pH‐dependent protonation of surface carboxylate groups in PsbO enables local buffering and triggers structural changes

Photosystem II (PSII) catalyzes the splitting of water, releasing protons and dioxygen. Its highly conserved subunit PsbO extends from the oxygen‐evolving center (OEC) into the thylakoid lumen and stabilizes the catalytic Mn4CaO5 cluster. The high degree of conservation of accessible negatively charged surface residues in PsbO suggests additional functions, as local pH buffer or by affecting the flow of protons. For this discussion, we provide an experimental basis, through the determination of pKa values of water‐accessible aspartate and glutamate side‐chain carboxylate groups by means of NMR. Their distribution is strikingly uneven, with high pKa values around 4.9 clustered on the luminal PsbO side and values below 3.5 on the side facing PSII. pH‐dependent changes in backbone chemical shifts in the area of the lumen‐exposed loops are observed, indicating conformational changes. In conclusion, we present a site‐specific analysis of carboxylate group proton affinities in PsbO, providing a basis for further understanding of proton transport in photosynthesis

A graph-based approach identifies dynamic H-bond communication networks in spike protein S of SARS-CoV-2

We apply graph-based approaches to identify H-bond clusters in protein complexes. Three conformations of spike protein S have distinct H-bond clusters at key sites. Hydrogen-bond clusters could govern structural plasticity of spike protein S. Protein S binds to ACE2 receptor via H-bond clusters extending deep across interface.Corona virus spike protein S is a large homo-trimeric protein anchored in the membrane of the virion particle. Protein S binds to angiotensin-converting-enzyme 2, ACE2, of the host cell, followed by proteolysis of the spike protein, drastic protein conformational change with exposure of the fusion peptide of the virus, and entry of the virion into the host cell. The structural elements that govern conformational plasticity of the spike protein are largely unknown. Here, we present a methodology that relies upon graph and centrality analyses, augmented by bioinformatics, to identify and characterize large H-bond clusters in protein structures. We apply this methodology to protein S ectodomain and find that, in the closed conformation, the three protomers of protein S bring the same contribution to an extensive central network of H-bonds, and contribute symmetrically to a relatively large H-bond cluster at the receptor binding domain, and to a cluster near a protease cleavage site. Markedly different H-bonding at these three clusters in open and pre-fusion conformations suggest dynamic H-bond clusters could facilitate structural plasticity and selection of a protein S protomer for binding to the host receptor, and proteolytic cleavage. From analyses of spike protein sequences we identify patches of histidine and carboxylate groups that could be involved in transient proton binding.PSI COVID19 Emergency Science FundSpanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities RTI2018-098983-B-I00Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments via the Freie Universitat BerlinGerman Research Foundation (DFG) SFB 107

Supported ru metalloporphyrins for electrocatalytic CO2 conversion

This paper reports for the first time a computational analysis of the redox properties of graphene-supported Ru-porphyrins as potential catalytic materials for electrochemical CO2 reduction. Density functional theory reveals that such catalytic ensembles can efficiently activate both CO2 and CH4 molecules indicating their generic utility as C1-functionalization catalysts. The charge transfer from the graphene surface to the catalytic Ru centers influences the thermodynamic stability of the key reaction intermediates and therefore determines the selectivity of the electrochemical process. The electrochemical reduction of CO2 can yield CO or methane, depending on the applied potential and reaction conditions. Calculations also identified alternative paths towards methanol and formic acid

Supported ru metalloporphyrins for electrocatalytic CO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e conversion

\u3cp\u3eThis paper reports for the first time a computational analysis of the redox properties of graphene-supported Ru-porphyrins as potential catalytic materials for electrochemical CO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e reduction. Density functional theory reveals that such catalytic ensembles can efficiently activate both CO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e and CH\u3csub\u3e4\u3c/sub\u3e molecules indicating their generic utility as C\u3csub\u3e1\u3c/sub\u3e-functionalization catalysts. The charge transfer from the graphene surface to the catalytic Ru centers influences the thermodynamic stability of the key reaction intermediates and therefore determines the selectivity of the electrochemical process. The electrochemical reduction of CO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e can yield CO or methane, depending on the applied potential and reaction conditions. Calculations also identified alternative paths towards methanol and formic acid.\u3c/p\u3