Anion photoelectron spectroscopy of protein chromophores

ABSTRACT Photoactive proteins that efficiently and selectively transfer light energy into a physical response are ubiquitous in nature. The small molecule chromophores that lie at the heart of these processes often exist as closed-shell anions following deprotonation in proton-transfer reactions. This review highlights the important role that anion photoelectron spectroscopy, combined with computational chemistry calculations, is playing in improving our understanding of the electronic structure and relaxation dynamics of these protein chromophores. We discuss key aspects of anion photoelectron spectroscopy. We then review recent anion photoelectron spectroscopy studies of the deprotonated chromophore anions found in green fluorescent protein (GFP), photoactive yellow protein (PYP) and the deprotonated luciferin anion found in the luciferase enzyme.