Assignments of ¹⁹F NMR resonances and exploration of dynamics in a long-chain flavodoxin

Flavodoxin is a small protein that employs a non-covalently bound flavin to mediate single-electron transfer at low potentials. The long-chain flavodoxins possess a long surface loop that is proposed to interact with partner proteins. We have incorporated ¹⁹F-labeled tyrosine in long-chain flavodoxin from Rhodopseudomonas palustris to gain a probe of possible loop dynamics, exploiting the presence of a Tyr in the long loop in addition to Tyr residues near the flavin. We report ¹⁹F resonance assignments for all four Tyrs, and demonstration of a pair of resonances in slow exchange, both corresponding to a Tyr adjacent to the flavin. We also provide evidence for dynamics affecting the Tyr in the long loop. Thus, we show that ¹⁹F NMR of ¹⁹F-Tyr labeled flavodoxin holds promise for monitoring possible changes in conformation upon binding to partner proteins.