Tuning the redox potential of the primary electron donor in bacterial reaction centers by manganese binding and light-induced structural changes

The influence of transition metal binding on the charge storage ability of native bacterial reaction centers (BRCs) was investigated. Binding of manganous ions uniquely prevented the light-induced conformational changes that would yield to long lifetimes of the charge separated state and the drop of the redox potential of the primary electron donor (P). The lifetimes of the stable charge pair in the terminal conformations were shortened by 50-fold and 7-fold upon manganous and cupric ion binding, respectively. Nickel and zinc binding had only marginal effects. Binding of manganese not only prevented the drop of the potential of P/P+ but also elevated it by up to 117 mV depending on where the metal was binding. With variable conditions, facilitating either manganese binding or light-induced structural changes a controlled tuning of the potential of P/P+ in multiple steps was demonstrated in a range of ~200 mV without the need of a mutation or synthesis. Under the selected conditions, manganese binding was achieved without its photochemical oxidation thus, the energized but still native BRCs can be utilized in photochemistry that is not reachable with regular BRCs. A 42 Å long hydrophobic tunnel was identified that became obstructed upon manganese binding and its likely role is to deliver protons from the hydrophobic core to the surface during conformational changes. •Mn2+ binding shortens the lifetime of the conformationally altered charge separated states by 50-fold.•Mn2+ binding elevates the P/P+ potential from 500 mV up to 617 mV.•Mn2+ binding prevents the stabilization of P+ upon conformational changes.•A 42 Å long hydrophobic tunnel was discovered that serves as a slow proton pathway and it is blocked by Mn2+ binding.