

Abstract— The water‐oxidizing complex of chloroplast photosystem II is composed of a cluster of four manganese atoms that can accumulate four oxidizing redox equivalents. Depletion of manganese from the water‐oxidizing complex fully inhibits oxygen evolution. However, the complex can be reconstituted in the presence of exogenous manganese in a process called photoactivation. In the present study, mononuclear manganese complexes with ligands derived from either nitrosonaphthol and ethylenediamine (Niten) or from diaminohexane and salicylaldehyde (Salhxn) are used in photoactivation experiments. Measurements of photoinduced changes of chlorophyll fluorescence yield, thermal dissipation using photoacoustic spectroscopy, photoreduction of 2,6‐dichorophenolindophenol and oxygen evolution in manganese‐depleted and in reconstituted photosystem II preparations demonstrate that photoactivation is more efficient when Niten and Salhxn complexes are used instead of MnCl2. It is inferred that the aromatic ligands facilitate the interaction of the manganese atoms with photosystem II. The addition of CaCl2 and of the extrinsic polypeptide of 33 kDa known as the manganese‐stabilizing protein during photoactivation further enhances the recovery of electron transport and oxygen evolution activities. It is proposed that mononuclear manganese complexes are able to contribute to re‐constitution of the water‐oxidizing complex by sequential addition of single ions similarly to the current model for assembly of the tetranuclear manganese cluster and that these complexes constitute suitable model systems to study the assembly of the water‐oxidizing complex.

Reconstruction of the Water-Oxidizing Complex in Manganese-Depleted Photosystem II Preparations Using Mononuclear Manganese Complexes

Abstract— The water-oxidizing complex of chloroplast photosystem II is composed of a cluster of four manganese atoms that can accumulate four oxidizing redox equivalents. Depletion of manganese from the water-oxidizing complex fully inhibits oxygen evolution. However, the complex can be reconstituted in the presence of exogenous manganese in a process called photoactivation. In the present study, mononuclear manganese complexes with ligands derived from either nitrosonaphthol and ethylenediamine (Niten) or from diaminohexane and salicylaldehyde (Salhxn) are used in photoactivation experiments. Measurements of photoinduced changes of chlorophyll fluorescence yield, thermal dissipation using photoacoustic spectroscopy, photoreduction of 2,6-dichorophenolindophenol and oxygen evolution in manganese-depleted and in reconstituted photosystem II preparations demonstrate that photoactivation is more efficient when Niten and Salhxn complexes are used instead of MnCl2. It is inferred that the aromatic ligands facilitate the interaction of the manganese atoms with photosystem II. The addition of CaCl2 and of the extrinsic polypeptide of 33 kDa known as the manganese-stabilizing protein during photoactivation further enhances the recovery of electron transport and oxygen evolution activities. It is proposed that mononuclear manganese complexes are able to contribute to re-constitution of the water-oxidizing complex by sequential addition of single ions similarly to the current model for assembly of the tetranuclear manganese cluster and that these complexes constitute suitable model systems to study the assembly of the water-oxidizing complex.

Analysis of Dipolar and Exchange Interactions between Manganese and Tyrosine Z in the S2YZ• State of Acetate-Inhibited Photosystem II via EPR Spectral Simulations at X- and Q-Bands

Upon room-temperature illumination, acetate-inhibited photosystem II membranes are known to exhibit a 240 G wide X-band (∼9.5 GHz) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal at 10 K. This EPR signal arises from an interaction between the S = 1/2 multiline S2 state of the tetranuclear manganese cluster and an oxidized tyrosine residue, YZ•. In the present study, the exchange and dipolar interactions between the two paramagnetic species are simulated at X- and Q-band (∼33 GHz) frequencies utilizing second-order perturbation theory. The positions and relative intensities of the hyperfine lines in the S = 1/2 S2 state multiline EPR signal of the noninteracting Mn4 cluster are accurately simulated by including g anisotropy and four sets of axially symmetric 55Mn hyperfine tensors. These parameters are then used to simulate the dipolar and exchange interactions giving rise to the interacting S2YZ• (formerly referred to as S3) EPR signal. Relative intensities of components of the S2YZ• EPR spectrum, at both X-...

The S0 State of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex in Photosystem II Is Paramagnetic: Detection of an EPR Multiline Signal.

The S0 State of the Oxygen-Evolving Complex in Photosystem II Is Paramagnetic: Detection of an EPR Multiline Signal.