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Functional waters in intraprotein proton transfer monitored by FTIR difference spectroscopy

Author

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  • Florian Garczarek

    (Lehrstuhl für Biophysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

  • Klaus Gerwert

    (Lehrstuhl für Biophysik, Ruhr-Universität Bochum)

Abstract

Much progress has been made in our understanding of water molecule reactions on surfaces1, proton solvation in gas-phase water clusters2,3 and proton transfer through liquids4. Compared with our advanced understanding of these physico-chemical systems, much less is known about individual water molecules and their cooperative behaviour in heterogeneous proteins during enzymatic reactions. Here we use time-resolved Fourier transform infrared5 spectroscopy (trFTIR) and in situ H218O/H216O exchange FTIR to determine how the membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin6 uses the interplay among strongly hydrogen-bonded water molecules, a water molecule with a dangling hydroxyl group and a protonated water cluster7 to transfer protons. The precise arrangement of water molecules in the protein matrix results in a controlled Grotthuss proton transfer, in contrast to the random proton migration that occurs in liquid water. Our findings support the emerging paradigm that intraprotein water molecules are as essential for biological functions as amino acids.

Suggested Citation

  • Florian Garczarek & Klaus Gerwert, 2006. "Functional waters in intraprotein proton transfer monitored by FTIR difference spectroscopy," Nature, Nature, vol. 439(7072), pages 109-112, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:439:y:2006:i:7072:d:10.1038_nature04231
    DOI: 10.1038/nature04231
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    Cited by:

    1. Benbing Shi & Xiao Pang & Shunning Li & Hong Wu & Jianliang Shen & Xiaoyao Wang & Chunyang Fan & Li Cao & Tianhao Zhu & Ming Qiu & Zhuoyu Yin & Yan Kong & Yiqin Liu & Mingzheng Zhang & Yawei Liu & Fen, 2022. "Short hydrogen-bond network confined on COF surfaces enables ultrahigh proton conductivity," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Yuanxi Yu & Chenxing Yang & Matteo Baggioli & Anthony E. Phillips & Alessio Zaccone & Lei Zhang & Ryoichi Kajimoto & Mitsutaka Nakamura & Dehong Yu & Liang Hong, 2022. "The ω3 scaling of the vibrational density of states in quasi-2D nanoconfined solids," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Zhangcai Zhang & Lixin Liang & Jianze Feng & Guangjin Hou & Wencai Ren, 2024. "Significant enhancement of proton conductivity in solid acid at the monolayer limit," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.

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