UNIT 17.8 Raman Spectroscopy of Proteins

Abstract

A protein Raman spectrum comprises discrete bands representing vibrational modes of the peptide backbone and its side chains. The spectral positions, intensities, and polarizations of the Raman bands are sensitive to protein secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures and to side -chain orientations and local environments. In favorable cases, the Raman spectrum serves as an empirical signature of protein three-dimensional structure, intramolecular dynamics, and intermolecular interactions. Here, the strengths of Raman spectroscopy are illustrated by considering recent applications that address (1) subunit folding and recognition in assembly of the icosahedral capsid of bacteriophage P22, (2) orientations of subunit main chains and side chains in native filamentous viruses, (3) roles of cysteine hydrogen bonding in the folding, assembly, and function of virus structural proteins, and (4) structural determinants of protein/DNA recognition in gene regulatory complexes. Conventional Raman, UV-resonance Raman, and polarized Raman techniques are surveyed.