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Title: Chemical control of excited-state reactivity of the anionic green fluorescent protein chromophore

Journal Article · · Communications Chemistry
ORCiD logo [1];  [2]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (Sweden)
  2. Stanford University, CA (United States); SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States). Photon Ultrafast Laser Science and Engineering Institute (PULSE)

Controlling excited-state reactivity is a long-standing challenge in photochemistry, as a desired pathway may be inaccessible or compete with other unwanted channels. An important example is internal conversion of the anionic green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore where non-selective progress along two competing torsional modes (P: phenolate and I: imidazolinone) impairs and enables Z-to-E photoisomerization, respectively. Developing strategies to promote photoisomerization could drive new areas of applications of GFP-like proteins. Motivated by the charge-transfer dichotomy of the torsional modes, we explore chemical substitution on the P-ring of the chromophore as a way to control excited-state pathways and improve photoisomerization. As demonstrated by methoxylation, selective P-twisting appears difficult to achieve because the electron-donating potential effects of the substituents are counteracted by inertial effects that directly retard the motion. Conversely, these effects act in concert to promote I-twisting when introducing electron-withdrawing groups. Specifically, 2,3,5-trifluorination leads to both pathway selectivity and a more direct approach to the I-twisted intersection which, in turn, doubles the photoisomerization quantum yield. Our results suggest P-ring engineering as an effective approach to boost photoisomerization of the anionic GFP chromophore.

Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC), Menlo Park, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division (CSGB); Villum Foundation; KTH Royal Institute of Technology; National Science Foundation (NSF); Swedish Research Council (SRC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515; VKR023371; 2018-05973
OSTI ID:
2322463
Journal Information:
Communications Chemistry, Vol. 7, Issue 1; ISSN 2399-3669
Publisher:
Springer NatureCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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