Structure and interactions of phycocyanobilin chromophores in phycocyanin and allophycocyanin from an analysis of their resonance Raman spectra

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Abstract
Raman spectra of phycocyanobilin, phycocyanin, and allophycocyanin were obtained at resonance with their visible and near-UV transitions. These spectra were empirically assigned with the help of 14N- and 15N-isotopic substitutions and comparisons with resonance Raman spectra of phycoerythrin. These results confirm the previously suggested assignment of a conformation-sensitive band around 1239-1246 cm-1 to a mode involving nu CmH and nu CN coordinates. Computer-assisted decomposition of the complex, conformation-sensitive 1580-1670-cm-1 region yielded five components that we labeled I-V. The previously described spectral changes observed upon monomerization and denaturation in resonance Raman spectra of phycocyanin and allophycocyanin essentially arise from changes in the relative intensities of these components. Component I (around 1649-1651 cm-1) and component III (1621-1624 cm-1) originate predominantly from nu C=C at C15 of the chromophore. Their relative intensity ratio reflects the relative amounts of C15-Z-anti and C15-Z-syn methine bridge conformations, respectively. Component II (1633-1638 cm-1) is ascribed to a nu C=C mode of pyrrole rings; it is not sensitive to the chromophore conformation. Component IV is also conformation-insensitive and originates from nu C=N and nu C=C coordinates, most likely from ring C. Component V (1591-1594 cm-1) involves a nu C=N coordinate in ring D, coupled to a nu C=C coordinate of the C15 methine bridge. The implications of the present assignments on those of resonance Raman active modes of phytochrome are discussed. A consistent set of correlations between chromophore conformations and resonance Raman data is obtained for both phycobiliproteins and phytochrome.

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