Ultrafast vibrational dynamics of parallel excited state proton transfer reactions in the Green Fluorescent Protein

We present a brief review of the current understanding and analysis of the photocycle of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). GFP is unique to show directed excited state proton transfer (ESPT) in a protein environment, which provides a directional coordinate for the ultrafast proton transfer reactions in contrast with disordered liquids. ESPT proceeds on a picosecond time scale and we consider details of the vibrational response of the chromophore and the protein environment during the course of this reaction. In addition we discuss both experimental and computational methodology and corrections that measure and model vibrational dichroism from polarised pump-probe infrared measurements. For the GFP photocycle, a direct relationship between equilibrium protein side-chain conformation of glutamate 222 and reaction kinetics has been established for the ultrafast ESPT in the fluorescence photocycle. We have resolved the infrared spectral differences between heterogeneous ESPT reaction dynamics that were assigned to the carboxylate of the Glutamate 222 side chain. We additionally discuss photoselection measurements for the molecular interpretation of the vibrational transition dipole moments placed in the X-ray frame as a sensitive probe of the mode character and assess the assignments based on frequency calculations from the analytical second derivative for the isolated chromophore. Dipole gradients can be calculated analytically, or numerically by finite difference. An older software release that displays analytical dipole gradients incorrectly is identified.