Photoactive Yellow Protein – Converting Light into a Metastable Structural Change

M.L. Groot, K.J. Hellingwerf

Research output: Chapter in Book / Report / Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Two questions at the forefront of biophysical sciences are biological sensing and energy conversion. Photoactive yellow protein is at the crossing point of these two topics as it converts light energy to a structural change in the process of biological light sensing. This bacterial photosensor is an excellent model system to study w a protein achieves such a function as it is relatively small and very stable. Over the years crystallography, spectroscopy, and multiscale modeling techniques have been applied to study the first step in the signal transduction process that it catalyzes the ultrafast isomerization of the p-coumaric acid chromophore intrinsic to PYP. This has culminated in an ever-better understanding of the mechanism of its isomerization and the role of the protein in this process. Here we provide a review of the current state of knowledge on this issue.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationUltrafast Dynamics at the Nanoscale
Subtitle of host publicationBiomolecules and Supramolecular Assemblies
EditorsIrene Burghardt, Stefan Haacke
PublisherPan Stanford Publishing
Chapter4
Pages217-166
Number of pages40
ISBN (Electronic)9781315364599
ISBN (Print)9789814745338
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

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