Start of funding 01.01.2009

"Filming" structural changes of light-activated proteins using pulsed electron spin resonance

Prof. Dr. Steffen J. Glaser
Technische Universität München

Prof. Dr. Song-I Han
University of California, Santa Barbara
Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry



The goal of the cooperation is to follow the photocycle of light- activated proteins. In particular, spin-labeled proteorhodopsin will be studied, which is the most prevalent proton-pump of the ocean biosphere. The photocycle has a duration of about 20 ms and the goal is to detect structural changes with a time resolution of about 100 ns or less using pulsed electron spin resonance. This requires the combined development of new ESR hardware with pulse durations on the order of nano seconds, optimal ESR pulse sequences, and theoretical tools to translate the transient spectra into a “film” of the structural changes of proteorhodopsin upon light activation with sub milli second resolution.