abstract: The green fluorescent protein (GFP)-like fluorescent proteins play an important role for the color of reef-building corals. Different colors of extant coral fluorescent proteins (FPs) have evolved from a green ancestral protein. Interestingly, green-to-red photoconversion FPs (Kaede-type Red FPs) are only found in clade D from Scleractinia (Faviina suborder). Therefore, I focus on the evolution of Kaede-type FPs from Faviina suborder ancestral FP. A total of 13 mutations have been identified previously that recapitulate the evolution of Kaede-type red FPs from the ancestral green FP. To examine the effect of each mutation, total ten reconstructed FPs were analyzed and six x-ray crystal structures were solved. These substitutions created a more hydrophilic environment around the carbonyl group of Phe61. Also, they increased the flexibility of the c-terminal chain, which keeps it from interacting with the entrance of the putative solvent channel. The photoconversion reaction shows a twophase kinetics. After the rapid initial phase, the overall reaction followed the firstorder kinetics. Based on the crystal structure analysis, I propose a new mechanism for Kaede-type FP photoconversion process, which a proton transfers via Gln38 to the carbonyl group of Phe61. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Chemistry 2012
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:asu.edu/item:14732 |
Date | January 2012 |
Contributors | Kim, Hanseong (Author), Wachter, Rebekka M (Advisor), Fromme, Petra (Committee member), Redding, Kevin E (Committee member), Arizona State University (Publisher) |
Source Sets | Arizona State University |
Language | English |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Doctoral Dissertation |
Format | 128 pages |
Rights | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/, All Rights Reserved |
Page generated in 0.0021 seconds