Real-time observation of conformational fluctuations in Zn-substituted myoglobin by time-resolved transient hole-burning spectroscopy

Biophys J. 1998 Jul;75(1):521-7. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(98)77541-1.

Abstract

Equilibrium fluctuations of the protein conformation have been studied in myoglobin by a novel method of time-resolved transient hole-burning spectroscopy over a temperature range of 180-300 K and a time range of 10 ns to 10 ms. The temporal shift of the hole spectrum has been observed in a wide temperature region of 200-300 K. It has been found that the time behavior of the peak position of the hole is highly nonexponential and can be expressed by a stretched exponential function with a beta value of 0.22. As compared with the results for a dye solution sample, the time scale of the fluctuation of the protein conformation is much more weakly dependent on temperature. The time scale of the observed conformational dynamics shows a temperature dependence similar to that associated with the ligand escape process of myoglobin.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics
  • Coloring Agents
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lasers
  • Myoglobin / chemistry*
  • Myoglobin / radiation effects
  • Protein Conformation
  • Solutions
  • Spectrum Analysis / methods*
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors
  • Zinc / chemistry*

Substances

  • Coloring Agents
  • Myoglobin
  • Solutions
  • Zinc