ENERGY TRANSFER IN BLUE LIGHT PHOTORECEPTOR

我们最近分离出一种蓝光感光蛋白， 拟南芥（植物）;这是第一个这样的光感受器， 在任何生物体中都可以识别。 光感受器在结构上 类似于微生物光解酶（DNA修复酶）。 光裂酶 结合两个发色团;其中一个（亚甲基四氢叶酸） 作为其他（催化）黄素的光捕获天线 发色团 最近已经确定蓝光 光感受器类似地结合两个发色团。 因此， 我们研究的目的是利用RLBL的设施来确定 在光感受器中观察到的这种类型的能量转移是否 问题研究 一旦能量转移的参数在 野生型感光蛋白，我们将提供突变体 已经确定的光感受器蛋白在生物学上是 不活跃。 野生型和突变蛋白的数据应该提供 对我们小说的行动机制的宝贵见解 光感受器，并可阐明发色团间能量的特征 这将具有普遍意义。 我们目前正在研究 这些系统的光稳定性。

We have recently isolated a blue light photoreceptor protein from Arabidopsis thaliana (plants); this is the first such photoreceptor to be identified in any organism. The photoreceptor appears structurally similar to microbial photolyases (DNA repair enzymes). Photolyases bind two chromophores; one of which (methenyl tetrahydrofolate) serves as a light-harvesting antenna for the other (catalytic) flavin chromophore. It has recently been determined that the blue light photoreceptor similarly binds two chromophores. It is accordingly the goal of our study to utilize the facilities of the RLBL to determine whether energy transfer of the type observed in photoreceptor for such studies. Once the parameters for energy transfer are established in the wild-type photoreceptor protein, we will supply mutant photoreceptor proteins which have been determined to be biologically inactive. Data on both wild-type and mutant proteins should supply valuable insight into the mec hanism of action of our novel photoreceptor and may illuminate features of inter-chromophore energy transfer that will have general relevance. We are presently studying the photostability of these systems.