5VJU

De Novo Photosynthetic Reaction Center Protein Variant Equipped with His-Tyr H-bond, Heme B, and Cd(II) ions

Summary for 5VJU

• Entry DOI: 10.2210/pdb5vju/pdb
• Related: 5VJS 5VJT
• Descriptor: Reaction Center Maquette Leu71His variant, PROTOPORPHYRIN IX CONTAINING FE, CADMIUM ION, ... (4 entities in total)
• Functional Keywords: maquette, protein design, charge separation, artificial photosynthesis, de novo protein
• Biological source: synthetic construct
• Total number of polymer chains: 1
• Total formula weight: 23958.78

Authors

Ennist, N.M.,Stayrook, S.E.,Dutton, P.L.,Moser, C.C. (deposition date: 2017-04-19, release date: 2018-04-25, Last modification date: 2024-05-22)

Primary citation

Ennist, N.M.,Zhao, Z.,Stayrook, S.E.,Discher, B.M.,Dutton, P.L.,Moser, C.C.
De novo protein design of photochemical reaction centers.
Nat Commun, 13:4937-4937, 2022

PubMed Abstract: Natural photosynthetic protein complexes capture sunlight to power the energetic catalysis that supports life on Earth. Yet these natural protein structures carry an evolutionary legacy of complexity and fragility that encumbers protein reengineering efforts and obfuscates the underlying design rules for light-driven charge separation. De novo development of a simplified photosynthetic reaction center protein can clarify practical engineering principles needed to build new enzymes for efficient solar-to-fuel energy conversion. Here, we report the rational design, X-ray crystal structure, and electron transfer activity of a multi-cofactor protein that incorporates essential elements of photosynthetic reaction centers. This highly stable, modular artificial protein framework can be reconstituted in vitro with interchangeable redox centers for nanometer-scale photochemical charge separation. Transient absorption spectroscopy demonstrates Photosystem II-like tyrosine and metal cluster oxidation, and we measure charge separation lifetimes exceeding 100 ms, ideal for light-activated catalysis. This de novo-designed reaction center builds upon engineering guidelines established for charge separation in earlier synthetic photochemical triads and modified natural proteins, and it shows how synthetic biology may lead to a new generation of genetically encoded, light-powered catalysts for solar fuel production.

PubMed: 35999239
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32710-5

Experimental method

X-RAY DIFFRACTION (2.08 Å)