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Tani K, Kanno R, Harada A, Kobayashi Y, Minamino A, Takenaka S, Nakamura N, Ji XC, Purba ER, Hall M, Yu LJ, Madigan MT, Mizoguchi A, Iwasaki K, Humbel BM, Kimura Y, Wang-Otomo ZY. High-resolution structure and biochemical properties of the LH1-RC photocomplex from the model purple sulfur bacterium, Allochromatium vinosum. Commun Biol 2024; 7:176. [PMID: 38347078 PMCID: PMC10861460 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05863-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The mesophilic purple sulfur phototrophic bacterium Allochromatium (Alc.) vinosum (bacterial family Chromatiaceae) has been a favored model for studies of bacterial photosynthesis and sulfur metabolism, and its core light-harvesting (LH1) complex has been a focus of numerous studies of photosynthetic light reactions. However, despite intense efforts, no high-resolution structure and thorough biochemical analysis of the Alc. vinosum LH1 complex have been reported. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the Alc. vinosum LH1 complex associated with reaction center (RC) at 2.24 Å resolution. The overall structure of the Alc. vinosum LH1 resembles that of its moderately thermophilic relative Alc. tepidum in that it contains multiple pigment-binding α- and β-polypeptides. Unexpectedly, however, six Ca ions were identified in the Alc. vinosum LH1 bound to certain α1/β1- or α1/β3-polypeptides through a different Ca2+-binding motif from that seen in Alc. tepidum and other Chromatiaceae that contain Ca2+-bound LH1 complexes. Two water molecules were identified as additional Ca2+-coordinating ligands. Based on these results, we reexamined biochemical and spectroscopic properties of the Alc. vinosum LH1-RC. While modest but distinct effects of Ca2+ were detected in the absorption spectrum of the Alc. vinosum LH1 complex, a marked decrease in thermostability of its LH1-RC complex was observed upon removal of Ca2+. The presence of Ca2+ in the photocomplex of Alc. vinosum suggests that Ca2+-binding to LH1 complexes may be a common adaptation in species of Chromatiaceae for conferring spectral and thermal flexibility on this key component of their photosynthetic machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutoshi Tani
- Center for Computational Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
- Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiyacho, Tsu, 514-8507, Japan.
| | - Ryo Kanno
- Quantum Wave Microscopy Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1, Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Ayaka Harada
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan
| | - Yuki Kobayashi
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Mito, 310-8512, Japan
| | - Akane Minamino
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - Shinji Takenaka
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | | | - Xuan-Cheng Ji
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Mito, 310-8512, Japan
| | - Endang R Purba
- Scientific Imaging Section, Research Support Division, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1, Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Malgorzata Hall
- Scientific Imaging Section, Research Support Division, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1, Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Long-Jiang Yu
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Michael T Madigan
- School of Biological Sciences, Program in Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Akira Mizoguchi
- Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiyacho, Tsu, 514-8507, Japan
| | - Kenji Iwasaki
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance (TARA), University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan
| | - Bruno M Humbel
- Provost Office, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST), 1919-1, Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Juntendo University, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yukihiro Kimura
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
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Liu LN, Bracun L, Li M. Structural diversity and modularity of photosynthetic RC-LH1 complexes. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:38-52. [PMID: 37380557 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial photosynthesis is essential for sustaining life on Earth as it aids in carbon assimilation, atmospheric composition, and ecosystem maintenance. Many bacteria utilize anoxygenic photosynthesis to convert sunlight into chemical energy while producing organic matter. The core machinery of anoxygenic photosynthesis performed by purple photosynthetic bacteria and Chloroflexales is the reaction center-light-harvesting 1 (RC-LH1) pigment-protein supercomplex. In this review, we discuss recent structural studies of RC-LH1 core complexes based on the advancement in structural biology techniques. These studies have provided fundamental insights into the assembly mechanisms, structural variations, and modularity of RC-LH1 complexes across different bacterial species, highlighting their functional adaptability. Understanding the natural architectures of RC-LH1 complexes will facilitate the design and engineering of artificial photosynthetic systems, which can enhance photosynthetic efficiency and potentially find applications in sustainable energy production and carbon capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Ning Liu
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK; College of Marine Life Sciences and Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
| | - Laura Bracun
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Mei Li
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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Qi CH, Wang GL, Wang FF, Xin Y, Zou MJ, Madigan MT, Wang-Otomo ZY, Ma F, Yu LJ. New insights on the photocomplex of Roseiflexus castenholzii revealed from comparisons of native and carotenoid-depleted complexes. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105057. [PMID: 37468106 PMCID: PMC10432797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In wild-type phototrophic organisms, carotenoids (Crts) are primarily packed into specific pigment-protein complexes along with (Bacterio)chlorophylls and play important roles in the photosynthesis. Diphenylamine (DPA) inhibits carotenogenesis but not phototrophic growth of anoxygenic phototrophs and eliminates virtually all Crts from photocomplexes. To investigate the effect of Crts on assembly of the reaction center-light-harvesting (RC-LH) complex from the filamentous anoxygenic phototroph Roseiflexus (Rfl.) castenholzii, we generated carotenoidless (Crt-less) RC-LH complexes by growing cells in the presence of DPA. Here, we present cryo-EM structures of the Rfl. castenholzii native and Crt-less RC-LH complexes with resolutions of 2.86 Å and 2.85 Å, respectively. From the high-quality map obtained, several important but previously unresolved details in the Rfl. castenholzii RC-LH structure were determined unambiguously including the assignment and likely function of three small polypeptides, and the content and spatial arrangement of Crts with bacteriochlorophyll molecules. The overall structures of Crt-containing and Crt-less complexes are similar. However, structural comparisons showed that only five Crts remain in complexes from DPA-treated cells and that the subunit X (TMx) flanked on the N-terminal helix of the Cyt-subunit is missing. Based on these results, the function of Crts in the assembly of the Rfl. castenholzii RC-LH complex and the molecular mechanism of quinone exchange is discussed. These structural details provide a fresh look at the photosynthetic apparatus of an evolutionary ancient phototroph as well as new insights into the importance of Crts for proper assembly and functioning of the RC-LH complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Hui Qi
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guang-Lei Wang
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fang-Fang Wang
- National Facility for Protein Science in Shanghai, Zhangjiang Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Yueyong Xin
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mei-Juan Zou
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Michael T Madigan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Fei Ma
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Long-Jiang Yu
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Kimura Y, Tani K, Madigan MT, Wang-Otomo ZY. Advances in the Spectroscopic and Structural Characterization of Core Light-Harvesting Complexes from Purple Phototrophic Bacteria. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:6-17. [PMID: 36594654 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Purple phototrophic bacteria are ancient anoxygenic phototrophs and attractive research tools because they capture light energy in the near-infrared (NIR) region of the spectrum and transform it into chemical energy by way of uphill energy transfers. The heart of this reaction occurs in light-harvesting 1-reaction center (LH1-RC) complexes, which are the simplest model systems for understanding basic photosynthetic reactions within type-II (quinone-utilizing) reaction centers. In this Perspective, we highlight structure-function relationships concerning unresolved fundamental processes in purple bacterial photosynthesis, including the diversified light-harvesting capacity of LH1-associated BChl molecules, energies necessary for photoelectric conversion in the RC special pairs, and quinone transport mechanisms. Based on recent progress in the spectroscopic and structural analysis of LH1-RC complexes from a variety of purple phototrophs, we discuss several key factors for understanding how purple bacteria resource light energy in the inherently energy-poor NIR region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukihiro Kimura
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Kazutoshi Tani
- Graduate School of Medicine, Mie University, Tsu 514-8507, Japan
| | - Michael T Madigan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biological Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, United States
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Tani K, Kanno R, Kurosawa K, Takaichi S, Nagashima KVP, Hall M, Yu LJ, Kimura Y, Madigan MT, Mizoguchi A, Humbel BM, Wang-Otomo ZY. An LH1–RC photocomplex from an extremophilic phototroph provides insight into origins of two photosynthesis proteins. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1197. [DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04174-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractRhodopila globiformis is the most acidophilic of anaerobic purple phototrophs, growing optimally in culture at pH 5. Here we present a cryo-EM structure of the light-harvesting 1–reaction center (LH1–RC) complex from Rhodopila globiformis at 2.24 Å resolution. All purple bacterial cytochrome (Cyt, encoded by the gene pufC) subunit-associated RCs with known structures have their N-termini truncated. By contrast, the Rhodopila globiformis RC contains a full-length tetra-heme Cyt with its N-terminus embedded in the membrane forming an α-helix as the membrane anchor. Comparison of the N-terminal regions of the Cyt with PufX polypeptides widely distributed in Rhodobacter species reveals significant structural similarities, supporting a longstanding hypothesis that PufX is phylogenetically related to the N-terminus of the RC-bound Cyt subunit and that a common ancestor of phototrophic Proteobacteria contained a full-length tetra-heme Cyt subunit that evolved independently through partial deletions of its pufC gene. Eleven copies of a novel γ-like polypeptide were also identified in the bacteriochlorophyll a-containing Rhodopila globiformis LH1 complex; γ-polypeptides have previously been found only in the LH1 of bacteriochlorophyll b-containing species. These features are discussed in relation to their predicted functions of stabilizing the LH1 structure and regulating quinone transport under the warm acidic conditions.
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Salt- and pH-Dependent Thermal Stability of Photocomplexes from Extremophilic Bacteriochlorophyll b-Containing Halo-rhodospira Species. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10050959. [PMID: 35630403 PMCID: PMC9146400 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10050959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Halorhodospira (Hlr.) species are the most halophilic and alkaliphilic of all purple bacteria. Hlr. halochloris exhibits the lowest LH1 Qy transition energy among phototrophic organisms and is the only known triply extremophilic anoxygenic phototroph, displaying a thermophilic, halophilic, and alkaliphilic phenotype. Recently, we reported that electrostatic charges are responsible for the unusual spectroscopic properties of the Hlr. halochloris LH1 complex. In the present work, we examined the effects of salt and pH on the spectroscopic properties and thermal stability of LH1-RCs from Hlr. halochloris compared with its mesophilic counterpart, Hlr. abdelmalekii. Experiments in which the photocomplexes were subjected to different levels of salt or variable pH revealed that the thermal stability of LH1-RCs from both species was largely retained in the presence of high salt concentrations and/or at alkaline pH but was markedly reduced by lowering the salt concentration and/or pH. Based on the amino acid sequences of LH1 polypeptides and their composition of acidic/basic residues and the Hofmeister series for cation/anion species, we discuss the importance of electrostatic charge in stabilizing the Hlr. halochloris LH1-RC complex to allow it to perform photosynthesis in its warm, hypersaline, and alkaline habitat.
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