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Semchonok DA, Mondal J, Cooper CJ, Schlum K, Li M, Amin M, Sorzano CO, Ramírez-Aportela E, Kastritis PL, Boekema EJ, Guskov A, Bruce BD. Cryo-EM structure of a tetrameric photosystem I from Chroococcidiopsis TS-821, a thermophilic, unicellular, non-heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 3:100248. [PMID: 35059628 PMCID: PMC8760143 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2021.100248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Photosystem I (PSI) is one of two photosystems involved in oxygenic photosynthesis. PSI of cyanobacteria exists in monomeric, trimeric, and tetrameric forms, in contrast to the strictly monomeric form of PSI in plants and algae. The tetrameric organization raises questions about its structural, physiological, and evolutionary significance. Here we report the ∼3.72 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of tetrameric PSI from the thermophilic, unicellular cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. TS-821. The structure resolves 44 subunits and 448 cofactor molecules. We conclude that the tetramer is arranged via two different interfaces resulting from a dimer-of-dimers organization. The localization of chlorophyll molecules permits an excitation energy pathway within and between adjacent monomers. Bioinformatics analysis reveals conserved regions in the PsaL subunit that correlate with the oligomeric state. Tetrameric PSI may function as a key evolutionary step between the trimeric and monomeric forms of PSI organization in photosynthetic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry A. Semchonok
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jyotirmoy Mondal
- Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Connor J. Cooper
- Program in Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Katrina Schlum
- Program in Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Meng Li
- Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research & Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Muhamed Amin
- Department of Sciences, University College Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Carlos O.S. Sorzano
- Biocomputing Unit, National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC), Darwin 3, Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Universidad CEU San Pablo, Campus Urb. Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, 28668 Madrid, Spain
| | - Erney Ramírez-Aportela
- Biocomputing Unit, National Center for Biotechnology (CSIC), Darwin 3, Campus Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Panagiotis L. Kastritis
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Egbert J. Boekema
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Albert Guskov
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences & Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Barry D. Bruce
- Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Program in Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research & Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Microbiology Department, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
- Corresponding author
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