Tethering of ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase to thylakoid membranes is mediated by novel chloroplast protein TROL

Strong prevalence of light regime-specific QTL in Arabidopsis detected using automated high-throughput phenotyping in fluctuating or constant light

Plants have evolved and adapted under dynamic environmental conditions, particularly to fluctuating light, but plant research has often focused on constant growth conditions. To quantitatively asses the adaptation to fluctuating light, a panel of 384 natural Arabidopsis thaliana accessions was analyzed in two parallel independent experiments under fluctuating and constant light conditions in an automated high-throughput phenotyping system upgraded with supplemental LEDs. While the integrated daily photosynthetically active radiation was the same under both light regimes, plants in fluctuating light conditions accumulated significantly less biomass and had lower leaf area during their measured vegetative growth than plants in constant light. A total of 282 image-derived architectural and/or color-related traits at six common time points, and 77 photosynthesis-related traits from one common time point were used to assess their associations with genome-wide natural variation for both light regimes. Out of the 3000 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) detected, only 183 (6.1%) were common for fluctuating and constant light conditions. The prevalence of light regime-specific QTL indicates a complex adaptation. Genes in linkage disequilibrium with fluctuating light-specific MTAs with an adjusted repeatability value >0.5 were filtered for gene ontology terms containing "photo" or "light", yielding 15 selected candidates. The candidate genes are involved in photoprotection, PSII maintenance and repair, maintenance of linear electron flow, photorespiration, phytochrome signaling, and cell wall expansion, providing a promising starting point for further investigations into the response of Arabidopsis thaliana to fluctuating light conditions.

Modulation of the wheat transcriptome by TaZFP13D under well-watered and drought conditions

Maintaining global food security in the context of climate changes will be an important challenge in the next century. Improving abiotic stress tolerance of major crops such as wheat can contribute to this goal. This can be achieved by the identification of the genes involved and their use to develop tools for breeding programs aiming to generate better adapted cultivars. Recently, we identified the wheat TaZFP13D gene encoding Zinc Finger Protein 13D as a new gene improving water-stress tolerance. The current work analyzes the TaZFP13D-dependent transcriptome modifications that occur in well-watered and dehydration conditions to better understand its function during normal growth and during drought. Plants that overexpress TaZFP13D have a higher biomass under well-watered conditions, indicating a positive effect of the protein on growth. Survival rate and stress recovery after a severe drought stress are improved compared to wild-type plants. The latter is likely due the higher activity of key antioxidant enzymes and concomitant reduction of drought-induced oxidative damage. Conversely, down-regulation of TaZFP13D decreases drought tolerance and protection against drought-induced oxidative damage. RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis identified many genes regulated by TaZFP13D that are known to improve drought tolerance. The analysis also revealed several genes involved in the photosynthetic electron transfer chain known to improve photosynthetic efficiency and chloroplast protection against drought-induced ROS damage. This study highlights the important role of TaZFP13D in wheat drought tolerance, contributes to unravel the complex regulation governed by TaZFPs, and suggests that it could be a promising marker to select wheat cultivars with higher drought tolerance.

A Ubiquitin-Based Module Directing Protein-Protein Interactions in Chloroplasts

A promising approach for the genetic engineering of multiprotein complexes in living cells involves designing and reconstructing the interaction between two proteins that lack native affinity. Thylakoid-embedded multiprotein complexes execute the light reaction of plant photosynthesis, but their engineering remains challenging, likely due to difficulties in accurately targeting heterologous membrane-bound proteins to various sub-compartments of thylakoids. In this study, we developed a ubiquitin-based module (Nub-Cub) capable of directing interactions in vivo between two chloroplast proteins lacking native affinities. We applied this module to genetically modify thylakoid multiprotein complexes. We demonstrated the functionality of the Nub-Cub module in the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. Employing this system, we successfully modified the Photosystem II (PSII) complex by ectopically attaching an extrinsic subunit of PSII, PsbTn1, to CP26-a component of the antenna system of PSII. Surprisingly, this mandatory interaction between CP26 and PsbTn1 in plants impairs the efficiency of electron transport in PSII and unexpectedly results in noticeable defects in leaf development. Our study not only offers a general strategy to modify multiprotein complexes embedded in thylakoid membranes but it also sheds light on the possible interplay between two proteins without native interaction.

Thylakoid Rhodanese-like Protein-Ferredoxin:NADP+ Oxidoreductase Interaction Is Integrated into Plant Redox Homeostasis System

In vascular plants, the final photosynthetic electron transfer from ferredoxin (Fd) to NADP+ is catalyzed by the flavoenzyme ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR). FNR is recruited to thylakoid membranes via an integral membrane protein TROL (thylakoid rhodanese-like protein) and the membrane associated protein Tic62. We have previously demonstrated that the absence of TROL triggers a very efficient superoxide (O2•-) removal mechanism. The dynamic TROL-FNR interaction has been shown to be an apparently overlooked mechanism that maintains linear electron flow before alternative pathway(s) is(are) activated. In this work, we aimed to further test our hypothesis that the FNR-TROL pair could be the source element that triggers various downstream networks of chloroplast ROS scavenging. Tandem affinity purification followed by the MS analysis confirmed the TROL-FNR interaction and revealed possible interaction of TROL with the thylakoid form of the enzyme ascorbate peroxidase (tAPX), which catalyzes the H2O2-dependent oxidation of ascorbate and is, therefore, the crucial component of the redox homeostasis system in plants. Further, EPR analyses using superoxide spin trap DMPO showed that, in comparison with the wild type, plants overexpressing TROL (TROL OX) propagate more O2•- when exposed to high light stress. This indicates an increased sensitivity to oxidative stress in conditions when there is an excess of membrane-bound FNR and less free FNR is found in the stroma. Finally, immunohistochemical analyses of glutathione in different Arabidopsis leaf cell compartments showed highly elevated glutathione levels in TROL OX, indicating an increased demand for this ROS scavenger in these plants, likely needed to prevent the damage of important cellular components caused by reactive oxygen species.

A multi-level approach reveals key physiological and molecular traits in the response of two rice genotypes subjected to water deficit at the reproductive stage

Rice is more vulnerable to drought than maize, wheat, and sorghum because its water requirements remain high throughout the rice life cycle. The effects of drought vary depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the events, as well as on the rice genotype and developmental stage. It can affect all levels of organization, from genes to the cells, tissues, and/or organs. In this study, a moderate water deficit was applied to two contrasting rice genotypes, IAC 25 and CIRAD 409, during their reproductive stage. Multi-level transcriptomic, metabolomic, physiological, and morphological analyses were performed to investigate the complex traits involved in their response to drought. Weighted gene network correlation analysis was used to identify the specific molecular mechanisms regulated by each genotype, and the correlations between gene networks and phenotypic traits. A holistic analysis of all the data provided a deeper understanding of the specific mechanisms regulated by each genotype, and enabled the identification of gene markers. Under non-limiting water conditions, CIRAD 409 had a denser shoot, but shoot growth was slower despite better photosynthetic performance. Under water deficit, CIRAD 409 was weakly affected regardless of the plant level analyzed. In contrast, IAC 25 had reduced growth and reproductive development. It regulated transcriptomic and metabolic activities at a high level, and activated a complex gene regulatory network involved in growth-limiting processes. By comparing two contrasting genotypes, the present study identified the regulation of some fundamental processes and gene markers, that drive rice development, and influence its response to water deficit, in particular, the importance of the biosynthetic and regulatory pathways for cell wall metabolism. These key processes determine the biological and mechanical properties of the cell wall and thus influence plant development, organ expansion, and turgor maintenance under water deficit. Our results also question the genericity of the antagonism between morphogenesis and organogenesis observed in the two genotypes.

Red-Light Transmittance Changes in Variegated Pelargonium zonale-Diurnal Variation in Chloroplast Movement and Photosystem II Efficiency

Chloroplast movement rapidly ameliorates the effects of suboptimal light intensity by accumulating along the periclinal cell walls, as well as the effects of excess light by shifting to the anticlinal cell walls. These acclimation responses are triggered by phototropins located at the plasma membrane and chloroplast envelope. Here, we used a recently developed non-invasive system sensitive to very small changes in red light leaf transmittance to perform long-term continuous measurements of dark-light transitions. As a model system, we used variegated Pelargonium zonale leaves containing green sectors (GS) with fully developed chloroplasts and achlorophyllous, white sectors (WS) with undifferentiated plastids, and higher phototropin expression levels. We observed biphasic changes in the red-light transmittance and oscillations triggered by medium intensities of white light, described by a transient peak preceded by a constant decrease in transmittance level. A slight change in red-light transmittance was recorded even in WS. Furthermore, the chloroplast position at lower light intensities affected the rapid light curves, while high light intensity decreased saturated electron transport, maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II, and increased non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence and epidermal flavonoids. Our results extend the knowledge of light-dependent chloroplast movements and thus contribute to a better understanding of their role in regulating photosynthesis under fluctuating light conditions.

Superoxide Anion Radical Generation in Photosynthetic Electron Transport Chain

This review analyzes data available in the literature on the rates, characteristics, and mechanisms of oxygen reduction to a superoxide anion radical at the sites of photosynthetic electron transport chain where this reduction has been established. The existing assumptions about the role of the components of these sites in this process are critically examined using thermodynamic approaches and results of the recent studies. The process of O2 reduction at the acceptor side of PSI, which is considered the main site of this process taking place in the photosynthetic chain, is described in detail. Evolution of photosynthetic apparatus in the context of controlling the leakage of electrons to O2 is explored. The reasons limiting application of the results obtained with the isolated segments of the photosynthetic chain to estimate the rates of O2 reduction at the corresponding sites in the intact thylakoid membrane are discussed.

Photosynthetic modification of plants through recent technologies: a valuable way to ensure crop fortification

The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations include a strong emphasis on ending hunger worldwide. According to the 2019 Global Food Security Index, while 88% of countries claim there is sufficient food supply in their country, the sad reality is that 1 in 3 countries is facing insufficient availability of food supply, which means that in those countries, more than 10% of the population is malnourished. Since nutrition is crucial to leading a healthy life and satisfying food security needs, several governments have turned to national nutrition surveys to gauge the extent of malnutrition in their populations. Plants are able to grow, develop, and store nutrients by photosynthesis, which convert light into chemical energy through cell redox regulatory networks. A photosynthesis system's electron flow may be adjusted to accommodate varying light and environmental circumstances. Many techniques exist for controlling the flow of electrons emitted during light processes in order to save or waste energy. The two protein molecules TROL and flavoenzyme ferredoxin (oxidoreductase+NADP) (FNR) interact dynamically to form an excellent molecular switch capable of splitting electrons from the photosystem. The TROL-FNR bifurcation may be limited by either generating NADPH or preventing reactive oxygen species from propagating. TROL-based genome editing is an experimental method for enhancing plant stress and defensive responses, efficiency, and ultimately agricultural production.

New Insights Into Short-term Water Stress Tolerance Through Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses on Pepper Roots

In the current climate change scenario, water stress is a serious threat to limit crop growth and yields. It is necessary to develop tolerant plants that cope with water stress and, for this purpose, tolerance mechanisms should be studied. NIBER® is a proven water stress- and salt-tolerant pepper hybrid rootstock (Gisbert-Mullor et al., 2020; López-Serrano et al., 2020), but tolerance mechanisms remain unclear. In this experiment, NIBER® and A10 (a sensitive pepper accession (Penella et al., 2014)) response to short-term water stress at 5 h and 24 h was studied in terms of gene expression and metabolites content in roots. GO terms and gene expression analyses evidenced constitutive differences in the transcriptomic profile of NIBER® and A10, associated with detoxification systems of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Upon water stress, transcription factors like DREBs and MYC are upregulated and the levels of auxins, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid are increased in NIBER®. NIBER® tolerance mechanisms involve an increase in osmoprotectant sugars (i.e., trehalose, raffinose) and in antioxidants (spermidine), but lower contents of oxidized glutathione compared to A10, which indicates less oxidative damage. Moreover, the gene expression for aquaporins and chaperones is enhanced. These results show the main NIBER® strategies to overcome water stress.

Characterizing membrane anchoring of leaf-form ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase in rice

Leaf-form ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductases (LFNRs) function in the last step of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, exist as soluble proteins in the chloroplast stroma and are weakly associated with thylakoids or tightly anchored to chloroplast membranes. Arabidopsis thaliana has two LFNRs, and the chloroplast proteins AtTROL and AtTIC62 participate in anchoring AtLFNRs to the thylakoid membrane. By contrast, the membrane anchoring mechanism of rice (Oryza sativa) LFNRs has not been elucidated. Here, we investigated the membrane-anchoring mechanism of LFNRs and its physiological roles in rice. We characterized the rice protein OsTROL1 based on its homology to AtTROL. We determined that OsTROL1 is also a thylakoid membrane anchor and its loss leads to a compensatory increase in OsTIC62. OsLFNR1 attachment through a membrane anchor depends on OsLFNR2, unlike the Arabidopsis counterparts. In addition, OsTIC62 was more highly expressed in the dark than under light conditions, consistent with the increased membrane binding of OsLFNR in the dark. Moreover, we observed reciprocal stabilization between OsLFNRs and their membrane anchors. In addition, unlike in Arabidopsis, the loss of LFNR membrane anchor affects photosynthesis in rice. Overall, our study sheds light on the mechanisms anchoring LFNRs to membranes in rice and highlights differences with Arabidopsis.

A novel protein domain is important for photosystem II complex assembly and photoautotrophic growth in angiosperms

Photosystem II (PSII) is a multi-subunit protein complex of the photosynthetic electron transport chain that is vital to photosynthesis. Although the structure, composition, and function of PSII have been extensively studied, its biogenesis mechanism remains less understood. Thylakoid rhodanese-like (TROL) provides an anchor for leaf-type ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase. Here, we report the chacterizaton of a second type of TROL protein, TROL2, encoded by seed plant genomes whose function has not previously been reported. We show that TROL2 is a PSII assembly cofactor with essential roles in the establishment of photoautotrophy. TROL2 contains a 45-amino-acid domain, termed the chlorotic lethal seedling (CLS) domain, that is both necessary and sufficient for TROL2 function in PSII assembly and photoautotrophic growth. Phylogenetic analyses suggest that TROL2 may have arisen from ancestral TROL1 via gene duplication before the emergence of seed plants and acquired the CLS domain via evolution of the sequence encoding its N-terminal portion. We further reveal that TROL2 (or CLS) forms an assembly cofactor complex with the intrinsic thylakoid membrane protein LOW PSII ACCUMULATION2 and interacts with small PSII subunits to facilitate PSII complex assembly. Collectively, our study not only shows that TROL2 (CLS) is essential for photoautotrophy in angiosperms but also reveals its mechanistic role in PSII complex assembly, shedding light on the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms of photosynthetic complex assemblyin angiosperms.

Protection of photosystem I during sudden light stress depends on ferredoxin:NADP(H) reductase abundance and interactions

Plant tolerance to high light and oxidative stress is increased by overexpression of the photosynthetic enzyme Ferredoxin:NADP(H) reductase (FNR), but the specific mechanism of FNR-mediated protection remains enigmatic. It has also been reported that the localization of this enzyme within the chloroplast is related to its role in stress tolerance. Here, we dissected the impact of FNR content and location on photoinactivation of photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII) during high light stress of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). The reaction center of PSII is efficiently turned over during light stress, while damage to PSI takes much longer to repair. Our results indicate a PSI sepcific effect, where efficient oxidation of the PSI primary donor (P700) upon transition from darkness to light, depends on FNR recruitment to the thylakoid membrane tether proteins: thylakoid rhodanase-like protein (TROL) and translocon at the inner envelope of chloroplasts 62 (Tic62). When these interactions were disrupted, PSI photoinactivation occurred. In contrast, there was a moderate delay in the onset of PSII damage. Based on measurements of ΔpH formation and cyclic electron flow, we propose that FNR location influences the speed at which photosynthetic control is induced, resulting in specific impact on PSI damage. Membrane tethering of FNR therefore plays a role in alleviating high light stress, by regulating electron distribution during short-term responses to light.

Regulation of photosynthetic electron flow on dark to light transition by ferredoxin:NADP(H) oxidoreductase interactions

During photosynthesis, electron transport is necessary for carbon assimilation and must be regulated to minimize free radical damage. There is a longstanding controversy over the role of a critical enzyme in this process (ferredoxin:NADP(H) oxidoreductase, or FNR), and in particular its location within chloroplasts. Here we use immunogold labelling to prove that FNR previously assigned as soluble is in fact membrane associated. We combined this technique with a genetic approach in the model plant Arabidopsis to show that the distribution of this enzyme between different membrane regions depends on its interaction with specific tether proteins. We further demonstrate a correlation between the interaction of FNR with different proteins and the activity of alternative photosynthetic electron transport pathways. This supports a role for FNR location in regulating photosynthetic electron flow during the transition from dark to light.

Catalytic Reactions and Energy Conservation in the Cytochrome bc1 and b6f Complexes of Energy-Transducing Membranes

This review focuses on key components of respiratory and photosynthetic energy-transduction systems: the cytochrome bc1 and b6f (Cytbc1/b6f) membranous multisubunit homodimeric complexes. These remarkable molecular machines catalyze electron transfer from membranous quinones to water-soluble electron carriers (such as cytochromes c or plastocyanin), coupling electron flow to proton translocation across the energy-transducing membrane and contributing to the generation of a transmembrane electrochemical potential gradient, which powers cellular metabolism in the majority of living organisms. Cytsbc1/b6f share many similarities but also have significant differences. While decades of research have provided extensive knowledge on these enzymes, several important aspects of their molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. We summarize a broad range of structural, mechanistic, and physiological aspects required for function of Cytbc1/b6f, combining textbook fundamentals with new intriguing concepts that have emerged from more recent studies. The discussion covers but is not limited to (i) mechanisms of energy-conserving bifurcation of electron pathway and energy-wasting superoxide generation at the quinol oxidation site, (ii) the mechanism by which semiquinone is stabilized at the quinone reduction site, (iii) interactions with substrates and specific inhibitors, (iv) intermonomer electron transfer and the role of a dimeric complex, and (v) higher levels of organization and regulation that involve Cytsbc1/b6f. In addressing these topics, we point out existing uncertainties and controversies, which, as suggested, will drive further research in this field.

Developmental acclimation of the thylakoid proteome to light intensity in Arabidopsis

Photosynthetic acclimation, the ability to adjust the composition of the thylakoid membrane to optimise the efficiency of electron transfer to the prevailing light conditions, is crucial to plant fitness in the field. While much is known about photosynthetic acclimation in Arabidopsis, to date there has been no study that combines both quantitative label-free proteomics and photosynthetic analysis by gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and P700 absorption spectroscopy. Using these methods we investigated how the levels of 402 thylakoid proteins, including many regulatory proteins not previously quantified, varied upon long-term (weeks) acclimation of Arabidopsis to low (LL), moderate (ML) and high (HL) growth light intensity and correlated these with key photosynthetic parameters. We show that changes in the relative abundance of cytb6 f, ATP synthase, FNR2, TIC62 and PGR6 positively correlate with changes in estimated PSII electron transfer rate and CO2 assimilation. Improved photosynthetic capacity in HL grown plants is paralleled by increased cyclic electron transport, which positively correlated with NDH, PGRL1, FNR1, FNR2 and TIC62, although not PGR5 abundance. The photoprotective acclimation strategy was also contrasting, with LL plants favouring slowly reversible non-photochemical quenching (qI), which positively correlated with LCNP, while HL plants favoured rapidly reversible quenching (qE), which positively correlated with PSBS. The long-term adjustment of thylakoid membrane grana diameter positively correlated with LHCII levels, while grana stacking negatively correlated with CURT1 and RIQ protein abundance. The data provide insights into how Arabidopsis tunes photosynthetic electron transfer and its regulation during developmental acclimation to light intensity.

Responses of Manila Grass (Zoysia matrella) to chilling stress: From transcriptomics to physiology

Manila grass (Zoysia matrella), a warm-season turfgrass, usually wilts and browns by late autumn because of low temperature. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms regarding Manila grass responses to cold stress, we performed transcriptome sequencing of leaves exposed to 4°C for 0 (CK), 2h (2h_CT) and 72h (72h_CT) by Illumina technology. Approximately 250 million paired-end reads were obtained and de novo assembled into 82,605 unigenes. A total of 34,879 unigenes were annotated by comparing their sequence to public protein databases. At the 2h- and 72h-cold time points, 324 and 5,851 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) and metabolism pathway (KEGG) enrichment analyses of DEGs indicated that auxin, gibberellins, ethylene and calcium took part in the cold signal transduction in the early period. And in the late cold period, electron transport activities, photosynthetic machinery and activity, carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism, redox equilibrium and hormone metabolism were disturbed. Low temperature stress triggered high light, drought and oxidative stress. At the physiological level, cold stress induced a decrease in water content, an increase in levels of total soluble sugar, free proline and MDA, and changes in bioactive gibberellins levels, which supported the changes in gene expression. The results provided a large set of sequence data of Manila grass as well as molecular mechanisms of the grass in response to cold stress. This information will be helpful for future study of molecular breeding and turf management.

Structural and Functional Heat Stress Responses of Chloroplasts of Arabidopsis thaliana

Temperature elevations constitute a major threat to plant performance. In recent years, much was learned about the general molecular mode of heat stress reaction of plants. The current research focuses on the integration of the knowledge into more global networks, including the reactions of cellular compartments. For instance, chloroplast function is central for plant growth and survival, and the performance of chloroplasts is tightly linked to the general status of the cell and vice versa. We examined the changes in photosynthesis, chloroplast morphology and proteomic composition posed in Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplasts after a single or repetitive heat stress treatment over a period of two weeks. We observed that the acclimation is potent in the case of repetitive application of heat stress, while a single stress results in lasting alterations. Moreover, the physiological capacity and its adjustment are dependent on the efficiency of the protein translocation process as judged from the analysis of mutants of the two receptor units of the chloroplast translocon, TOC64, and TOC33. In response to repetitive heat stress, plants without TOC33 accumulate Hsp70 proteins and plants without TOC64 have a higher content of proteins involved in thylakoid structure determination when compared to wild-type plants.

Novel insights into the diversity of the sulfurtransferase family in photosynthetic organisms with emphasis on oak

Sulfurtransferases (STRs) constitute a large and complex protein family characterized by the presence of a rhodanese domain and implicated in diverse molecular and signaling processes as sulfur carriers. Although sulfurtransferases are present in the three domains of life and share evolutionary relationships, a high variability exists at different levels including the protein length and active site sequence, the presence of an indispensable catalytic cysteine residue, the domain arrangement and the subcellular localization. Because only Arabidopsis thaliana sequences have been inventoried so far, this paper aims at providing a detailed classification and inventory of evolutionary features of this family in photosynthetic organisms using comparative genomics, focusing on the oak genome. Based on the expansion of STRs in higher photosynthetic organisms, we classified the STR family in nine clusters depending on their primary sequence and domain arrangement. We found that oak possesses at least one isoform in all defined clusters and that clusters IV, V and VI contain plant-specific isoforms that are located mostly in chloroplasts. The novel classification proposed here provides the basis for functional genomics approaches in order to dissect the biochemical characteristics and physiological functions of individual STR representatives.

Remodeling of photosynthetic electron transport in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for future hydrogen production from water

Photosynthetic microorganisms such as the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis) can be exploited for the light-driven synthesis of valuable compounds. Thermodynamically, it is most beneficial to branch-off photosynthetic electrons at ferredoxin (Fd), which provides electrons for a variety of fundamental metabolic pathways in the cell, with the ferredoxin-NADP⁺ Oxido-Reductase (FNR, PetH) being the main target. In order to re-direct electrons from Fd to another consumer, the high electron transport rate between Fd and FNR has to be reduced. Based on our previous in vitro experiments, corresponding FNR-mutants at position FNR_K190 (Wiegand, K., et al.: "Rational redesign of the ferredoxin-NADP-oxido-reductase/ferredoxin-interaction for photosynthesis-dependent H₂-production". Biochim Biophys Acta, 2018) have been generated in Synechocystis cells to study their impact on the cellular metabolism and their potential for a future hydrogen-producing design cell. Out of two promising candidates, mutation FNR_K190D proved to be lethal due to oxidative stress, while FNR_K190A was successfully generated and characterized: The light induced NADPH formation is clearly impaired in this mutant and it shows also major metabolic adaptations like a higher glucose metabolism as evidenced by quantitative mass spectrometric analysis. These results indicate a high potential for the future use of photosynthetic electrons in engineered design cells - for instance for hydrogen production. They also show substantial differences of interacting proteins in an in vitro environment vs. physiological conditions in whole cells.

Qualitative and quantitative dataset of TROL protein interaction with C3 and C4 ferredoxin: NADP+ oxidoreductases

Last step of electron transport from ferredoxin to NADP+ in photosynthesis light reactions catalyses ferredoxin: NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (FNR). FNR is present as soluble protein in stroma, but also bound to the protein complexes on the membrane with thylakoid rhodanase-like protein (TROL) and translocon on the inner envelope chloroplast membrane (Tic62), which have identical C terminal FNR binding domain [1,2]. During the electron transport, FNR anchored by TROL protein transfers electrons on NADP+ and forms NADPH which is then used in Calvin cycle as reducing agent. TROL is an integral membrane protein [3] with an inactive rhodanase-like domain (RHO) facing stroma which, as proposed earlier [4], could bind a small ligand leading to releasing or binding of FNR. FNR-TROL protein complex is necessary for optimal photosynthetic electron flow [1]. It has been shown that C4 plant maize FNR isomers have different N-terminal structure which determines binding affinity to protein complexes and different ratios of bound and unbound FNR in bundle sheath and mesophyll cells, depending on preferable photosynthetic electron transport [5]. Mutant Arabidopsis plant that contain maize FNR1 protein showed influence on dynamic association of FNR and change in excitation balance between photosystems which then influenced photo induced electron transport and finally photosynthesis [5]. In order to determine the influence of maize FNR1 on photosynthesis in C3 plants and difference in interaction strength with TROL, we preformed Yeast two hybrid screening, x-alpha-gal assay and β-galactosidase assay.

Rhodanese domain-containing sulfurtransferases: multifaceted proteins involved in sulfur trafficking in plants

Sulfur is an essential element for the growth and development of plants, which synthesize cysteine and methionine from the reductive assimilation of sulfate. Besides its incorporation into proteins, cysteine is the building block for the biosynthesis of numerous sulfur-containing molecules and cofactors. The required sulfur atoms are extracted either directly from cysteine by cysteine desulfurases or indirectly after its catabolic transformation to 3-mercaptopyruvate, a substrate for sulfurtransferases (STRs). Both enzymes are transiently persulfidated in their reaction cycle, i.e. the abstracted sulfur atom is bound to a reactive cysteine residue in the form of a persulfide group. Trans-persulfidation reactions occur when sulfur atoms are transferred to nucleophilic acceptors such as glutathione, proteins, or small metabolites. STRs form a ubiquitous, multigenic protein family. They are characterized by the presence of at least one rhodanese homology domain (Rhd), which usually contains the catalytic, persulfidated cysteine. In this review, we focus on Arabidopsis STRs, presenting the sequence characteristics of all family members as well as their biochemical and structural features. The physiological functions of particular STRs in the biosynthesis of molybdenum cofactor, thio-modification of cytosolic tRNAs, arsenate tolerance, cysteine catabolism, and hydrogen sulfide formation are also discussed.

Binding of ferredoxin NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR) to plant photosystem I

The binding of FNR to PSI has been postulated long ago, however, a clear evidence is still missing. In this work, using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), we found that FNR binds to photosystem I with its light harvesting complex I (PSI-LHCI) from C. reinhardtii with a 1:1 stoichiometry, a Kd of ~0.8 μM and ∆H of -20.7 kcal/mol. Titrations at different temperatures were used to determine the heat capacity change, ∆CP, of the binding, through which the size of the interface area between the proteins was assessed as ~3000 Ų. In a different set of ITC experiments, introduction of various sucrose concentrations was used to estimate that ~95 water molecules are released to the solvent. These observations support the notion of a binding site shared by few of the photosystem I - light harvesting complex I (PSI-LHCI) subunits in addition to PsaE. Based on these results, a hypothetical model was built for the binding site of FNR at PSI, using known crystallographic structures of: cyanobacterial PSI in complex with ferredoxin (Fd), plant PSI-LHCI and Fd:FNR complex from cyanobacteria. FNR binding site location is proposed to be at the foot of the stromal ridge and above the inner LHCI belt. It is expected to form contacts with PsaE, PsaB, PsaF and at least one of the LHCI. In addition, a ~4.5-fold increased affinity between FNR and PSI-LHCI under crowded 1 M sucrose environment led us to conclude that in C. reinhardtii FNR also functions as a subunit of PSI-LHCI.

A Prunus persica genome-wide RNA-seq approach uncovers major differences in the transcriptome among chilling injury sensitive and non-sensitive varieties

Chilling injury represents a major constrain for crops productivity. Prunus persica, one of the most relevant rosacea crops, have early season varieties that are resistant to chilling injury, in contrast to late season varieties, which display chilling symptoms such as mealiness (dry, sandy fruit mesocarp) after prolonged storage at chilling temperatures. To uncover the molecular processes related to the ability of early varieties to withstand mealiness, postharvest and genome-wide RNA-seq assessments were performed in two early and two late varieties. Differences in juice content and ethylene biosynthesis were detected among early and late season fruits that became mealy after exposed to prolonged chilling. Principal component and data distribution analysis revealed that cold-stored late variety fruit displayed an exacerbated and unique transcriptome profile when compared to any other postharvest condition. A differential expression analysis performed using an empirical Bayes mixture modeling approach followed by co-expression and functional enrichment analysis uncover processes related to ethylene, lipids, cell wall, carotenoids and DNA metabolism, light response, and plastid homeostasis associated to the susceptibility or resistance of P. persica varieties to chilling stress. Several of the genes related to these processes are in quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated to mealiness in P. persica. Together, these analyses exemplify how P. persica can be used as a model for studying chilling stress in plants.

Electron transport pathways in isolated chromoplasts from Narcissus pseudonarcissus L

During daffodil flower development, chloroplasts differentiate into photosynthetically inactive chromoplasts having lost functional photosynthetic reaction centers. Chromoplasts exhibit a respiratory activity reducing oxygen to water and generating ATP. Immunoblots revealed the presence of the plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX), the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) complex, the cytochrome b₆ f complex, ATP synthase and several isoforms of ferredoxin-NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (FNR), and ferredoxin (Fd). Fluorescence spectroscopy allowed the detection of chlorophyll a in the cytochrome b₆ f complex. Here we characterize the electron transport pathway of chromorespiration by using specific inhibitors for the NDH complex, the cytochrome b₆ f complex, FNR and redox-inactive Fd in which the iron was replaced by gallium. Our data suggest an electron flow via two separate pathways, both reducing plastoquinone (PQ) and using PTOX as oxidase. The first oxidizes NADPH via FNR, Fd and cytochrome b_h of the cytochrome b₆ f complex, and does not result in the pumping of protons across the membrane. In the second, electron transport takes place via the NDH complex using both NADH and NADPH as electron donor. FNR and Fd are not involved in this pathway. The NDH complex is responsible for the generation of the proton gradient. We propose a model for chromorespiration that may also be relevant for the understanding of chlororespiration and for the characterization of the electron input from Fd to the cytochrome b₆ f complex during cyclic electron transport in chloroplasts.

Topology of TROL protein in thylakoid membranes of Arabidopsis thaliana

Thylakoid rhodanase-like protein (TROL) is a nuclear-encoded protein of thylakoid membranes required for tethering of ferredoxin:nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxydoreductase (FNR). It has been proposed that the dynamic interaction of TROL with flavoenzyme FNR, influenced by environmental light conditions, regulates the fate of photosynthetic electrons, directing them either to NADPH synthesis or to other acceptors, including reactive oxygen species detoxification pathways. Inside the chloroplasts, TROL has a dual localization: an inner membrane precursor form and a thylakoid membrane mature form, which has been confirmed by several large-scale chloroplast proteomics studies, as well as protein import experiments. Unlike the localization, the topology of TROL in the membranes, which is a prerequisite for further studies of its properties and function, has not been experimentally confirmed yet. Thermolysin was proven to be a valuable protease to probe the surface of chloroplasts and membranes in general. By treating the total chloroplast membranes using increasing protease concentration, sequential degradation of TROL was observed, indicating protected polypeptides of TROL and possible domain orientation. To further substantiate the obtained results, TROL-overexpressing Arabidopsis line (OX) and line in which the central rhodanase-like domain (RHO) has been partially deleted (ΔRHO), were used as well. While OX line showed the same degradation pattern of TROL as the wild-type, surprisingly, TROL from ΔRHO membranes was not detectable even at the lowest protease concentration applied, indicating the importance of this domain to the integrity of TROL. In conclusion, TROL is a polytopic protein with a stroma-exposed C-terminal FNR-binding region, and the thylakoid lumen-located RHO domain.

New molecular insights on the response of the green alga Tetraselmis suecica to nitrogen starvation

Microalgae are currently considered one of the most promising resources for biofuel production, aquaculture feedstock and new pharmaceuticals. Among them, green algae of the genus Tetraselmis are extensively studied for their lipid accumulation in nutrient-starvation conditions. In this paper, we present the full-transcriptome of Tetraselmis suecica and differential expression analysis between nitrogen-starved and -repleted conditions (at stationary phase) focusing not only on lipid metabolism but giving new insights on nutrient starvation responses. Transcripts involved in signal transduction pathways, stress and antioxidant responses and solute transport were strongly up-regulated when T. suecica was cultured under nitrogen starvation. On the contrary, transcripts involved in amino acid synthesis, degradation of sugars, secondary metabolite synthesis, as well as photosynthetic activity were down-regulated under the same conditions. Among differentially expressed transcripts, a polyketide synthase and three lipoxygenases (involved in the synthesis of secondary metabolites with antipredator, anticancer and anti-infective activities) were identified, suggesting the potential synthesis of bioactive compounds by this microalga. In addition, the transcript for a putative nitrilase, enzyme used in nitrile bioremediation, is here reported for the first time for T. suecica. These findings give new insights on T. suecica responses to nutrient starvation and on possible biotechnological applications for green algae.

Roles of Cytosolic Glutamine Synthetases in Arabidopsis Development and Stress Responses

Glutamine (Gln) has as a central role in nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) metabolism. It is synthesized during assimilation of ammonium by cytosolic and plastidial glutamine synthetases (GS; EC 6.1.1.3). Arabidopsis thaliana has five cytosolic GS (GS1) encoding genes designated as GLN1;1-GLN1;5 and one plastidial GS (GS2) gene. In this report that concerns cytosolic GS, we show by analyzing single, double and triple mutants that single genes were dispensable for growth under laboratory conditions. However, loss of two or three GS1 isoforms impacted plant form, function and the capacity to tolerate abiotic stresses. The loss of GLN1;1, GLN1;2 and GLN1;3 resulted in a significant reduction of vegetative growth and seed size. In addition, we infer that GLN1;4 is essential for pollen viability but only in the absence of GLN1;1 and GLN1;3. Transcript profiling revealed that expression of GLN1;1, GLN1;2, GLN1;3 and GLN1;4 was repressed by salinity and cold stresses. Among all single gln1 mutants, growth of gln1;1 seedlings showed an enhanced sensitivity to the GS inhibitor phosphinothricin (PPT), as well as to cold and salinity treatments, suggesting a non-redundant role for GLN1;1. Furthermore, the increased sensitivity of gln1;1 mutants to methyl viologen was associated with an accelerated accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the thylakoid of chloroplasts. Our data demonstrate, for the first time, an involvement of the cytosolic GS1 in modulating ROS homeostasis in chloroplasts. Collectively, the current study establishes a link between cytosolic Gln production and plant development, ROS production and stress tolerance.

Acute toxicity of the fungicide azoxystrobin on the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum

Azoxystrobin (AZ) is an effective broad-spectrum fungicide. Due to its extensive application, AZ is detectable in aquatic ecosystems and thus influences aquatic organisms. In this study, the acute toxicity (96 h) of AZ at concentrations of 1.0 mg/L and 5.0 mg/L on the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum were examined. At the tested concentrations, AZ significantly inhibited P. tricornutum growth and destroyed its cellular structure. Furthermore, the mechanisms of AZ-induced toxicity on P. tricornutum changed as the exposure time extended. Forty-eight hours after exposure, AZ inhibited P. tricornutum growth primarily via inducing oxidative stress, which increased the activity of two main antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, and inhibited energy metabolism. However, after 96 h of treatment, the decline in the photosynthetic capacity of P. tricornutum demonstrated that the photosystem was the main AZ target. The pigment content and expression levels of genes related to photosynthetic electron transfer reactions were also significantly decreased. The present study describes AZ toxicity in P. tricornutum and is very valuable for assessing the environmental risk of AZ.

The labile interactions of cyclic electron flow effector proteins

The supramolecular organization of membrane proteins (MPs) is sensitive to environmental changes in photosynthetic organisms. Isolation of MP supercomplexes from the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which are believed to contribute to cyclic electron flow (CEF) between the cytochrome b6f complex (Cyt-b6f) and photosystem I (PSI), proved difficult. We were unable to isolate a supercomplex containing both Cyt-b6f and PSI because in our hands, most of Cyt-b6f did not comigrate in sucrose density gradients, even upon using chemical cross-linkers or amphipol substitution of detergents. Assisted by independent affinity purification and MS approaches, we utilized disintegrating MP assemblies and demonstrated that the algae-specific CEF effector proteins PETO and ANR1 are bona fide Cyt-b6f interactors, with ANR1 requiring the presence of an additional, presently unknown, protein. We narrowed down the Cyt-b6f interface, where PETO is loosely attached to cytochrome f and to a stromal region of subunit IV, which also contains phosphorylation sites for the STT7 kinase.

Thylakoid proteome modulation in pea plants grown at different irradiances: quantitative proteomic profiling in a non-model organism aided by transcriptomic data integration

Plant thylakoid membranes contain hundreds of proteins that closely interact to cope with ever-changing environmental conditions. We investigated how Pisum sativum L. (pea) grown at different irradiances optimizes light-use efficiency through the differential accumulation of thylakoid proteins. Thylakoid membranes from plants grown under low (LL), moderate (ML) and high (HL) light intensity were characterized by combining chlorophyll fluorescence measurements with quantitative label-free proteomic analysis. Protein sequences retrieved from available transcriptomic data considerably improved thylakoid proteome profiling, increasing the quantifiable proteins from 63 to 194. The experimental approach used also demonstrates that this integrative omics strategy is powerful for unravelling protein isoforms and functions that are still unknown in non-model organisms. We found that the different growth irradiances affect the electron transport kinetics but not the relative abundance of photosystems (PS) I and II. Two acclimation strategies were evident. The behaviour of plants acclimated to LL was compared at higher irradiances: (i) in ML, plants turn on photoprotective responses mostly modulating the PSII light-harvesting capacity, either accumulating Lhcb4.3 or favouring the xanthophyll cycle; (ii) in HL, plants reduce the pool of light-harvesting complex II and enhance the PSII repair cycle. When growing at ML and HL, plants accumulate ATP synthase, boosting both cyclic and linear electron transport by finely tuning the ΔpH across the membrane and optimizing protein trafficking by adjusting the thylakoid architecture. Our results provide a quantitative snapshot of how plants coordinate light harvesting, electron transport and protein synthesis by adjusting the thylakoid membrane proteome in a light-dependent manner.

Low pH-responsive proteins revealed by a 2-DE based MS approach and related physiological responses in Citrus leaves

BACKGROUND

Rare data are available on the molecular responses of higher plants to low pH. Seedlings of 'Sour pummelo' (Citrus grandis) and 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis) were treated daily with nutrient solution at a pH of 2.5, 3, or 6 (control) for nine months. Thereafter, we first used 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) to investigate low pH-responsive proteins in Citrus leaves. Meanwhile, we examined low pH-effects on leaf gas exchange, carbohydrates, ascorbate, dehydroascorbate and malondialdehyde. The objectives were to understand the adaptive mechanisms of Citrus to low pH and to identify the possible candidate proteins for low pH-tolerance.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that Citrus were tolerant to low pH, with a slightly higher low pH-tolerance in the C. sinensis than in the C. grandis. Using 2-DE, we identified more pH 2.5-responsive proteins than pH 3-responsive proteins in leaves. This paper discussed mainly on the pH 2.5-responsive proteins. pH 2.5 decreased the abundances of proteins involved in ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activation, Calvin cycle, carbon fixation, chlorophyll biosynthesis and electron transport, hence lowering chlorophyll level, electron transport rate and photosynthesis. The higher oxidative damage in the pH 2.5-treated C. grandis leaves might be due to a combination of factors including higher production of reactive oxygen species, more proteins decreased in abundance involved in antioxidation and detoxification, and lower ascorbate level. Protein and amino acid metabolisms were less affected in the C. sinensis leaves than those in the C. grandis leaves when exposed to pH 2.5. The abundances of proteins related to jasmonic acid biosynthesis and signal transduction were increased and decreased in the pH 2.5-treated C. sinensis and C. grandis leaves, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report on low pH-responsive proteins in higher plants. Thus, our results provide some novel information on low pH-toxicity and -tolerance in higher plants.

Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Coregulation of CIPK14 and WHIRLY1/3 Mediated Pale Yellowing of Leaves in Arabidopsis

Pale yellowing of leaf variegation is observed in the mutant Arabidopsis lines Calcineurin B-Like-Interacting Protein Kinase14 (CIPK14) overexpression (oeCIPK14) and double-knockout WHIRLY1/WHIRLY3 (why1/3). Further, the relative distribution of WHIRLY1 (WHY1) protein between plastids and the nucleus is affected by the phosphorylation of WHY1 by CIPK14. To elucidate the coregulation of CIPK14 and WHIRLY1/WHIRLY3-mediated pale yellowing of leaves, a differential proteomic analysis was conducted between the oeCIPK14 variegated (oeCIPK14-var) line, why1/3 variegated (why1/3-var) line, and wild type (WT). More than 800 protein spots were resolved on each gel, and 67 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS). Of these 67 proteins, 34 DAPs were in the oeCIPK14-var line and 33 DAPs were in the why1/3-var line compared to the WT. Five overlapping proteins were differentially expressed in both the oeCIPK14-var and why1/3-var lines: ATP-dependent Clp protease proteolytic subunit-related protein 3 (ClpR3), Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain (RBCL), Beta-amylase 3 (BAM3), Ribosome-recycling factor (RRF), and Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small chain (RBCS). Bioinformatics analysis showed that most of the DAPs are involved in photosynthesis, defense and antioxidation pathways, protein metabolism, amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, malate biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, and transcription. Thus, in the why1/3-var and oeCIPK14-var lines, there was a decrease in the photosystem parameters, including the content of chlorophyll, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem (PS II) (Fv/Fm), and electron transport rates (ETRs), but there was an increase in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Both mutants showed high sensitivity to intense light. Based on the annotation of the DAPs from both why1/3-var and oeCIPK14-var lines, we conclude that the CIPK14 phosphorylation-mediated WHY1 deficiency in plastids is related to the impairment of protein metabolism, leading to chloroplast dysfunction.

Potential roles of YCF54 and ferredoxin-NADPH reductase for magnesium protoporphyrin monomethylester cyclase

Chlorophyll is synthesized from activated glutamate in the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis pathway through at least 20 different enzymatic reactions. Among these, the MgProto monomethylester (MgProtoME) cyclase catalyzes the formation of a fifth isocyclic ring to tetrapyrroles to form protochlorophyllide. The enzyme consists of two proteins. The CHL27 protein is proposed to be the catalytic component, while LCAA/YCF54 likely acts as a scaffolding factor. In comparison to other reactions of chlorophyll biosynthesis, this enzymatic step lacks clear elucidation and it is hardly understood, how electrons are delivered for the NADPH-dependent cyclization reaction. The present study intends to elucidate more precisely the role of LCAA/YCF54. Transgenic Arabidopsis lines with inactivated and overexpressed YCF54 reveal the mutual stability of YCF54 and CHL27. Among the YCF54-interacting proteins, the plastidal ferredoxin-NADPH reductase (FNR) was identified. We showed in N. tabacum and A. thaliana that a deficit of FNR1 or YCF54 caused MgProtoME accumulation, the substrate of the cyclase, and destabilization of the cyclase subunits. It is proposed that FNR serves as a potential donor for electrons required in the cyclase reaction and connects chlorophyll synthesis with photosynthetic activity.

Effects of TROL Presequence Mutagenesis on Its Import and Dual Localization in Chloroplasts

Thylakoid rhodanase-like protein (TROL) is involved in the final step of photosynthetic electron transport from ferredoxin to ferredoxin: NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (FNR). TROL is located in two distinct chloroplast compartments—in the inner envelope of chloroplasts, in its precursor form; and in the thylakoid membranes, in its fully processed form. Its role in the inner envelope, as well as the determinants for its differential localization, have not been resolved yet. In this work we created six N-terminal amino acid substitutions surrounding the predicted processing site in the presequence of TROL in order to obtain a construct whose import is affected or localization limited to a single intrachloroplastic site. By using in vitro transcription and translation and subsequent protein import methods, we found that a single amino acid exchange in the presequence, Ala67 to Ile67 interferes with processing in the stroma and directs the whole pool of in vitro translated TROL to the inner envelope of chloroplasts. This result opens up the possibility of studying the role of TROL in the chloroplast inner envelope as well as possible consequence/s of its absence from the thylakoids.

Molecular and functional characterization of ferredoxin NADP(H) oxidoreductase from Gracilaria chilensis and its complex with ferredoxin

Backgroud

Ferredoxin NADP(H) oxidoreductases (EC 1.18.1.2) (FNR) are flavoenzymes present in photosynthetic organisms; they are relevant for the production of reduced donors to redox reactions, i.e. in photosynthesis, the reduction of NADP⁺ to NADPH using the electrons provided by Ferredoxin (Fd), a small FeS soluble protein acceptor of electrons from PSI in chloroplasts. In rhodophyta no information about this system has been reported, this work is a contribution to the molecular and functional characterization of FNR from Gracilaria chilensis, also providing a structural analysis of the complex FNR/Fd.

Methods

The biochemical and kinetic characterization of FNR was performed from the enzyme purified from phycobilisomes enriched fractions. The sequence of the gene that codifies for the enzyme, was obtained using primers designed by comparison with sequences of Synechocystis and EST from Gracilaria. 5′RACE was used to confirm the absence of a CpcD domain in FNRPBS of Gracilaria chilensis. A three dimensional model for FNR and Fd, was built by comparative modeling and a model for the complex FNR: Fd by docking.

Results

The kinetic analysis shows K_M^NADPH of 12.5 M and a k_cat of 86 s⁻¹, data consistent with the parameters determined for the enzyme purified from a soluble extract. The sequence for FNR was obtained and translated to a protein of 33646 Da. A FAD and a NADP+ binding domain were clearly identified by sequence analysis as well as a chloroplast signal sequence. Phycobilisome binding domain, present in some cyanobacteria was absent. Transcriptome analysis of Gch revealed the presence of two Fd; FdL and FdS , sharing the motif CX5CX2CX29X. The analysis indicated that the most probable partner for FNR is FdS.

Conclusion

The interaction model produced, was consistent with functional properties reported for FNR in plants leaves, and opens the possibilities for research in other rhodophyta of commercial interest.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s40659-017-0144-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Interaction and electron transfer between ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase and its partners: structural, functional, and physiological implications

Ferredoxin-NADP⁺ reductase (FNR) catalyzes the last step of linear electron transfer in photosynthetic light reactions. The FAD cofactor of FNR accepts two electrons from two independent reduced ferredoxin molecules (Fd) in two sequential steps, first producing neutral semiquinone and then the fully anionic reduced, or hydroquinone, form of the enzyme (FNR_hq). FNR_hq transfers then both electrons in a single hydride transfer step to NADP⁺. We are presenting the recent progress in studies focusing on Fd:FNR interaction and subsequent electron transfer processes as well as on interaction of FNR with NADP⁺/H followed by hydride transfer, both from the structural and functional point of views. We also present the current knowledge about the physiological role(s) of various FNR isoforms present in the chloroplasts of higher plants and the functional impact of subchloroplastic location of FNR. Moreover, open questions and current challenges about the structure, function, and physiology of FNR are discussed.

Evolution of the acceptor side of photosystem I: ferredoxin, flavodoxin, and ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase

The development of oxygenic photosynthesis by primordial cyanobacteria ~2.7 billion years ago led to major changes in the components and organization of photosynthetic electron transport to cope with the challenges of an oxygen-enriched atmosphere. We review herein, following the seminal contributions as reported by Jaganathan et al. (Functional genomics and evolution of photosynthetic systems, vol 33, advances in photosynthesis and respiration, Springer, Dordrecht, 2012), how these changes affected carriers and enzymes at the acceptor side of photosystem I (PSI): the electron shuttle ferredoxin (Fd), its isofunctional counterpart flavodoxin (Fld), their redox partner ferredoxin-NADP⁺ reductase (FNR), and the primary PSI acceptors F _x and F _A/F _B. Protection of the [4Fe-4S] centers of these proteins from oxidative damage was achieved by strengthening binding between the F _A/F _B polypeptide and the reaction center core containing F _x, therefore impairing O₂ access to the clusters. Immobilization of F _A/F _B in the PSI complex led in turn to the recruitment of new soluble electron shuttles. This function was fulfilled by oxygen-insensitive [2Fe-2S] Fd, in which the reactive sulfide atoms of the cluster are shielded from solvent by the polypeptide backbone, and in some algae and cyanobacteria by Fld, which employs a flavin as prosthetic group and is tolerant to oxidants and iron limitation. Tight membrane binding of FNR allowed solid-state electron transfer from PSI bridged by Fd/Fld. Fine tuning of FNR catalytic mechanism led to formidable increases in turnover rates compared with FNRs acting in heterotrophic pathways, favoring Fd/Fld reduction instead of oxygen reduction.

Association of Ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase with the photosynthetic apparatus modulates electron transfer in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Ferredoxins (FDX) and the FDX:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (FNR) represent a key junction of electron transport downstream of photosystem I (PSI). Dynamic recruitment of FNR to the thylakoid membrane has been considered as a potential mechanism to define the fate of photosynthetically derived electrons. In this study, we investigated the functional importance of the association of FNR with the photosynthetic apparatus in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In vitro assays based on NADP⁺ photoreduction measurements as well as NMR chemical shift perturbation analyses showed that FNR preferentially interacts with FDX1 compared to FDX2. Notably, binding of FNR to a PSI supercomplex further enhanced this preference for FDX1 over FDX2, suggesting that FNR is potentially capable of channelling electrons towards distinct routes. NADP⁺ photoreduction assays and immunoblotting revealed that the association of FNR with the thylakoid membrane including the PSI supercomplex is impaired in the absence of Proton Gradient Regulation 5 (PGR5) and/or Proton Gradient Regulation 5-Like photosynthetic phenotype 1 (PGRL1), implying that both proteins, directly or indirectly, contribute to the recruitment of FNR to the thylakoid membrane. As assessed via in vivo absorption spectroscopy and immunoblotting, PSI was the primary target of photodamage in response to high-light stress in the absence of PGR5 and/or PGRL1. Anoxia preserved the activity of PSI, pointing to enhanced electron donation to O₂ as the source of the observed PSI inactivation and degradation. These findings establish another perspective on PGR5/PGRL1 knockout-related phenotypes and potentially interconnect FNR with the regulation of photosynthetic electron transport and PSI photoprotection in C. reinhardtii.

Detailed characterization of Synechocystis PCC 6803 ferredoxin:NADP+ oxidoreductase interaction with model membranes

Direct interaction of ferredoxin:NADP⁺ oxidoreductase (FNR) with thylakoid membranes was postulated as a part of the cyclic electron flow mechanism. In vitro binding of FNR to digalactosyldiacylglycerol and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol membranes was also shown. In this paper we deal with the latter interaction in more detail describing the effect for two FNR forms of Synechocystis PCC 6803. The so-called short FNR (sFNR) is homologous to FNR from higher plant chloroplasts. The long FNR (lFNR) form contains an additional domain, responsible for the interaction with phycobilisomes. We compare the binding of both sFNR and lFNR forms to native and non-native lipids. We also include factors which could modulate this process: pH change, temperature change, presence of ferredoxin, NADP⁺ and NADPH and heavy metals. For the lFNR, we also include phycobilisomes as a modulating factor. The membrane binding is generally faster at lower pH. The sFNR was binding faster than lFNR. Ferredoxin isoforms with higher midpoint potential, as well as NADPH and NADP⁺, weakened the binding. Charged lipids and high phosphate promoted the binding. Heavy metal ions decreased the rate of membrane binding only when FNR was preincubated with them before injection beneath the monolayer. FNR binding was limited to surface lipid groups and did not influence hydrophobic chain packing. Taken together, FNR interaction with lipids appears to be non-specific, with an electrostatic component. This suggests that the direct FNR interaction with lipids is most likely not a factor in directing electron transfer, but should be taken into account during in vitro studies.

Import of Soluble Proteins into Chloroplasts and Potential Regulatory Mechanisms

Chloroplasts originated from an endosymbiotic event in which a free-living cyanobacterium was engulfed by an ancestral eukaryotic host. During evolution the majority of the chloroplast genetic information was transferred to the host cell nucleus. As a consequence, proteins formerly encoded by the chloroplast genome are now translated in the cytosol and must be subsequently imported into the chloroplast. This process involves three steps: (i) cytosolic sorting procedures, (ii) binding to the designated receptor-equipped target organelle and (iii) the consecutive translocation process. During import, proteins have to overcome the two barriers of the chloroplast envelope, namely the outer envelope membrane (OEM) and the inner envelope membrane (IEM). In the majority of cases, this is facilitated by two distinct multiprotein complexes, located in the OEM and IEM, respectively, designated TOC and TIC. Plants are constantly exposed to fluctuating environmental conditions such as temperature and light and must therefore regulate protein composition within the chloroplast to ensure optimal functioning of elementary processes such as photosynthesis. In this review we will discuss the recent models of each individual import stage with regard to short-term strategies that plants might use to potentially acclimate to changes in their environmental conditions and preserve the chloroplast protein homeostasis.

Influence of pH and ionic strength on electrostatic properties of ferredoxin, FNR, and hydrogenase and the rate constants of their interaction

Ferredoxin (Fd) protein transfers electrons from photosystem I (PSI) to ferredoxin:NADP⁺-reductase (FNR) in the photosynthetic electron transport chain, as well as other metabolic pathways. In some photosynthetic organisms including cyanobacteria and green unicellular algae under anaerobic conditions Fd transfers electrons not only to FNR but also to hydrogenase-an enzyme which catalyzes reduction of atomic hydrogen to H₂. One of the questions posed by this competitive relationship between proteins is which characteristics of thylakoid stroma media allow switching of the electron flow between the linear path PSI-Fd-FNR-NADP⁺ and the path PSI-Fd-hydrogenase-H₂. The study was conducted using direct multiparticle simulation approach. In this method protein molecules are considered as individual objects that experience Brownian motion and electrostatic interaction with the surrounding media and each other. Using the model we studied the effects of pH and ionic strength (I) upon complex formation between ferredoxin and FNR and ferredoxin and hydrogenase. We showed that the rate constant of Fd-FNR complex formation is constant in a wide range of physiologically significant pH values. Therefore it can be argued that regulation of FNR activity doesn't involve pH changes in stroma. On the other hand, in the model rate constant of Fd-hydrogenase interaction dramatically depends upon pH: in the range 7-9 it increases threefold. It may seem that because hydrogenase reduces protons it should be more active when pH is acidic. Apparently, regulation of hydrogenase's affinity to both her reaction partners (H⁺ and Fd) is carried out by changes in its electrostatic properties. In the dark, the protein is inactive and in the light it is activated and starts to interact with both Fd and H⁺. Therefore, we can conclude that in chloroplasts the rate of hydrogen production is regulated by pH through the changes in the affinity between hydrogenase and ferredoxin.

Data supporting the absence of FNR dynamic photosynthetic membrane recruitment in trol mutants

In photosynthesis, the flavoenzyme ferredoxin:NADP(+) oxidoreductase (FNR) catalyses the final electron transfer from ferredoxin to NADP(+), which is considered as the main pathway of high-energy electron partitioning in chloroplasts (DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313X.2009.03999.x[1], DOI: 10.1038/srep10085[2]). Different detergents and pH treatments of photosynthetic membranes isolated from the Arabidopsis wild-type (WT) and the loss-of-function mutants of the thylakoid rhodanase-like protein TROL (trol), pre-acclimated to either dark, growth-light, or high-light conditions, were used to probe the strength of FNR-membrane associations. Detergents β-DM (decyl-β-D-maltopyranoside) or β-DDM (n-dodecyl-β-D-maltopyranoside) were used to test the stability of FNR binding to the thylakoid membranes, and to assess different membrane domains containing FNR. Further, the extraction conditions mimicked pH status of chloroplast stroma during changing light regimes. Plants without TROL are incapable of the dynamic FNR recruitment to the photosynthetic membranes.

Proteomic Insight into the Response of Arabidopsis Chloroplasts to Darkness

Chloroplast function in photosynthesis is essential for plant growth and development. It is well-known that chloroplasts respond to various light conditions. However, it remains poorly understood about how chloroplasts respond to darkness. In this study, we found 81 darkness-responsive proteins in Arabidopsis chloroplasts under 8 h darkness treatment. Most of the proteins are nucleus-encoded, indicating that chloroplast darkness response is closely regulated by the nucleus. Among them, 17 ribosome proteins were obviously reduced after darkness treatment. The protein expressional patterns and physiological changes revealed the mechanisms in chloroplasts in response to darkness, e.g., (1) inhibition of photosystem II resulted in preferential cyclic electron flow around PSI; (2) promotion of starch degradation; (3) inhibition of chloroplastic translation; and (4) regulation by redox and jasmonate signaling. The results have improved our understanding of molecular regulatory mechanisms in chloroplasts under darkness.

TROL-FNR interaction reveals alternative pathways of electron partitioning in photosynthesis

In photosynthesis, final electron transfer from ferredoxin to NADP(+) is accomplished by the flavo enzyme ferredoxin:NADP(+) oxidoreductase (FNR). FNR is recruited to thylakoid membranes via integral membrane thylakoid rhodanase-like protein TROL. We address the fate of electrons downstream of photosystem I when TROL is absent. We have employed electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy to study free radical formation and electron partitioning in TROL-depleted chloroplasts. DMPO was used to detect superoxide anion (O2(.-)) formation, while the generation of other free radicals was monitored by Tiron. Chloroplasts from trol plants pre-acclimated to different light conditions consistently exhibited diminished O2(.-) accumulation. Generation of other radical forms was elevated in trol chloroplasts in all tested conditions, except for the plants pre-acclimated to high-light. Remarkably, dark- and growth light-acclimated trol chloroplasts were resilient to O2(.-) generation induced by methyl-viologen. We propose that the dynamic binding and release of FNR from TROL can control the flow of photosynthetic electrons prior to activation of the pseudo-cyclic electron transfer pathway.