Issue 21, 2014

Effect of chromophore encapsulation on linear and nonlinear optical properties: the case of “miniSOG”, a protein-encased flavin

Abstract

Linear and nonlinear spectroscopic parameters of flavin mononucleotide, FMN, have been examined both experimentally and computationally under conditions in which FMN is (1) solvated in a buffered aqueous solution, and (2) encased in a protein that is likewise solvated in a buffered aqueous solution. The latter was achieved using “miniSOG” which is an FMN-containing protein engineered from Arabidopsis thaliana phototropin 2. Although it is reasonable to expect that the encasing protein could have an appreciable effect, certainly on the nonlinear two-photon absorption cross section, we find that replacing the dynamic aqueous environment with the more static protein environment does little to influence the spectroscopic properties of FMN. The experimental and computational studies are consistent in this regard, and this agreement indicates that comparatively high-level computational methods can indeed be used with success on large chromophores with a complicated local environment. The results of the present study facilitate the much-needed development of well-characterized and readily-controlled chromophores suitable for use as intracellular sensitizers and fluorophores.

Graphical abstract: Effect of chromophore encapsulation on linear and nonlinear optical properties: the case of “miniSOG”, a protein-encased flavin

Supplementary files

Additions and corrections

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Oct 2013
Accepted
02 Jan 2014
First published
07 Jan 2014
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014,16, 9950-9959

Effect of chromophore encapsulation on linear and nonlinear optical properties: the case of “miniSOG”, a protein-encased flavin

N. H. List, F. M. Pimenta, L. Holmegaard, R. L. Jensen, M. Etzerodt, T. Schwabe, J. Kongsted, P. R. Ogilby and O. Christiansen, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 9950 DOI: 10.1039/C3CP54470B

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