pubmed:abstractText |
We detect internal water molecules in a membrane-embedded receptor-transducer complex and demonstrate water structure changes during formation of the signaling state. Time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy reveals stimulus-induced repositioning of one or more structurally active water molecules to a significantly more hydrophobic environment in the signaling state of the sensory rhodopsin II (SRII)-transducer (HtrII) complex. These waters, distinct from bound water molecules within the SRII receptor, appear to be in the middle of the transmembrane interface region near the Tyr199(SRII)-Asn74(HtrII) hydrogen bond. We conclude that water potentially plays an important role in the SRII --> HtrII signal transfer mechanism in the membrane's hydrophobic core.
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pubmed:affiliation |
Department of Physics, Molecular Biophysics Laboratory, and Center for Photonics, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
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pubmed:publicationType |
Journal Article,
Comparative Study,
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.,
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't,
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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