Flavin Charge Transfer Transitions Assist DNA Photolyase Electron Transfer

Authors

Spiros S. Skourtis, University of Cyprus
Tatiana Prytkova, Chapman UniversityFollow
David Beratan, Duke University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2007

Abstract

This contribution describes molecular dynamics, semi-empirical and ab-initio studies of the primary photo-induced electron transfer reaction in DNA photolyase. DNA photolyases are FADH−-containing proteins that repair UV-damaged DNA by photo-induced electron transfer. A DNA photolyase recognizes and binds to cyclobutatne pyrimidine dimer lesions of DNA. The protein repairs a bound lesion by transferring an electron to the lesion from FADH−, upon photo-excitation of FADH− with 350–450 nm light. We compute the lowest singlet excited states of FADH− in DNA photolyase using INDO/S configuration interaction, time-dependent density-functional, and time-dependent Hartree-Fock methods. The calculations identify the lowest singlet excited state of FADH− that is populated after photo-excitation and that acts as the electron donor. For this donor state we compute conformationally-averaged tunneling matrix elements to empty electron- acceptor states of a thymine dimer bound to photolyase. The conformational averaging involves different FADH− - thymine dimer confromations obtained from molecular dynamics simulations of the solvated protein with a thymine dimer docked in its active site. The tunneling matrix element computations use INDO/S-level Green’s function, energy splitting, and Generalized Mulliken-Hush methods. These calculations indicate that photo-excitation of FADH− causes a π → π* charge-transfer transition that shifts electron density to the side of the flavin isoalloxazine ring that is adjacent to the docked thymine dimer. This shift in electron density enhances the FADH− - to - dimer electronic coupling, thus inducing rapid electron transfer.

Comments

This article was originally published in the American Institute of Physics Conference Proceedings, volume 963, in 2007. DOI: 10.1063/1.2836174

Recommended Citation

S. S. Skourtis, T. Prytkova, and D. N. Beratan, “Flavin Charge Transfer Transitions Assist DNA Photolyase Electron Transfer,” in AIP Conference Proceedings, 2007, vol. 963, pp. 674–677. doi: 10.1063/1.2836174

Copyright

American Institute of Physics