1
|
Zhang Y, Mi F, Zhao Y, Geng P, Zhang S, Song H, Chen G, Yan B, Guan M. Multifunctional nanozymatic biosensors: Awareness, regulation and pathogenic bacteria detection. Talanta 2025; 292:127957. [PMID: 40154048 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2025.127957] [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: 10/23/2024] [Revised: 02/24/2025] [Accepted: 03/15/2025] [Indexed: 04/01/2025]
Abstract
It is estimated that approximately 700,000 fatalities occur annually due to infections attributed to various pathogens, which are capable of dissemination via multiple environmental vectors, including air, water, and soil. Consequently, there is an urgent need to enhance and refine rapid detection technologies for pathogens to prevent and control the spread of associated diseases. This review focuses on applying nanozymes in constructing biosensors, particularly their advancement in detecting pathogenic bacteria. Nanozymes, which are nanomaterials exhibiting enzyme-like activity, combine unique magnetic, optical, and electronic properties with structural diversity. This blend of characteristics makes them highly appealing for use in biocatalytic applications. Moreover, their nanoscale dimensions facilitate effective contact with pathogenic bacteria, leading to efficient detection and antibacterial effects. This article briefly summarizes the development, classification, and strategies for regulating the catalytic activity of nanozymes. It primarily focuses on recent advancements in constructing biosensors that utilize nanozymes as probes for sensitively detecting pathogenic bacteria. The discussion covers the development of various optical and electrochemical biosensors, including colorimetric, fluorescence, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and electrochemical methods. These approaches provide a reliable solution for the sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria. Finally, the challenges and future development directions of nanozymes in pathogen detection are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiyao Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China
| | - Fang Mi
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China.
| | - Yajun Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China
| | - Pengfei Geng
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China
| | - Shan Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China
| | - Han Song
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China
| | - Guotong Chen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China
| | - Bo Yan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China
| | - Ming Guan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang Normal University, Urumqi, 830054, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pencik O, Kolackova M, Molnarova K, Huska D. What would a hypothetical supercyanobacterium look like? Trends Biotechnol 2025:S0167-7799(25)00133-7. [PMID: 40393856 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2025] [Accepted: 04/07/2025] [Indexed: 05/22/2025]
Abstract
Over the past two decades, advances in molecular and microbiological methods have broadened the range of microorganisms used in biotechnology. Among them, phototrophic bacteria - especially cyanobacteria - are gaining attention for their potential in tackling climate change and producing biopharmaceuticals. While traditional strains such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis dominate the field, cyanobacteria offer unique features that present both challenges and opportunities, such as complex gene regulation linked to photosynthesis and carbon fixation, protein sorting, and secretion, as well as the ability to establish novel symbiotic partnerships. This review highlights key developments in engineering cyanobacteria and outlines a vision for a future 'supercyanobacterium' that combines the best traits of current strains, unlocking new possibilities in heterotrophy-dominated biotechnology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Pencik
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1665/1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Molecular Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Masaryk University, Palackého třída 1946/1, 61200, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Kolackova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1665/1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Katarina Molnarova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1665/1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dalibor Huska
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1665/1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu H, Gao X, Fan W, Fu X. Optimizing carbon and nitrogen metabolism in plants: From fundamental principles to practical applications. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2025. [PMID: 40376749 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2025] [Accepted: 04/03/2025] [Indexed: 05/18/2025]
Abstract
Carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) are fundamental elements essential for plant growth and development, serving as the structural and functional backbone of organic compounds and driving essential biological processes such as photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and N assimilation. The metabolism and transport of C involve the movement of sugars between shoots and roots through xylem and phloem transport systems, regulated by a sugar-signaling hub. Nitrogen uptake, transport, and metabolism are equally critical, with plants assimilating nitrate and ammonium through specialized transporters and enzymes in response to varying N levels to optimize growth and development. The coordination of C and N metabolism is key to plant productivity and the maintaining of agroecosystem stability. However, inefficient utilization of N fertilizers results in substantial environmental and economic challenges, emphasizing the urgent need to improve N use efficiency (NUE) in crops. Integrating efficient photosynthesis with N uptake offers opportunities for sustainable agricultural practices. This review discusses recent advances in understanding C and N transport, metabolism, and signaling in plants, with a particular emphasis on NUE-related genes in rice, and explores breeding strategies to enhance crop efficiency and agricultural sustainability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiuhua Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Weishu Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiangdong Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, College of Life Science, Beijing, 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
White IS, Canniffe DP, Hitchcock A. The diversity of physiology and metabolism in chlorophototrophic bacteria. Adv Microb Physiol 2025; 86:1-98. [PMID: 40404267 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2025.02.003] [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] [Indexed: 05/24/2025]
Abstract
Photosynthesis by (bacterio)chlorophyll-producing organisms ("chlorophototrophy") sustains virtually all life on Earth, providing the biosphere with food and energy. The oxygenic process carried out by plants, algae and cyanobacteria also generates the oxygen we breathe, and ancient cyanobacteria were responsible for oxygenating the atmosphere, creating the conditions that allowed the evolution of complex life. Cyanobacteria were also the endosymbiotic progenitors of chloroplasts, play major roles in biogeochemical cycles and as primary producers in aquatic ecosystems, and act as genetically tractable model organisms for studying oxygenic photosynthesis. In addition to the Cyanobacteriota, eight other bacterial phyla, namely Proteobacteria/Pseudomonadota, Chlorobiota, Chloroflexota, Bacillota, Acidobacteriota, Gemmatimonadota, Vulcanimicrobiota and Myxococcota contain at least one putative chlorophototrophic species, all of which perform a variant of anoxygenic photosynthesis, which does not yield oxygen as a by-product. These chlorophototrophic organisms display incredible diversity in the habitats that they colonise, and in their biochemistry, physiology and metabolism, with variation in the light-harvesting complexes and pigments they produce to utilise solar energy. Whilst some are very well understood, such as the proteobacterial 'purple bacteria', others have only been identified in the last few years and therefore relatively little is known about them - especially those that have not yet been isolated and cultured. In this chapter, we aim to summarise and compare the photosynthetic physiology and central metabolic processes of chlorophototrophic members from the nine phyla in which they are found, giving both a short historical perspective and highlighting gaps in our understanding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isaac S White
- Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel P Canniffe
- Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Hitchcock
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Molecular Microbiology - Biochemistry and Disease, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Antonaru LA, Rad-Menéndez C, Mbedi S, Sparmann S, Pope M, Oliver T, Wu S, Green DH, Gugger M, Nürnberg DJ. Evolution of far-red light photoacclimation in cyanobacteria. Curr Biol 2025:S0960-9822(25)00502-0. [PMID: 40367945 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 01/20/2025] [Accepted: 04/15/2025] [Indexed: 05/16/2025]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria oxygenated the atmosphere of early Earth and continue to be key players in global carbon and nitrogen cycles. A phylogenetically diverse subset of extant cyanobacteria can perform photosynthesis with far-red light through a process called far-red light photoacclimation, or FaRLiP. This phenotype is enabled by a cluster of ∼20 genes and involves the synthesis of red-shifted chlorophylls d and f, together with paralogs of the ubiquitous photosynthetic machinery used in visible light. The FaRLiP gene cluster is present in diverse, environmentally important cyanobacterial groups, but its origin, evolutionary history, and connection to early biotic environments have remained unclear. This study takes advantage of the recent increase in (meta)genomic data to help clarify this issue: sequence data mining, metagenomic assembly, and phylogenetic tree networks were used to recover more than 600 new FaRLiP gene sequences, corresponding to 51 new gene clusters. These data enable high-resolution phylogenetics and-by relying on multiple gene trees, together with gene arrangement conservation-support FaRLiP appearing early in cyanobacterial evolution. Sampling information shows that considerable FaRLiP diversity can be observed in microbialites to the present day, and we hypothesize that the process was associated with the formation of microbial mats and stromatolites in the early Paleoproterozoic. The ancestral FaRLiP cluster was reconstructed, revealing features that have been maintained for billions of years. Overall, far-red-light-driven oxygenic photosynthesis may have played a significant role in Earth's early history.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Antonaru
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Institute for Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Cecilia Rad-Menéndez
- Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban PA37 1QA, UK
| | - Susan Mbedi
- Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Sparmann
- Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Research and Inland Fisheries, 12587 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthew Pope
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Esox Biologics, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Thomas Oliver
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Department of Physics and Astronomy, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Shujie Wu
- Institute for Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - David H Green
- Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa, Scottish Association for Marine Science, Oban PA37 1QA, UK
| | - Muriel Gugger
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Collection of Cyanobacteria, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Dennis J Nürnberg
- Institute for Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany; Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shi J, Zhang Y, Fang X, Fan X, Li J, Zhou CH, Xia Z, Pang DW, Liu C. Photoswitchable Antioxidant and Prooxidant Activities of Mg-Doped Carbon Dot Nanozymes as Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Agents. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2025; 17:26467-26479. [PMID: 40293447 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.5c05025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2025]
Abstract
Multienzymatic nanozymes hold great potential in therapeutics due to their higher catalytic efficiency and multifunctionality. However, flexibly switching the antioxidant and prooxidant activities of multienzymic nanozymes at the same lesion remains a challenge. Herein, we design magnesium-doped carbon dot (Mg-CD) nanozymes with photoswitchable antioxidant and prooxidant activities under physiological conditions. The Mg-CD nanozymes exhibit superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity and can scavenge singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radicals without illumination. Interestingly, the antioxidant activity can be converted to oxidase-like activity under visible light illumination, producing singlet oxygen and superoxide anions. The mechanism of the switchable activities is attributed to the fact that coordination between magnesium and the CD skeleton enhances the excited-state electron transfer of singlet states and the energy transfer of triplet electrons. Therefore, Mg-CDs can act as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents. Mg-CDs exhibit antibacterial rates exceeding 99% within 5 min under illumination. They can scavenge reactive oxygen species, thereby showing excellent capacity in treating inflammatory wounds caused by lipopolysaccharide. These photoswitchable antioxidant and prooxidant activities of CD nanozymes offer an effective strategy for better manipulating the versatility of nanozymes, expanding their intelligent biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jinyu Shi
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Innovative Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Education (Yunnan University), School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Innovative Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China
- College of Life Sciences and Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430065, P. R. China
| | - Xiangyang Fang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Innovative Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Education (Yunnan University), School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P. R. China
| | - Xing Fan
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P. R. China
| | - Jing Li
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Innovative Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Education (Yunnan University), School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P. R. China
| | - Chuan-Hua Zhou
- National Demonstration Center for Experimental Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Education (Yunnan University), School of Chemical Science and Technology, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, P. R. China
| | - Zhining Xia
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Innovative Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China
| | - Dai-Wen Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Centre for New Organic Matter, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Centre for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, P. R. China
| | - Cui Liu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Natural Product Synthesis and Drug Research, Innovative Drug Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Di Stefano G, Baqué M, Garland S, Lorek A, de Vera JP, Gangi MEM, Bellucci M, Billi D. Resilience of Metabolically Active Biofilms of a Desert Cyanobacterium Capable of Far-Red Photosynthesis Under Mars-like Conditions. Life (Basel) 2025; 15:622. [PMID: 40283176 PMCID: PMC12028683 DOI: 10.3390/life15040622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2025] [Revised: 04/01/2025] [Accepted: 04/05/2025] [Indexed: 04/29/2025] Open
Abstract
The response of the desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 010 was tested in Mars simulations to investigate the possibility of photosynthesis in near-surface protected niches. This cyanobacterium colonizes lithic niches enriched in far-red light (FRL) and depleted in visible light (VL) and is capable of far-red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP). Biofilms were grown under FRL and VL and exposed in a hydrated state to a low-pressure atmosphere, variable humidity, and UV irradiation, as occur on the Martian surface. VL biofilms showed a maximum quantum efficiency that dropped after 1 h, whereas a slow reduction occurred in FRL biofilms up to undetectable after 8 h, indicating that UV irradiation was the primary cause of photoinhibition. Post-exposure analyses showed that VL and FRL biofilms were dehydrated, suggesting that they entered a dried, dormant state and that top-layer cells shielded bottom-layer cells from UV radiation. After Mars simulations, the survivors (12% in VL biofilms and few cells in FRL biofilms) suggested that, during the evolution of Mars habitability, near-surface niches could have been colonized by phototrophs utilizing low-energy light. The biofilm UV resistance suggests that, during the loss of surface habitability on Mars, microbial life-forms might have survived surface conditions by taking refuge in near-surface protected niches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Di Stefano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- PhD Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Mickael Baqué
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Department of Planetary Laboratories, 12489 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.G.); (A.L.)
| | - Stephen Garland
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Department of Planetary Laboratories, 12489 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.G.); (A.L.)
| | - Andreas Lorek
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Planetary Research, Department of Planetary Laboratories, 12489 Berlin, Germany; (M.B.); (S.G.); (A.L.)
| | - Jean-Pierre de Vera
- German Aerospace Center (DLR), Space Operations and Astronaut Training, Microgravity User Support Center (MUSC), 51147 Köln, Germany;
| | | | - Micol Bellucci
- Italian Space Agency, 00133 Rome, Italy; (M.E.M.G.); (M.B.)
| | - Daniela Billi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Li Y, Cao T, Guo Y, Grimm B, Li X, Duanmu D, Lin R. Regulatory and retrograde signaling networks in the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2025; 67:887-911. [PMID: 39853950 PMCID: PMC12016751 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2024] [Accepted: 12/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2025]
Abstract
Plants, algae and photosynthetic bacteria convert light into chemical energy by means of photosynthesis, thus providing food and energy for most organisms on Earth. Photosynthetic pigments, including chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoids, are essential components that absorb the light energy necessary to drive electron transport in photosynthesis. The biosynthesis of Chl shares several steps in common with the biosynthesis of other tetrapyrroles, including siroheme, heme and phycobilins. Given that many tetrapyrrole precursors possess photo-oxidative properties that are deleterious to macromolecules and can lead to cell death, tetrapyrrole biosynthesis (TBS) requires stringent regulation under various developmental and environmental conditions. Thanks to decades of research on model plants and algae, we now have a deeper understanding of the regulatory mechanisms that underlie Chl synthesis, including (i) the many factors that control the activity and stability of TBS enzymes, (ii) the transcriptional and post-translational regulation of the TBS pathway, and (iii) the complex roles of tetrapyrrole-mediated retrograde signaling from chloroplasts to the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Based on these new findings, Chls and their derivatives will find broad applications in synthetic biology and agriculture in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuhong Li
- Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botanythe Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
| | - Tianjun Cao
- School of Life SciencesWestlake UniversityHangzhou310030China
- Institute of BiologyWestlake Institute for Advanced StudyHangzhou310024China
| | - Yunling Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070China
| | - Bernhard Grimm
- Institute of Biology/Plant PhysiologyHumboldt‐Universität zu BerlinBerlin10115Germany
- The Zhongzhou Laboratory for Integrative Biology, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life SciencesHenan UniversityKaifeng475004China
| | - Xiaobo Li
- School of Life SciencesWestlake UniversityHangzhou310030China
- Institute of BiologyWestlake Institute for Advanced StudyHangzhou310024China
| | - Deqiang Duanmu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Hubei Hongshan LaboratoryHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhan430070China
| | - Rongcheng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botanythe Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing100093China
- Institute of Biotechnology, Xianghu LaboratoryHangzhou311231China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Huang D, Wei T, Chen M, Chen SJ, Wu JY, Zhang LD, Xu HF, Dai GZ, Zhang ZC, Qiu BS. Far-red light-driven photoautotrophy of chlorophyll f-producing cyanobacterium without red-shifted phycobilisome core complex. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2025; 163:22. [PMID: 40064749 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-025-01143-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2025] [Indexed: 04/24/2025]
Abstract
Chlorophyll (Chl) f production expands oxygenic photosynthesis of some cyanobacteria into the far-red light (FRL) region through reconstructed FRL-allophycocyanin (APC) cores and Chl f-containing photosystems. Presently, a unicellular cyanobacterium was isolated for studying FRL photoacclimation (FaRLiP) and classified as a new species Altericista leshanensis. It uses additional Chl f and FRL-APC cores, with retained white light (WL)-phycobiliproteins to thrive FRL conditions. Marker-less deletion of FaRLiP-apcE2 gene was constructed using CRISPR-Cpf1 system. This genetic manipulation has no significant effects on the expression of genes in the FaRLiP gene cluster, including adjacent apc genes under FRL conditions. The function-loss mutant cells cannot assemble FRL-APC cores, and show the decreased growth rate and Chl f production under FRL conditions. Interestingly, the expression levels of phycocyanin (PC) subunits (cpc) and photosystem II D1 proteins (psbA2) are significantly increased in mutant cells under FRL conditions. These results suggest that FRL acclimation in the mutant cells has a different photosynthetic apparatus due to the lack of FRL-APC cores. The alternative strategy of FaRLiP provides additional evidence of flexible pathways towards the potential application of Chl f and associated biotechnology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Da Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China
| | - Tong Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China
| | - Min Chen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Shu-Jun Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China
| | - Jia-Yue Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China
| | - Lu-Dan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China
| | - Hai-Feng Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China
| | - Guo-Zheng Dai
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China
| | - Zhong-Chun Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China.
| | - Bao-Sheng Qiu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation & Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Tamiaki H, Kichishima S. Chlorophyll Pigments and Their Synthetic Analogs. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2025; 66:153-167. [PMID: 39172630 PMCID: PMC11879082 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcae094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Oxygenic phototrophs use chlorophylls (Chls) as photosynthetically active pigments. A variety of Chl molecules have been found in photosynthetic organisms, including green plants, algae and cyanobacteria. Here, we review their molecular structures with stereochemistry, occurrence in light-harvesting antennas and reaction centers, biosyntheses in the late stage, chemical stabilities and visible absorption maxima in diethyl ether. The observed maxima are comparable to those of semisynthetic Chl analogs, methyl pyropheophorbides, in dichloromethane. The effects of their peripheral substituents and core π-conjugation on the maxima of the monomeric states are discussed. Notably, the oxidation along the molecular x-axis in Chl-a produces its accessory pigments, Chls-b/c, and introduction of an electron-withdrawing formyl group along the y-axis perpendicular to the x-axis affords far-red light absorbing Chls-d/f.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Tamiaki
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577 Japan
| | - Saki Kichishima
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga, 525-8577 Japan
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Shen LQ, Zhang ZC, Zhang LD, Huang D, Yu G, Chen M, Li R, Qiu BS. Widespread distribution of chlorophyll f-producing Leptodesmis cyanobacteria. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2025; 61:144-160. [PMID: 39673735 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2024] [Revised: 11/15/2024] [Accepted: 11/20/2024] [Indexed: 12/16/2024]
Abstract
Chlorophyll (Chl) f was reported as the fifth Chl in oxygenic photoautotrophs. Chlorophyll f production expanded the utilization of photosynthetically active radiation into the far-red light (FR) region in some cyanobacterial genera. In this study, 11 filamentous cyanobacterial strains were isolated from FR-enriched habitats, including hydrophyte, moss, shady stone, shallow ditch, and microbial mat across Central and Southern China. Polyphasic analysis classified them into the same genus of Leptodesmis and further recognized them as four new species, including Leptodesmis atroviridis sp. nov., Leptodesmis fuscus sp. nov., Leptodesmis olivacea sp. nov., and Leptodesmis undulata sp. nov. These cyanobacteria had absorption peaks beyond 700 nm due to Chl f production and red-shifted phycobiliprotein complexes under FR conditions. All but L. undulata produced phycoerythrin and showed varying degrees of a reddish-brown to dark green color under white light conditions. However, the phycoerythrin contents were sharply decreased under FR conditions, and these three Leptodesmis species appeared green. In summary, the Leptodesmis genus contains diverse species with the capacity to synthesize Chl f and is likely a ubiquitous group of Chl f-producing cyanobacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Qin Shen
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhong-Chun Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lu-Dan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Da Huang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Gongliang Yu
- Key Lab of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Min Chen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Renhui Li
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bao-Sheng Qiu
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Xu HF, Yu C, Bai Y, Zuo AW, Ye YT, Liu YR, Li ZK, Dai GZ, Chen M, Qiu BS. Red-light-dependent chlorophyll synthesis kindles photosynthetic recovery of chlorotic dormant cyanobacteria using a dark-operative enzyme. Curr Biol 2024; 34:4424-4435.e3. [PMID: 39146941 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.07.083] [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: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Chlorosis dormancy resulting from nitrogen starvation and its resuscitation upon available nitrogen contributes greatly to the fitness of cyanobacterial population under nitrogen-fluctuating environments. The reinstallation of the photosynthetic machinery is a key process for resuscitation from a chlorotic dormant state; however, the underlying regulatory mechanism is still elusive. Here, we reported that red light is essential for re-greening chlorotic Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (a non-diazotrophic cyanobacterium) after nitrogen supplement under weak light conditions. The expression of dark-operative protochlorophyllide reductase (DPOR) governed by the transcriptional factor RpaB was strikingly induced by red light in chlorotic cells, and its deficient mutant lost the capability of resuscitation from a dormant state, indicating DPOR catalyzing chlorophyll synthesis is a key step in the photosynthetic recovery of dormant cyanobacteria. Although light-dependent protochlorophyllide reductase is widely considered as a master switch in photomorphogenesis, this study unravels the primitive DPOR as a spark to activate the photosynthetic recovery of chlorotic dormant cyanobacteria. These findings provide new insight into the biological significance of DPOR in cyanobacteria and even some plants thriving in extreme environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Feng Xu
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China
| | - Chen Yu
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China
| | - Yang Bai
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China
| | - Ai-Wei Zuo
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China
| | - Ying-Tong Ye
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China
| | - Yan-Ru Liu
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China
| | - Zheng-Ke Li
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China
| | - Guo-Zheng Dai
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
| | - Min Chen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Bao-Sheng Qiu
- School of Life Sciences and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, Hubei, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Croce R, Carmo-Silva E, Cho YB, Ermakova M, Harbinson J, Lawson T, McCormick AJ, Niyogi KK, Ort DR, Patel-Tupper D, Pesaresi P, Raines C, Weber APM, Zhu XG. Perspectives on improving photosynthesis to increase crop yield. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:3944-3973. [PMID: 38701340 PMCID: PMC11449117 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Improving photosynthesis, the fundamental process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, is a key area of research with great potential for enhancing sustainable agricultural productivity and addressing global food security challenges. This perspective delves into the latest advancements and approaches aimed at optimizing photosynthetic efficiency. Our discussion encompasses the entire process, beginning with light harvesting and its regulation and progressing through the bottleneck of electron transfer. We then delve into the carbon reactions of photosynthesis, focusing on strategies targeting the enzymes of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle. Additionally, we explore methods to increase carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration near the Rubisco, the enzyme responsible for the first step of CBB cycle, drawing inspiration from various photosynthetic organisms, and conclude this section by examining ways to enhance CO2 delivery into leaves. Moving beyond individual processes, we discuss two approaches to identifying key targets for photosynthesis improvement: systems modeling and the study of natural variation. Finally, we revisit some of the strategies mentioned above to provide a holistic view of the improvements, analyzing their impact on nitrogen use efficiency and on canopy photosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Croce
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HV, theNetherlands
| | | | - Young B Cho
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Maria Ermakova
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Jeremy Harbinson
- Laboratory of Biophysics, Wageningen University, 6708 WE Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tracy Lawson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Alistair J McCormick
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
- Centre for Engineering Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Krishna K Niyogi
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Donald R Ort
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Dhruv Patel-Tupper
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Paolo Pesaresi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Christine Raines
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Andreas P M Weber
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Science (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - Xin-Guang Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Capture, Center of Excellence for Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Bryant DA, Gisriel CJ. The structural basis for light harvesting in organisms producing phycobiliproteins. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:4036-4064. [PMID: 38652697 PMCID: PMC11449063 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria, red algae, and cryptophytes produce 2 classes of proteins for light harvesting: water-soluble phycobiliproteins (PBP) and membrane-intrinsic proteins that bind chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoids. In cyanobacteria, red algae, and glaucophytes, phycobilisomes (PBS) are complexes of brightly colored PBP and linker (assembly) proteins. To date, 6 structural classes of PBS have been described: hemiellipsoidal, block-shaped, hemidiscoidal, bundle-shaped, paddle-shaped, and far-red-light bicylindrical. Two additional antenna complexes containing single types of PBP have also been described. Since 2017, structures have been reported for examples of all of these complexes except bundle-shaped PBS by cryogenic electron microscopy. PBS range in size from about 4.6 to 18 mDa and can include ∼900 polypeptides and bind >2000 chromophores. Cyanobacteria additionally produce membrane-associated proteins of the PsbC/CP43 superfamily of Chl a/b/d-binding proteins, including the iron-stress protein IsiA and other paralogous Chl-binding proteins (CBP) that can form antenna complexes with Photosystem I (PSI) and/or Photosystem II (PSII). Red and cryptophyte algae also produce CBP associated with PSI but which belong to the Chl a/b-binding protein superfamily and which are unrelated to the CBP of cyanobacteria. This review describes recent progress in structure determination for PBS and the Chl proteins of cyanobacteria, red algae, and cryptophytan algae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Donald A Bryant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
di Stefano G, Battistuzzi M, La Rocca N, Selinger VM, Nürnberg DJ, Billi D. Far-red light photoacclimation in a desert Chroococcidiopsis strain with a reduced FaRLiP gene cluster and expression of its chlorophyll f synthase in space-resistant isolates. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1450575. [PMID: 39328908 PMCID: PMC11424453 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1450575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Some cyanobacteria can use far-red light (FRL) to drive oxygenic photosynthesis, a phenomenon known as Far-Red Light Photoacclimation (FaRLiP). It can expand photosynthetically active radiation beyond the visible light (VL) range. Therefore, it holds promise for biotechnological applications and may prove useful for the future human exploration of outer space. Typically, FaRLiP relies on a cluster of ~20 genes, encoding paralogs of the standard photosynthetic machinery. One of them, a highly divergent D1 gene known as chlF (or psbA4), is the synthase responsible for the formation of the FRL-absorbing chlorophyll f (Chl f) that is essential for FaRLiP. The minimum gene set required for this phenotype is unclear. The desert cyanobacterium Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 010 is unusual in being capable of FaRLiP with a reduced gene cluster (15 genes), and it lacks most of the genes encoding FR-Photosystem I. Methods Here we investigated whether the reduced gene cluster of Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 010 is transcriptionally regulated by FRL and characterized the spectral changes that occur during the FaRLiP response of Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 010. In addition, the heterologous expression of the Chl f synthase from CCMEE 010 was attempted in three closely related desert strains of Chroococcidiopsis. Results All 15 genes of the FaRLiP cluster were preferentially expressed under FRL, accompanied by a progressive red-shift of the photosynthetic absorption spectrum. The Chl f synthase from CCMEE 010 was successfully expressed in two desert strains of Chroococcidiopsis and transformants could be selected in both VL and FRL. Discussion In Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCME 010, all the far-red genes of the unusually reduced FaRLiP cluster, are transcriptionally regulated by FRL and two closely related desert strains heterologously expressing the chlF010 gene could grow in FRL. Since the transformation hosts had been reported to survive outer space conditions, such an achievement lays the foundation toward novel cyanobacteria-based technologies to support human space exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia di Stefano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariano Battistuzzi
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- National Council of Research of Italy, Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (CNR-IFN), Padua, Italy
- Giuseppe Colombo University Center for Studies and Activities, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Nicoletta La Rocca
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- National Council of Research of Italy, Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (CNR-IFN), Padua, Italy
| | - Vera M. Selinger
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis J. Nürnberg
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniela Billi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Tian LR, Chen JH. Photosystem I: A Paradigm for Understanding Biological Environmental Adaptation Mechanisms in Cyanobacteria and Algae. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8767. [PMID: 39201454 PMCID: PMC11354412 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25168767] [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: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The process of oxygenic photosynthesis is primarily driven by two multiprotein complexes known as photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI). PSII facilitates the light-induced reactions of water-splitting and plastoquinone reduction, while PSI functions as the light-driven plastocyanin-ferredoxin oxidoreductase. In contrast to the highly conserved structure of PSII among all oxygen-evolving photosynthetic organisms, the structures of PSI exhibit remarkable variations, especially for photosynthetic organisms that grow in special environments. In this review, we make a concise overview of the recent investigations of PSI from photosynthetic microorganisms including prokaryotic cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae from the perspective of structural biology. All known PSI complexes contain a highly conserved heterodimeric core; however, their pigment compositions and peripheral light-harvesting proteins are substantially flexible. This structural plasticity of PSI reveals the dynamic adaptation to environmental changes for photosynthetic organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Rong Tian
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Hebei Research Center of the Basic Discipline of Cell Biology, Hebei Collaboration Innovation Center for Cell Signaling and Environmental Adaptation, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China;
| | - Jing-Hua Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Nazari M, Kordrostami M, Ghasemi-Soloklui AA, Eaton-Rye JJ, Pashkovskiy P, Kuznetsov V, Allakhverdiev SI. Enhancing Photosynthesis and Plant Productivity through Genetic Modification. Cells 2024; 13:1319. [PMID: 39195209 PMCID: PMC11352682 DOI: 10.3390/cells13161319] [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: 06/19/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhancing crop photosynthesis through genetic engineering technologies offers numerous opportunities to increase plant productivity. Key approaches include optimizing light utilization, increasing cytochrome b6f complex levels, and improving carbon fixation. Modifications to Rubisco and the photosynthetic electron transport chain are central to these strategies. Introducing alternative photorespiratory pathways and enhancing carbonic anhydrase activity can further increase the internal CO2 concentration, thereby improving photosynthetic efficiency. The efficient translocation of photosynthetically produced sugars, which are managed by sucrose transporters, is also critical for plant growth. Additionally, incorporating genes from C4 plants, such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and NADP-malic enzymes, enhances the CO2 concentration around Rubisco, reducing photorespiration. Targeting microRNAs and transcription factors is vital for increasing photosynthesis and plant productivity, especially under stress conditions. This review highlights potential biological targets, the genetic modifications of which are aimed at improving photosynthesis and increasing plant productivity, thereby determining key areas for future research and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mansoureh Nazari
- Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 91779-48974, Iran;
| | - Mojtaba Kordrostami
- Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Karaj 31485-498, Iran;
| | - Ali Akbar Ghasemi-Soloklui
- Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute (NSTRI), Karaj 31485-498, Iran;
| | - Julian J. Eaton-Rye
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand;
| | - Pavel Pashkovskiy
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, RAS, Botanicheskaya St. 35, Moscow 127276, Russia; (P.P.); (V.K.)
| | - Vladimir Kuznetsov
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, RAS, Botanicheskaya St. 35, Moscow 127276, Russia; (P.P.); (V.K.)
| | - Suleyman I. Allakhverdiev
- K.A. Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology, RAS, Botanicheskaya St. 35, Moscow 127276, Russia; (P.P.); (V.K.)
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Bahcesehir University, 34349 Istanbul, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Guo J, Qian J, Cai D, Huang J, Yang X, Sun N, Zhang J, Pang T, Zhao W, Wu G, Chen X, Zhong F, Wu Y. Chemogenetic Evolution of Diversified Photoenzymes for Enantioselective [2 + 2] Cycloadditions in Whole Cells. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:19030-19041. [PMID: 38976645 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c03087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Artificial photoenzymes with novel catalytic modes not found in nature are in high demand; yet, they also present significant challenges in the field of biocatalysis. In this study, a chemogenetic modification strategy is developed to facilitate the rapid diversification of photoenzymes. This strategy integrates site-specific chemical conjugation of various artificial photosensitizers into natural protein cavities and the iterative mutagenesis in cell lysates. Through rounds of directed evolution, prominent visible-light-activatable photoenzyme variants were developed, featuring a thioxanthone chromophore. They successfully enabled the enantioselective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 2-carboxamide indoles, a class of UV-sensitive substrates that are traditionally challenging for known photoenzymes. Furthermore, the versatility of this photoenzyme is demonstrated in enantioselective whole-cell photobiocatalysis, enabling the efficient synthesis of enantioenriched cyclobutane-fused indoline tetracycles. These findings significantly expand the photophysical properties of artificial photoenzymes, a critical factor in enhancing their potential for harnessing excited-state reactivity in stereoselective transformations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan Guo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Junyi Qian
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Daihong Cai
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jianjian Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xinjie Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
- Longgang Institute of Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Wenzhou 325802, China
| | - Ningning Sun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Junshuai Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Tengfei Pang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Weining Zhao
- College of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China
| | - Guojiao Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Fangrui Zhong
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yuzhou Wu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic Chemistry & Materia Medica, Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Schmitt FJ, Friedrich T. Adaptation processes in Halomicronema hongdechloris, an example of the light-induced optimization of the photosynthetic apparatus on hierarchical time scales. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1359195. [PMID: 39049856 PMCID: PMC11266139 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1359195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Oxygenic photosynthesis in Halomicronema hongdechloris, one of a series of cyanobacteria producing red-shifted Chl f, is adapted to varying light conditions by a range of diverse processes acting over largely different time scales. Acclimation to far-red light (FRL) above 700 nm over several days is mirrored by reversible changes in the Chl f content. In several cyanobacteria that undergo FRL photoacclimation, Chl d and Chl f are directly involved in excitation energy transfer in the antenna system, form the primary donor in photosystem I (PSI), and are also involved in electron transfer within photosystem II (PSII), most probably at the ChlD1 position, with efficient charge transfer happening with comparable kinetics to reaction centers containing Chl a. In H. hongdechloris, the formation of Chl f under FRL comes along with slow adaptive proteomic shifts like the rebuilding of the D1 complex on the time scale of days. On shorter time scales, much faster adaptation mechanisms exist involving the phycobilisomes (PBSs), which mainly contain allophycocyanin upon adaptation to FRL. Short illumination with white, blue, or red light leads to reactive oxygen species-driven mobilization of the PBSs on the time scale of seconds, in effect recoupling the PBSs with Chl f-containing PSII to re-establish efficient excitation energy transfer within minutes. In summary, H. hongdechloris reorganizes PSII to act as a molecular heat pump lifting excited states from Chl f to Chl a on the picosecond time scale in combination with a light-driven PBS reorganization acting on the time scale of seconds to minutes depending on the actual light conditions. Thus, structure-function relationships in photosynthetic energy and electron transport in H. hongdechloris including long-term adaptation processes cover 10-12 to 106 seconds, i.e., 18 orders of magnitude in time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Franz-Josef Schmitt
- Department of Physics, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Thomas Friedrich
- Department of Bioenergetics, Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Oxygenic photosynthesis, the process that converts light energy into chemical energy, is traditionally associated with the absorption of visible light by chlorophyll molecules. However, recent studies have revealed a growing number of organisms capable of using far-red light (700-800 nm) to drive oxygenic photosynthesis. This phenomenon challenges the conventional understanding of the limits of this process. In this review, we briefly introduce the organisms that exhibit far-red photosynthesis and explore the different strategies they employ to harvest far-red light. We discuss the modifications of photosynthetic complexes and their impact on the delivery of excitation energy to photochemical centers and on overall photochemical efficiency. Finally, we examine the solutions employed to drive electron transport and water oxidation using relatively low-energy photons. The findings discussed here not only expand our knowledge of the remarkable adaptation capacities of photosynthetic organisms but also offer insights into the potential for enhancing light capture in crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Elias
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Thomas J Oliver
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Roberta Croce
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Vedalankar P, Tripathy BC. Light dependent protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase: a succinct look. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 30:719-731. [PMID: 38846463 PMCID: PMC11150229 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-024-01454-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Reducing protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) to chlorophyllide (Chlide) is a major regulatory step in the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway. This reaction is catalyzed by light-dependent protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (LPOR) in oxygenic phototrophs, particularly angiosperms. LPOR-NADPH and Pchlide form a ternary complex to be efficiently photo-transformed to synthesize Chlide and, subsequently, chlorophyll during the transition from skotomorphogenesis to photomorphogenesis. Besides lipids, carotenoids and poly-cis xanthophylls influence the formation of the photoactive LPOR complexes and the PLBs. The crystal structure of LPOR reveals evolutionarily conserved cysteine residues implicated in the Pchlide binding and catalysis around the active site. Different isoforms of LPOR viz PORA, PORB, and PORC expressed at different stages of chloroplast development play a photoprotective role by quickly transforming the photosensitive Pchlide to Chlide. Non-photo-transformed Pchlide acts as a photosensitizer to generate singlet oxygen that causes oxidative stress and cell death. Therefore, different isoforms of LPOR have evolved and differentially expressed during plant development to protect plants from photodamage and thus play a pivotal role during photomorphogenesis. This review brings out the salient features of LPOR structure, structure-function relationships, and ultra-fast photo transformation of Pchlide to Chlide by oligomeric and polymeric forms of LPOR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Baishnab C. Tripathy
- Department of Biotechnology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201310 India
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Sheridan KJ, Eaton-Rye JJ, Summerfield TC. Mutagenesis of Ile184 in the cd-loop of the photosystem II D1 protein modifies acceptor-side function via spontaneous mutation of D1-His252 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 702:149595. [PMID: 38340653 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
The Photosystem II water-plastoquinone oxidoreductase is a multi-subunit complex which catalyses the light-driven oxidation of water to molecular oxygen in oxygenic photosynthesis. The D1 reaction centre protein exists in multiple forms in cyanobacteria, including D1FR which is expressed under far-red light. We investigated the role of Phe184 that is found in the lumenal cd-loop of D1FR but is typically an isoleucine in other D1 isoforms. The I184F mutant in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was similar to the control strain but accumulated a spontaneous mutation that introduced a Gln residue in place of His252 located on the opposite side of the thylakoid membrane. His252 participates in the protonation of the secondary plastoquinone electron acceptor QB. The I184F:H252Q double mutant exhibited reduced high-light-induced photodamage and an altered QB-binding site that impaired herbicide binding. Additionally, the H252Q mutant had a large increase in the variable fluorescence yield although the number of photochemically active PS II centres was unchanged. In the I184F:H252Q mutant the extent of the increased fluorescence yield decreased. Our data indicates substitution of Ile184 to Phe modulates PS II-specific variable fluorescence in cells with the His252 to Gln substitution by modifying the QB-binding site.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Sheridan
- Department of Botany, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand; Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Julian J Eaton-Rye
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Sheng J, Wu Y, Ding H, Feng K, Shen Y, Zhang Y, Gu N. Multienzyme-Like Nanozymes: Regulation, Rational Design, and Application. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2211210. [PMID: 36840985 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 120.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Nanomaterials with more than one enzyme-like activity are termed multienzymic nanozymes, and they have received increasing attention in recent years and hold huge potential to be applied in diverse fields, especially for biosensing and therapeutics. Compared to single enzyme-like nanozymes, multienzymic nanozymes offer various unique advantages, including synergistic effects, cascaded reactions, and environmentally responsive selectivity. Nevertheless, along with these merits, the catalytic mechanism and rational design of multienzymic nanozymes are more complicated and elusive as compared to single-enzymic nanozymes. In this review, the multienzymic nanozymes classification scheme based on the numbers/types of activities, the internal and external factors regulating the multienzymatic activities, the rational design based on chemical, biomimetic, and computer-aided strategies, and recent progress in applications attributed to the advantages of multicatalytic activities are systematically discussed. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives regarding the development and application of multienzymatic nanozymes are suggested. This review aims to deepen the understanding and inspire the research in multienzymic nanozymes to a greater extent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Sheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, P. R. China
| | - Yuehuang Wu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, P. R. China
| | - He Ding
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, P. R. China
| | - Kaizheng Feng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, P. R. China
| | - Yan Shen
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, P. R. China
| | - Ning Gu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomaterials and Devices, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, P. R. China
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P. R. China
- Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210093, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Jinkerson RE, Poveda-Huertes D, Cooney EC, Cho A, Ochoa-Fernandez R, Keeling PJ, Xiang T, Andersen-Ranberg J. Biosynthesis of chlorophyll c in a dinoflagellate and heterologous production in planta. Curr Biol 2024; 34:594-605.e4. [PMID: 38157859 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.068] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Chlorophyll c is a key photosynthetic pigment that has been used historically to classify eukaryotic algae. Despite its importance in global photosynthetic productivity, the pathway for its biosynthesis has remained elusive. Here we define the CHLOROPHYLL C SYNTHASE (CHLCS) discovered through investigation of a dinoflagellate mutant deficient in chlorophyll c. CHLCSs are proteins with chlorophyll a/b binding and 2-oxoglutarate-Fe(II) dioxygenase (2OGD) domains found in peridinin-containing dinoflagellates; other chlorophyll c-containing algae utilize enzymes with only the 2OGD domain or an unknown synthase to produce chlorophyll c. 2OGD-containing synthases across dinoflagellate, diatom, cryptophyte, and haptophyte lineages form a monophyletic group, 8 members of which were also shown to produce chlorophyll c. Chlorophyll c1 to c2 ratios in marine algae are dictated in part by chlorophyll c synthases. CHLCS heterologously expressed in planta results in the accumulation of chlorophyll c1 and c2, demonstrating a path to augment plant pigment composition with algal counterparts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert E Jinkerson
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA; Center for Plant Cell Biology, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Daniel Poveda-Huertes
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Elizabeth C Cooney
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Anna Cho
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Rocio Ochoa-Fernandez
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Patrick J Keeling
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Tingting Xiang
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Johan Andersen-Ranberg
- Department of Plant and Environmental Science, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Battistuzzi M, Morlino MS, Cocola L, Trainotti L, Treu L, Campanaro S, Claudi R, Poletto L, La Rocca N. Transcriptomic and photosynthetic analyses of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and Chlorogloeopsis fritschii sp. PCC6912 exposed to an M-dwarf spectrum under an anoxic atmosphere. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1322052. [PMID: 38304456 PMCID: PMC10830646 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1322052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Cyanobacteria appeared in the anoxic Archean Earth, evolving for the first time oxygenic photosynthesis and deeply changing the atmosphere by introducing oxygen. Starting possibly from UV-protected environments, characterized by low visible and far-red enriched light spectra, cyanobacteria spread everywhere on Earth thanks to their adaptation capabilities in light harvesting. In the last decade, few cyanobacteria species which can acclimate to far-red light through Far-Red Light Photoacclimation (FaRLiP) have been isolated. FaRLiP cyanobacteria were thus proposed as model organisms to study the origin of oxygenic photosynthesis as well as its possible functionality around stars with high far-red emission, the M-dwarfs. These stars are astrobiological targets, as their longevity could sustain life evolution and they demonstrated to host rocky terrestrial-like exoplanets within their Habitable Zone. Methods We studied the acclimation responses of the FaRLiP strain Chlorogloeopsis fritschii sp. PCC6912 and the non-FaRLiP strain Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 to the combination of three simulated light spectra (M-dwarf, solar and far-red) and two atmospheric compositions (oxic, anoxic). We first checked their growth, O2 production and pigment composition, then we studied their transcriptional responses by RNA sequencing under each combination of light spectrum and atmosphere conditions. Results and discussion PCC6803 did not show relevant differences in gene expression when comparing the responses to M-dwarf and solar-simulated lights, while far-red caused a variation in the transcriptional level of many genes. PCC6912 showed, on the contrary, different transcriptional responses to each light condition and activated the FaRLiP response under the M-dwarf simulated light. Surprisingly, the anoxic atmosphere did not impact the transcriptional profile of the 2 strains significantly. Results show that both cyanobacteria seem inherently prepared for anoxia and to harvest the photons emitted by a simulated M-dwarf star, whether they are only visible (PCC6803) or also far-red photons (PCC6912). They also show that visible photons in the simulated M-dwarf are sufficient to keep a similar metabolism with respect to solar-simulated light. Conclusion Results prove the adaptability of the cyanobacterial metabolism and enhance the plausibility of finding oxygenic biospheres on exoplanets orbiting M-dwarf stars.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariano Battistuzzi
- National Council of Research of Italy, Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (CNR-IFN), Padua, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Center for Space Studies and Activities (CISAS), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Lorenzo Cocola
- National Council of Research of Italy, Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (CNR-IFN), Padua, Italy
| | | | - Laura Treu
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Claudi
- National Institute for Astrophysics, Astronomical Observatory of Padua (INAF-OAPD), Padua, Italy
- Department of Mathematics and Physics, University Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Poletto
- National Council of Research of Italy, Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies (CNR-IFN), Padua, Italy
| | - Nicoletta La Rocca
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Center for Space Studies and Activities (CISAS), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ko JT, Li YY, Chen PY, Liu PY, Ho MY. Use of 16S rRNA gene sequences to identify cyanobacteria that can grow in far-red light. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13871. [PMID: 37772760 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13871] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Although most cyanobacteria use visible light (VL; λ = 400-700 nm) for photosynthesis, some have evolved strategies to use far-red light (FRL; λ = 700-800 nm). These cyanobacteria are defined as far-red light-utilizing cyanobacteria (FRLCyano), including two groups: (1) chlorophyll d-producing Acaryochloris spp. and (2) polyphyletic cyanobacteria that produce chlorophylls d and f in response to FRL. Numerous ecological studies examine pigments, such as chlorophylls d and f, to investigate the presence of FRLCyano in the environment. This method is not ideal because it can only detect FRLCyano that have made chlorophylls d or f. Here we develop a new method, far-red cyanobacteria identification (FRCI), to identify FRLCyano based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. From public databases and published articles, 62 16S rRNA gene sequences of FRLCyano were extracted. Comparing with related lineages, we determined that 97% sequence identity is the optimal cut-off for distinguishing FRLCyano from other cyanobacteria. To test the method experimentally, we collected samples from 17 sites in Taipei, Taiwan, and conducted VL and FRL enrichments. Our results demonstrate that FRCI can detect FRLCyano during FRL enrichments more sensitively than pigment analysis. FRCI can also resolve the composition of FRLCyano at the genus level, which pigment analysis cannot do. In addition, we applied FRCI to published datasets and discovered putative FRLCyano in diverse environments, including soils, hot springs and deserts. Overall, our results indicate that FRCI is a sensitive and high-resolution method using 16S rRNA gene sequences to identify FRLCyano.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jui-Tse Ko
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Yang Li
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pa-Yu Chen
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Yu Liu
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Yang Ho
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Institute of Plant Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Gisriel CJ, Bryant DA, Brudvig GW, Cardona T. Molecular diversity and evolution of far-red light-acclimated photosystem I. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1289199. [PMID: 38053766 PMCID: PMC10694217 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1289199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
The need to acclimate to different environmental conditions is central to the evolution of cyanobacteria. Far-red light (FRL) photoacclimation, or FaRLiP, is an acclimation mechanism that enables certain cyanobacteria to use FRL to drive photosynthesis. During this process, a well-defined gene cluster is upregulated, resulting in changes to the photosystems that allow them to absorb FRL to perform photochemistry. Because FaRLiP is widespread, and because it exemplifies cyanobacterial adaptation mechanisms in nature, it is of interest to understand its molecular evolution. Here, we performed a phylogenetic analysis of the photosystem I subunits encoded in the FaRLiP gene cluster and analyzed the available structural data to predict ancestral characteristics of FRL-absorbing photosystem I. The analysis suggests that FRL-specific photosystem I subunits arose relatively late during the evolution of cyanobacteria when compared with some of the FRL-specific subunits of photosystem II, and that the order Nodosilineales, which include strains like Halomicronema hongdechloris and Synechococcus sp. PCC 7335, could have obtained FaRLiP via horizontal gene transfer. We show that the ancestral form of FRL-absorbing photosystem I contained three chlorophyll f-binding sites in the PsaB2 subunit, and a rotated chlorophyll a molecule in the A0B site of the electron transfer chain. Along with our previous study of photosystem II expressed during FaRLiP, these studies describe the molecular evolution of the photosystem complexes encoded by the FaRLiP gene cluster.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Donald A. Bryant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Gary W. Brudvig
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Tanai Cardona
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Agostini A, Shen G, Bryant DA, Golbeck JH, van der Est A, Carbonera D. Optically detected magnetic resonance and mutational analysis reveal significant differences in the photochemistry and structure of chlorophyll f synthase and photosystem II. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOENERGETICS 2023; 1864:149002. [PMID: 37562512 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2023.149002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
In cyanobacteria that undergo far red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP), chlorophyll (Chl) f is produced by the ChlF synthase enzyme, probably by photo-oxidation of Chl a. The enzyme forms homodimeric complexes and the primary amino acid sequence of ChlF shows a high degree of homology with the D1 subunit of photosystem II (PSII). However, few details of the photochemistry of ChlF are known. The results of a mutational analysis and optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) data from ChlF are presented. Both sets of data show that there are significant differences in the photochemistry of ChlF and PSII. Mutation of residues that would disrupt the donor side primary electron transfer pathway in PSII do not inhibit the production of Chl f, while alteration of the putative ChlZ, P680 and QA binding sites rendered ChlF non-functional. Together with previously published transient EPR and flash photolysis data, the ODMR data show that in untreated ChlF samples, the triplet state of P680 formed by intersystem crossing is the primary species generated by light excitation. This is in contrast to PSII, in which 3P680 is only formed by charge recombination when the quinone acceptors are removed or chemically reduced. The triplet states of a carotenoid (3Car) and a small amount of 3Chl f are also observed by ODMR. The polarization pattern of 3Car is consistent with its formation by triplet energy transfer from ChlZ if the carotenoid molecule is rotated by 15° about its long axis compared to the orientation in PSII. It is proposed that the singlet oxygen formed by the interaction between molecular oxygen and 3P680 might be involved in the oxidation of Chl a to Chl f.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Agostini
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 1, 35131, Padova, Italy; Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Branišovská 31, 370 05 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Gaozhong Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA
| | - Donald A Bryant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA
| | - John H Golbeck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA; Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, 16802, USA
| | - Art van der Est
- Department of Chemistry, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock, Way, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada.
| | - Donatella Carbonera
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo, 1, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Jiang Y, Cao T, Yang Y, Zhang H, Zhang J, Li X. A chlorophyll c synthase widely co-opted by phytoplankton. Science 2023; 382:92-98. [PMID: 37797009 DOI: 10.1126/science.adg7921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Marine and terrestrial photosynthesis exhibit a schism in the accessory chlorophyll (Chl) that complements the function of Chl a: Chl b for green plants versus Chl c for most eukaryotic phytoplankton. The enzymes that mediate Chl c biosynthesis have long remained elusive. In this work, we identified the CHLC dioxygenase (Phatr3_J43737) from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum as the Chl c synthase. The chlc mutants lacked Chl c, instead accumulating its precursors, and exhibited growth defects. In vitro, recombinant CHLC protein converted these precursors into Chl c, thereby confirming its identity. Phylogenetic evidence demonstrates conserved use of CHLC across phyla but also the existence of distinct Chl c synthases in different algal groups. Our study addresses a long-outstanding question with implications for both contemporary and ancient marine photosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanyou Jiang
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianjun Cao
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuqing Yang
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jingyu Zhang
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaobo Li
- Research Center for Industries of the Future, Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Chen M, Sawicki A, Wang F. Modeling the Characteristic Residues of Chlorophyll f Synthase (ChlF) from Halomicronema hongdechloris to Determine Its Reaction Mechanism. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2305. [PMID: 37764149 PMCID: PMC10535343 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Photosystem II (PSII) is a quinone-utilizing photosynthetic system that converts light energy into chemical energy and catalyzes water splitting. PsbA (D1) and PsbD (D2) are the core subunits of the reaction center that provide most of the ligands to redox-active cofactors and exhibit photooxidoreductase activities that convert quinone and water into quinol and dioxygen. The performed analysis explored the putative uncoupled electron transfer pathways surrounding P680+ induced by far-red light (FRL) based on photosystem II (PSII) complexes containing substituted D1 subunits in Halomicronema hongdechloris. Chlorophyll f-synthase (ChlF) is a D1 protein paralog. Modeling PSII-ChlF complexes determined several key protein motifs of ChlF. The PSII complexes included a dysfunctional Mn4CaO5 cluster where ChlF replaced the D1 protein. We propose the mechanism of chlorophyll f synthesis from chlorophyll a via free radical chemistry in an oxygenated environment created by over-excited pheophytin a and an inactive water splitting reaction owing to an uncoupled Mn4CaO5 cluster in PSII-ChlF complexes. The role of ChlF in the formation of an inactive PSII reaction center is under debate, and putative mechanisms of chlorophyll f biosynthesis are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Chen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Sheridan KJ, Brown TJ, Eaton-Rye JJ, Summerfield TC. Expression of the far-red D1 protein or introduction of conserved far-red D1 residues into Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 impairs Photosystem II. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2023; 175:e13997. [PMID: 37882270 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.13997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The wavelengths of light harvested in oxygenic photosynthesis are ~400-700 nm. Some cyanobacteria respond to far-red light exposure via a process called far-red light photoacclimation which enables absorption of light at wavelengths >700 nm and its use to support photosynthesis. Far-red-light-induced changes include up-regulation of alternative copies of multiple proteins of Photosystem II (PS II). This includes an alternative copy of the D1 protein, D1FR . Here, we show that D1FR introduced into Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter Synechocystis 6803) can be incorporated into PS II centres that evolve oxygen at low rates but cannot support photoautotrophic growth. Using mutagenesis to modify the psbA2 gene of Synechocystis 6803, we modified residues in helices A, B, and C to be characteristic of D1FR residues. Modification of the Synechocystis 6803 helix A to resemble the D1FR helix A, with modifications in the region of the bound ß-carotene (CarD1 ) and the accessory chlorophyll, ChlZD1 , produced a strain with a similar phenotype to the D1FR strain. In contrast, the D1FR changes in helices B and C had minor impacts on photoautotrophy but impacted the function of PS II, possibly through a change in the equilibrium for electron sharing between the primary and secondary plastoquinone electron acceptors QA and QB in favour of QA - . The addition of combinations of residue changes in helix C indicates compensating effects may occur and highlight the need to experimentally determine the impact of multiple residue changes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin J Sheridan
- Department of Botany, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Toby J Brown
- Department of Botany, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Sui Y, Guo X, Zhou R, Fu Z, Chai Y, Xia A, Zhao W. Photoenzymatic Decarboxylation to Produce Hydrocarbon Fuels: A Critical Review. Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00775-2. [PMID: 37349610 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00775-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Photoenzymatic decarboxylation shows great promise as a pathway for the generation of hydrocarbon fuels. CvFAP, which is derived from Chlorella variabilis NC64A, is a photodecarboxylase capable of converting fatty acids into hydrocarbons. CvFAP is an example of coupling biocatalysis and photocatalysis to produce alkanes. The catalytic process is mild, and it does not yield toxic substances or excess by-products. However, the activity of CvFAP can be readily inhibited by several factors, and further enhancement is required to improve the enzyme yield and stability. In this article, we will examine the latest advancements in CvFAP research, with a particular focus on the enzyme's structural and catalytic mechanism, summarized some limitations in the application of CvFAP, and laboratory-level methods for enhancing enzyme activity and stability. This review can serve as a reference for future large-scale industrial production of hydrocarbon fuels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Sui
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Xiaobo Guo
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Zhisong Fu
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China
| | - Yingxin Chai
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Ao Xia
- School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044, China
| | - Wenhui Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 401331, China.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Masuda T, Bečková M, Turóczy Z, Pilný J, Sobotka R, Trinugroho JP, Nixon PJ, Prášil O, Komenda J. Accumulation of Cyanobacterial Photosystem II Containing the 'Rogue' D1 Subunit Is Controlled by FtsH Protease and Synthesis of the Standard D1 Protein. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 64:660-673. [PMID: 36976618 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacteria contribute significantly to the photosynthetic productivity of the ocean and the fixation of molecular nitrogen, with photosynthesis occurring during the day and nitrogen fixation during the night. In species like Crocosphaera watsonii WH8501, the decline in photosynthetic activity in the night is accompanied by the disassembly of oxygen-evolving photosystem II (PSII) complexes. Moreover, in the second half of the night phase, a small amount of rogue D1 (rD1), which is related to the standard form of the D1 subunit found in oxygen-evolving PSII, but of unknown function, accumulates but is quickly degraded at the start of the light phase. We show here that the removal of rD1 is independent of the rD1 transcript level, thylakoid redox state and trans-thylakoid pH but requires light and active protein synthesis. We also found that the maximal level of rD1 positively correlates with the maximal level of chlorophyll (Chl) biosynthesis precursors and enzymes, which suggests a possible role for rogue PSII (rPSII) in the activation of Chl biosynthesis just before or upon the onset of light, when new photosystems are synthesized. By studying strains of Synechocystis PCC 6803 expressing Crocosphaera rD1, we found that the accumulation of rD1 is controlled by the light-dependent synthesis of the standard D1 protein, which triggers the fast FtsH2-dependent degradation of rD1. Affinity purification of FLAG-tagged rD1 unequivocally demonstrated the incorporation of rD1 into a non-oxygen-evolving PSII complex, which we term rPSII. The complex lacks the extrinsic proteins stabilizing the oxygen-evolving Mn4CaO5 cluster but contains the Psb27 and Psb28-1 assembly factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takako Masuda
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Opatovický mlýn, Třeboň 37901, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Bečková
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Opatovický mlýn, Třeboň 37901, Czech Republic
| | - Zoltán Turóczy
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Opatovický mlýn, Třeboň 37901, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Pilný
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Opatovický mlýn, Třeboň 37901, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Sobotka
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Opatovický mlýn, Třeboň 37901, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Joko P Trinugroho
- Sir Ernst Chain Building-Wolfson Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Peter J Nixon
- Sir Ernst Chain Building-Wolfson Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Ondřej Prášil
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Opatovický mlýn, Třeboň 37901, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Komenda
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Opatovický mlýn, Třeboň 37901, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Liang M, Gu D, Lie Z, Yang Y, Lu L, Dai G, Peng T, Deng L, Zheng F, Liu X. Regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis by light-dependent acetylation of NADPH:protochlorophyll oxidoreductase A in Arabidopsis. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 330:111641. [PMID: 36806610 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Chlorophylls are the major pigments that harvest light energy during photosynthesis in plants. Although reactions in chlorophyll biogenesis have been largely known, little attention has been paid to the post-translational regulation mechanism of this process. In this study, we found that four lysine sites (K128/340/350/390) of NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase A (PORA), which catalyzes the only light-triggered step in chlorophyll biosynthesis, were acetylated after dark-grown seedlings transferred to light via acetylomics analysis. Etiolated seedlings with K390 mutation of PORA had a lower greening rate and decreased PORA acetylation after illumination. Importantly, K390 of PORA was found extremely conserved in plants and cyanobacteria via bioinformatics analysis. We further demonstrated that the acetylation level of PORA was increased by exposing the dark-grown seedlings to the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor TSA. Thus, the HDACs probably regulate the acetylation of PORA, thereby controlling this non-histone substrate to catalyze the reduction of Pchlide to produce chlorophyllide, which provides a novel regulatory mechanism by which the plant actively tunes chlorophyll biosynthesis during the conversion from skotomorphogenesis to photomorphogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minting Liang
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Dachuan Gu
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Zhiyang Lie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Yongyi Yang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Longxin Lu
- College of Forestry and Landscape Architecture, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Guangyi Dai
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Tao Peng
- Department of Biology, Institute of Plant and Food Science, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ling Deng
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Feng Zheng
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China
| | - Xuncheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Shen LQ, Zhang ZC, Huang L, Zhang LD, Yu G, Chen M, Li R, Qiu BS. Chlorophyll f production in two new subaerial cyanobacteria of the family Oculatellaceae. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:370-382. [PMID: 36680560 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Chlorophyll (Chl) f was recently identified in a few cyanobacteria as the fifth chlorophyll of oxygenic organisms. In this study, two Leptolyngbya-like strains of CCNU0012 and CCNU0013 were isolated from a dry ditch in Chongqing city and a brick wall in Mount Emei Scenic Area in China, respectively. These two strains were described as new species: Elainella chongqingensis sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Synechococcales) and Pegethrix sichuanica sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Synechococcales) by the polyphasic approach based on morphological features, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene and secondary structure comparison of 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer domains. Both strains produced Chl a under white light (WL) but additionally induced Chl f synthesis under far-red light (FRL). Unexpectedly, the content of Chl f in P. sichuanica was nearly half that in most Chl f-producing cyanobacteria. Red-shifted phycobiliproteins were also induced in both strains under FRL conditions. Subsequently, additional absorption peak beyond 700 nm in the FRL spectral region appeared in these two strains. This is the first report of Chl f production induced by FRL in the family Oculatellaceae. This study not only extended the diversity of Chl f-producing cyanobacteria but also provided precious samples to elucidate the essential binding sites of Chl f within cyanobacterial photosystems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Qin Shen
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhong-Chun Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Li Huang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lu-Dan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Gongliang Yu
- Key Lab of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Min Chen
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Renhui Li
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bao-Sheng Qiu
- School of Life Sciences, and Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Fu Y, Liu X, Xia Y, Guo X, Guo J, Zhang J, Zhao W, Wu Y, Wang J, Zhong F. Whole-cell-catalyzed hydrogenation/deuteration of aryl halides with a genetically repurposed photodehalogenase. Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
|
37
|
Liu XL. Collision-induced dissociation as "mass spectrometric filter" for rapid screening of tetrapyrrole derivatives and their chelated metal species in complex biological and environmental samples. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2023; 37:e9413. [PMID: 36222097 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.9413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Cyclic tetrapyrroles, such as chlorophylls and their diagenetic derivatives, are structurally diverse and often chelated with certain metal species in the natural environment. A high throughput analytical method enabling quick tetrapyrrole screening in complex samples will promote the study of tetrapyrrole biogeochemistry and probably discoveries of new tetrapyrroles. METHODS Total lipid extracts of biological and environmental samples were injected onto a C18 column to separate compounds with a reverse-phase gradient. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) was performed at different energy levels, from 40 to 200 eV, on a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) to identify cyclic tetrapyrroles in complex matrices. RESULTS Under 200 eV CID cyclic tetrapyrroles exhibit a unique fragmentation behavior, the production of fragments larger than 300 Da. Utilizing such feature as a filter to extract product ions in the range of 300-500 Da, various cyclic tetrapyrrole derivatives are readily recognized in all tested biological and environmental samples. The 200 eV CID setup also dissociates chelated to porphyrin metals, including Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and V, as single-charged ions for direct MS detection. CONCLUSIONS The 200 eV CID setup provides an efficient approach for the identification of cyclic tetrapyrroles, such as chlorophylls and fossil metalloporphyrins, in complex environmental samples. The direct detection of chelated to porphyrin metal ions with QTOF-MS shows the potential for compound-specific metal isotope analysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Lei Liu
- School of Geosciences, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Silva PJ, Osswald-Claro M, Castro Mendonça R. How to tune the absorption spectrum of chlorophylls to enable better use of the available solar spectrum. PEERJ PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.7717/peerj-pchem.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Photon capture by chlorophylls and other chromophores in light-harvesting complexes and photosystems is the driving force behind the light reactions of photosynthesis. Excitation of photosystem II allows it to receive electrons from the water-oxidizing oxygen-evolution complex and to transfer them to an electron-transport chain that generates a transmembrane electrochemical gradient and ultimately reduces plastocyanin, which donates its electron to photosystem I. Subsequently, excitation of photosystem I leads to electron transfer to a ferredoxin which can either reduce plastocyanin again (in so-called “cyclical electron-flow”) and release energy for the maintenance of the electrochemical gradient, or reduce NADP+ to NADPH. Although photons in the far-red (700–750 nm) portion of the solar spectrum carry enough energy to enable the functioning of the photosynthetic electron-transfer chain, most extant photosystems cannot usually take advantage of them due to only absorbing light with shorter wavelengths. In this work, we used computational methods to characterize the spectral and redox properties of 49 chlorophyll derivatives, with the aim of finding suitable candidates for incorporation into synthetic organisms with increased ability to use far-red photons. The data offer a simple and elegant explanation for the evolutionary selection of chlorophylls a, b, c, and d among all easily-synthesized singly-substituted chlorophylls, and identified one novel candidate (2,12-diformyl chlorophyll a) with an absorption peak shifted 79 nm into the far-red (relative to chlorophyll a) with redox characteristics fully suitable to its possible incorporation into photosystem I (though not photosystem II). chlorophyll d is shown by our data to be the most suitable candidate for incorporation into far-red utilizing photosystem II, and several candidates were found with red-shifted Soret bands that allow the capture of larger amounts of blue and green light by light harvesting complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro J. Silva
- UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, BioSIM, Departamento de Biomedicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- FP-I3ID,FP-BHS, Fac. de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Vergara-Barros P, Alcorta J, Casanova-Katny A, Nürnberg DJ, Díez B. Compensatory Transcriptional Response of Fischerella thermalis to Thermal Damage of the Photosynthetic Electron Transfer Chain. Molecules 2022; 27:8515. [PMID: 36500606 PMCID: PMC9740203 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Key organisms in the environment, such as oxygenic photosynthetic primary producers (photosynthetic eukaryotes and cyanobacteria), are responsible for fixing most of the carbon globally. However, they are affected by environmental conditions, such as temperature, which in turn affect their distribution. Globally, the cyanobacterium Fischerella thermalis is one of the main primary producers in terrestrial hot springs with thermal gradients up to 60 °C, but the mechanisms by which F. thermalis maintains its photosynthetic activity at these high temperatures are not known. In this study, we used molecular approaches and bioinformatics, in addition to photophysiological analyses, to determine the genetic activity associated with the energy metabolism of F. thermalis both in situ and in high-temperature (40 °C to 65 °C) cultures. Our results show that photosynthesis of F. thermalis decays with temperature, while increased transcriptional activity of genes encoding photosystem II reaction center proteins, such as PsbA (D1), could help overcome thermal damage at up to 60 °C. We observed that F. thermalis tends to lose copies of the standard G4 D1 isoform while maintaining the recently described D1INT isoform, suggesting a preference for photoresistant isoforms in response to the thermal gradient. The transcriptional activity and metabolic characteristics of F. thermalis, as measured by metatranscriptomics, further suggest that carbon metabolism occurs in parallel with photosynthesis, thereby assisting in energy acquisition under high temperatures at which other photosynthetic organisms cannot survive. This study reveals that, to cope with the harsh conditions of hot springs, F. thermalis has several compensatory adaptations, and provides emerging evidence for mixotrophic metabolism as being potentially relevant to the thermotolerance of this species. Ultimately, this work increases our knowledge about thermal adaptation strategies of cyanobacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Vergara-Barros
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago 8370186, Chile
| | - Jaime Alcorta
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
| | - Angélica Casanova-Katny
- Laboratory of Plant Ecophysiology, Faculty of Natural Resources, Campus Luis Rivas del Canto, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Dennis J. Nürnberg
- Institute of Experimental Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Dahlem Centre of Plant Sciences, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Beatriz Díez
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Biological Sciences Faculty, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago 8331150, Chile
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation (CGR), Santiago 8370186, Chile
- Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR)2, Santiago 8370449, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Photosynthetic modulation during the diurnal cycle in a unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium grown under nitrogen-replete and nitrogen-fixing conditions. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18939. [PMID: 36344535 PMCID: PMC9640542 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21829-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are the only oxygenic photosynthetic organisms that can fix nitrogen. In diazotrophic cyanobacteria, the regulation of photosynthesis during the diurnal cycle is hypothesized to be linked with nitrogen fixation and involve the D1 protein isoform PsbA4. The amount of bioavailable nitrogen has a major impact on productivity in aqueous environments. In contrast to low- or nitrogen-fixing (-N) conditions, little data on photosynthetic regulation under nitrogen-replete (+ N) conditions are available. We compared the regulation of photosynthesis under -N and + N conditions during the diurnal cycle in wild type and a psbA4 deletion strain of the unicellular diazotrophic cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142. We observed common changes to light harvesting and photosynthetic electron transport during the dark in + N and -N conditions and found that these modifications occur in both diazotrophic and non-diazotrophic cyanobacteria. Nitrogen availability increased PSII titer when cells transitioned from dark to light and promoted growth. Under -N conditions, deletion of PsbA4 modified charge recombination in dark and regulation of PSII titer during dark to light transition. We conclude that darkness impacts the acceptor-side modifications to PSII and photosynthetic electron transport in cyanobacteria independently of the nitrogen-fixing status and the presence of PsbA4.
Collapse
|
41
|
Liu J, Knapp M, Jo M, Dill Z, Bridwell-Rabb J. Rieske Oxygenase Catalyzed C-H Bond Functionalization Reactions in Chlorophyll b Biosynthesis. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2022; 8:1393-1403. [PMID: 36313167 PMCID: PMC9615114 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c00058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Rieske oxygenases perform precise C-H bond functionalization reactions in anabolic and catabolic pathways. These reactions are typically characterized as monooxygenation or dioxygenation reactions, but other divergent reactions are also catalyzed by Rieske oxygenases. Chlorophyll(ide) a oxygenase (CAO), for example is proposed to catalyze two monooxygenation reactions to transform a methyl-group into the formyl-group of Chlorophyll b. This formyl group, like the formyl groups found in other chlorophyll pigments, tunes the absorption spectra of chlorophyllb and supports the ability of several photosynthetic organisms to adapt to environmental light. Despite the importance of this reaction, CAO has never been studied in vitro with purified protein, leaving many open questions regarding whether CAO can facilitate both oxygenation reactions using just the Rieske oxygenase machinery. In this study, we demonstrated that four CAO homologues in partnership with a non-native reductase convert a Chlorophyll a precursor, chlorophyllidea, into chlorophyllideb in vitro. Analysis of this reaction confirmed the existence of the proposed intermediate, highlighted the stereospecificity of the reaction, and revealed the potential of CAO as a tool for synthesizing custom-tuned natural and unnatural chlorophyll pigments. This work thus adds to our fundamental understanding of chlorophyll biosynthesis and Rieske oxygenase chemistry.
Collapse
|
42
|
Suarez JV, Mudd EA, Day A. A Chloroplast-Localised Fluorescent Protein Enhances the Photosynthetic Action Spectrum in Green Algae. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091770. [PMID: 36144372 PMCID: PMC9504678 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Green microalgae are important sources of natural products and are attractive cell factories for manufacturing high-value products such as recombinant proteins. Increasing scales of production must address the bottleneck of providing sufficient light energy for photosynthesis. Enhancing the photosynthetic action spectrum of green algae to improve the utilisation of yellow light would provide additional light energy for photosynthesis. Here, we evaluated the Katushka fluorescent protein, which converts yellow photons to red photons, to drive photosynthesis and growth when expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts. Transplastomic algae expressing a codon-optimised Katushka gene accumulated the active Katushka protein, which was detected by excitation with yellow light. Removal of chlorophyll from cells, which captures red photons, led to increased Katushka fluorescence. In yellow light, emission of red photons by fluorescent Katushka increased oxygen evolution and photosynthetic growth. Utilisation of yellow photons increased photosynthetic growth of transplastomic cells expressing Katushka in light deficient in red photons. These results showed that Katushka was a simple and effective yellow light-capturing device that enhanced the photosynthetic action spectrum of C. reinhardtii.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julio V. Suarez
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Carr. Transpeninsular 3917, Ensenada 22860, Mexico
- Correspondence: (J.V.S.); (A.D.); Tel.: +44-161-275-3913 (A.D.)
| | - Elisabeth A. Mudd
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
| | - Anil Day
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK
- Correspondence: (J.V.S.); (A.D.); Tel.: +44-161-275-3913 (A.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Billi D, Napoli A, Mosca C, Fagliarone C, de Carolis R, Balbi A, Scanu M, Selinger VM, Antonaru LA, Nürnberg DJ. Identification of far-red light acclimation in an endolithic Chroococcidiopsis strain and associated genomic features: Implications for oxygenic photosynthesis on exoplanets. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:933404. [PMID: 35992689 PMCID: PMC9386421 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.933404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Deserts represent extreme habitats where photosynthetic life is restricted to the lithic niche. The ability of rock-inhabiting cyanobacteria to modify their photosynthetic apparatus and harvest far-red light (near-infrared) was investigated in 10 strains of the genus Chroococcidiopsis, previously isolated from diverse endolithic and hypolithic desert communities. The analysis of their growth capacity, photosynthetic pigments, and apcE2-gene presence revealed that only Chroococcidiopsis sp. CCMEE 010 was capable of far-red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP). A total of 15 FaRLiP genes were identified, encoding paralogous subunits of photosystem I, photosystem II, and the phycobilisome, along with three regulatory elements. CCMEE 010 is unique among known FaRLiP strains by undergoing this acclimation process with a significantly reduced cluster, which lacks major photosystem I paralogs psaA and psaB. The identification of an endolithic, extremotolerant cyanobacterium capable of FaRLiP not only contributes to our appreciation of this phenotype’s distribution in nature but also has implications for the possibility of oxygenic photosynthesis on exoplanets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Billi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Daniela Billi,
| | - Alessandro Napoli
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
- Ph.D. Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Mosca
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Amedeo Balbi
- Department of Physics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Scanu
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Vera M. Selinger
- Department of Physics, Biochemistry and Biophysics of Photosynthetic Organisms, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Laura A. Antonaru
- Department of Physics, Biochemistry and Biophysics of Photosynthetic Organisms, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dennis J. Nürnberg
- Department of Physics, Biochemistry and Biophysics of Photosynthetic Organisms, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Soulier N, Walters K, Laremore TN, Shen G, Golbeck JH, Bryant DA. Acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus to low light in a thermophilic Synechococcus sp. strain. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2022; 153:21-42. [PMID: 35441927 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-022-00918-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Depending upon their growth responses to high and low irradiance, respectively, thermophilic Synechococcus sp. isolates from microbial mats associated with the effluent channels of Mushroom Spring, an alkaline siliceous hot spring in Yellowstone National Park, can be described as either high-light (HL) or low-light (LL) ecotypes. Strains isolated from the bottom of the photic zone grow more rapidly at low irradiance compared to strains isolated from the uppermost layer of the mat, which conversely grow better at high irradiance. The LL-ecotypes develop far-red absorbance and fluorescence emission features after growth in LL. These isolates have a unique gene cluster that encodes a putative cyanobacteriochrome denoted LcyA, a putative sensor histidine kinase; an allophycocyanin (FRL-AP; ApcD4-ApcB3) that absorbs far-red light; and a putative chlorophyll a-binding protein, denoted IsiX, which is homologous to IsiA. The emergence of FRL absorbance in LL-adapted cells of Synechococcus sp. strain A1463 was analyzed in cultures responding to differences in light intensity. The far-red absorbance phenotype arises from expression of a novel antenna complex containing the FRL-AP, ApcD4-ApcB3, which is produced when cells were grown at very low irradiance. Additionally, the two GAF domains of LcyA were shown to bind phycocyanobilin and a [4Fe-4S] cluster, respectively. These ligands potentially enable this photoreceptor to respond to a variety of environmental factors including irradiance, redox potential, and/or oxygen concentration. The products of the gene clusters specific to LL-ecotypes likely facilitate growth in low-light environments through a process called Low-Light Photoacclimation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Soulier
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, S-002 Frear Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Karim Walters
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, S-002 Frear Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Tatiana N Laremore
- Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Huck Institute for the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Gaozhong Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, S-002 Frear Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - John H Golbeck
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, S-002 Frear Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
| | - Donald A Bryant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, S-002 Frear Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Gisriel CJ, Cardona T, Bryant DA, Brudvig GW. Molecular Evolution of Far-Red Light-Acclimated Photosystem II. Microorganisms 2022; 10:1270. [PMID: 35888987 PMCID: PMC9325196 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10071270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are major contributors to global carbon fixation and primarily use visible light (400-700 nm) to drive oxygenic photosynthesis. When shifted into environments where visible light is attenuated, a small, but highly diverse and widespread number of cyanobacteria can express modified pigments and paralogous versions of photosystem subunits and phycobiliproteins that confer far-red light (FRL) absorbance (700-800 nm), a process termed far-red light photoacclimation, or FaRLiP. During FaRLiP, alternate photosystem II (PSII) subunits enable the complex to bind chlorophylls d and f, which absorb at lower energy than chlorophyll a but still support water oxidation. How the FaRLiP response arose remains poorly studied. Here, we report ancestral sequence reconstruction and structure-based molecular evolutionary studies of the FRL-specific subunits of FRL-PSII. We show that the duplications leading to the origin of two PsbA (D1) paralogs required to make chlorophyll f and to bind chlorophyll d in water-splitting FRL-PSII are likely the first to have occurred prior to the diversification of extant cyanobacteria. These duplications were followed by those leading to alternative PsbC (CP43) and PsbD (D2) subunits, occurring early during the diversification of cyanobacteria, and culminating with those leading to PsbB (CP47) and PsbH paralogs coincident with the radiation of the major groups. We show that the origin of FRL-PSII required the accumulation of a relatively small number of amino acid changes and that the ancestral FRL-PSII likely contained a chlorophyll d molecule in the electron transfer chain, two chlorophyll f molecules in the antenna subunits at equivalent positions, and three chlorophyll a molecules whose site energies were altered. The results suggest a minimal model for engineering far-red light absorbance into plant PSII for biotechnological applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Tanai Cardona
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK;
| | - Donald A. Bryant
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA;
| | - Gary W. Brudvig
- Department of Chemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA;
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Use of Quartz Sand Columns to Study Far-Red Light Photoacclimation (FaRLiP) in Cyanobacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0056222. [PMID: 35727027 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00562-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Some cyanobacteria can perform far-red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP), which allows them to use far-red light (FRL) for oxygenic photosynthesis. Most of the cyanobacteria able to use FRL were discovered in low visible-light (VL; λ = 400-700 nm) environments that are also enriched in FRL (λ = 700-800 nm). However, these cyanobacteria grow faster in VL than in FRL in laboratory conditions, indicating that FRL is not their preferred light source when VL is available. Therefore, it is interesting to understand why such strains were primarily found in FRL-enriched but not VL-enriched environments. To this aim, we established a terrestrial model system with quartz sand to study the distribution and photoacclimation of cyanobacterial strains. A FaRLiP-performing cyanobacterium, Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1, and a VL-utilizing model cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, were compared in this study. We found that, although Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1 can grow well in both VL and FRL, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 grows much faster than Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1 in VL. In addition, the growth was higher in liquid cocultures than in monocultures of Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1 or Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. In an artificial terrestrial model system, Leptolyngbya sp. JSC-1 has an advantage when growing in coculture at greater depths by performing FaRLiP. Therefore, strong competition for VL and slower growth rate are possible reasons why FRL-utilizing cyanobacteria are found in environments with low VL intensities. This model system provides a valuable tool for future studies of cyanobacterial ecological niches and interactions in a terrestrial environment. IMPORTANCE This study uses sand columns to establish a terrestrial model system for the investigation of the distribution and acclimation of cyanobacteria to far-red light. Previous studies of this group of cyanobacteria required direct in situ samplings. The variability of conditions and abundances of the cyanobacteria in natural settings impeded detailed analyses and comparisons. Therefore, we established this model system under controlled conditions in the laboratory. In this system, the distribution and acclimation of two cyanobacteria were similar to the situation observed in natural environments, which validates that it can be used to study fundamental questions. Using this approach, we made the unanticipated observation that two cyanobacteria grow faster in coculture than in axenic cultures. This laboratory-based model system can provide a valuable new tool for comparing cyanobacterial strains (e.g., mutants and wild type), exploring interactions between cyanobacterial strains and interactions with other bacteria, and characterizing ecological niches of cyanobacteria.
Collapse
|
47
|
Adaptation of Cyanobacteria to the Endolithic Light Spectrum in Hyper-Arid Deserts. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10061198. [PMID: 35744716 PMCID: PMC9228357 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10061198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In hyper-arid deserts, endolithic microbial communities survive in the pore spaces and cracks of rocks, an environment that enhances water retention and filters UV radiation. The rock colonization zone is enriched in far-red light (FRL) and depleted in visible light. This poses a challenge to cyanobacteria, which are the primary producers of endolithic communities. Many species of cyanobacteria are capable of Far-Red-Light Photoacclimation (FaRLiP), a process in which FRL induces the synthesis of specialized chlorophylls and remodeling of the photosynthetic apparatus, providing the ability to grow in FRL. While FaRLiP has been reported in cyanobacteria from various low-light environments, our understanding of light adaptations for endolithic cyanobacteria remains limited. Here, we demonstrated that endolithic Chroococcidiopsis isolates from deserts around the world synthesize chlorophyll f, an FRL-specialized chlorophyll when FRL is the sole light source. The metagenome-assembled genomes of these isolates encoded chlorophyll f synthase and all the genes required to implement the FaRLiP response. We also present evidence of FRL-induced changes to the major light-harvesting complexes of a Chroococcidiopsis isolate. These findings indicate that endolithic cyanobacteria from hyper-arid deserts use FRL photoacclimation as an adaptation to the unique light transmission spectrum of their rocky habitat.
Collapse
|
48
|
Shen LQ, Zhang ZC, Shang JL, Li ZK, Chen M, Li R, Qiu BS. Kovacikia minuta sp. nov. (Leptolyngbyaceae, Cyanobacteria), a new freshwater chlorophyll f-producing cyanobacterium. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2022; 58:424-435. [PMID: 35279831 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A few groups of cyanobacteria have been characterized as having far-red light photoacclimation (FaRLiP) that results from chlorophyll f (Chl f) production. In this study, using a polyphasic approach, we taxonomically transferred the Cf. Leptolyngbya sp. CCNUW1 isolated from a shaded freshwater pond, which produces Chl f under far-red light, to the genus Kovacikia and named this taxon Kovacikia minuta sp. nov. This strain was morphologically similar to Leptolyngbya-like strains. The thin filaments were purplish-brown under white light but became grass green under far-red light. The 31-gene phylogeny grouped K. minuta CCNU0001 into order Synechococcales and family Leptolyngbyaceae. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences further showed that K. minuta CCNU0001 was clustered into Kovacikia with similarities of 97.2-97.4% to the recently reported type species of Kovacikia muscicola HA7619-LM3. Additionally, the internal transcribed spacer region between 16S-23S rRNA genes had a unique sequence and secondary structure compared with other Kovacikia strains and phylogenetically related taxa. Draft genome sequences of K. minuta CCNU0001 (8,564,336 bp) were assembled into one circular chromosome and two circular plasmids. A FaRLiP 20-gene cluster comprised two operons with the unique organization. In sum, K. minuta was established as a new species, and it is the first species reported to produce Chl f and for which a draft genome was produced in genus Kovacikia. This study expanded our knowledge regarding the diversity of Chl f-producing cyanobacteria in far-red light-enriched environments and provides important foundational information for future investigations of FaRLiP evolution in cyanobacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Qin Shen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Zhong-Chun Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Jin-Long Shang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Zheng-Ke Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Min Chen
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Renhui Li
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Bao-Sheng Qiu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
A Cyanobacteria Enriched Layer of Shark Bay Stromatolites Reveals a New Acaryochloris Strain Living in Near Infrared Light. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10051035. [PMID: 35630477 PMCID: PMC9144716 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10051035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Acaryochloris is unique among phototrophic organisms due to the dominance of chlorophyll d in its photosynthetic reaction centres and light-harvesting proteins. This allows Acaryochloris to capture light energy for photosynthesis over an extended spectrum of up to ~760 nm in the near infra-red (NIR) spectrum. Acaryochloris sp. has been reported in a variety of ecological niches, ranging from polar to tropical shallow aquatic sites. Here, we report a new Acarychloris strain isolated from an NIR-enriched stratified microbial layer 4–6 mm under the surface of stromatolite mats located in the Hamelin Pool of Shark Bay, Western Australia. Pigment analysis by spectrometry/fluorometry, flow cytometry and spectral confocal microscopy identifies unique patterns in pigment content that likely reflect niche adaption. For example, unlike the original A. marina species (type strain MBIC11017), this new strain, Acarychloris LARK001, shows little change in the chlorophyll d/a ratio in response to changes in light wavelength, displays a different Fv/Fm response and lacks detectable levels of phycocyanin. Indeed, 16S rRNA analysis supports the identity of the A. marina LARK001 strain as close to but distinct from from the A. marina HICR111A strain first isolated from Heron Island and previously found on the Great Barrier Reef under coral rubble on the reef flat. Taken together, A. marina LARK001 is a new cyanobacterial strain adapted to the stromatolite mats in Shark Bay.
Collapse
|
50
|
Proctor MS, Sutherland GA, Canniffe DP, Hitchcock A. The terminal enzymes of (bacterio)chlorophyll biosynthesis. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211903. [PMID: 35573041 PMCID: PMC9066304 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
(Bacterio)chlorophylls are modified tetrapyrroles that are used by phototrophic organisms to harvest solar energy, powering the metabolic processes that sustain most of the life on Earth. Biosynthesis of these pigments involves enzymatic modification of the side chains and oxidation state of a porphyrin precursor, modifications that differ by species and alter the absorption properties of the pigments. (Bacterio)chlorophylls are coordinated by proteins that form macromolecular assemblies to absorb light and transfer excitation energy to a special pair of redox-active (bacterio)chlorophyll molecules in the photosynthetic reaction centre. Assembly of these pigment-protein complexes is aided by an isoprenoid moiety esterified to the (bacterio)chlorin macrocycle, which anchors and stabilizes the pigments within their protein scaffolds. The reduction of the isoprenoid 'tail' and its addition to the macrocycle are the final stages in (bacterio)chlorophyll biosynthesis and are catalysed by two enzymes, geranylgeranyl reductase and (bacterio)chlorophyll synthase. These enzymes work in conjunction with photosynthetic complex assembly factors and the membrane biogenesis machinery to synchronize delivery of the pigments to the proteins that coordinate them. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the catalytic mechanism, substrate recognition and regulation of these crucial enzymes and their involvement in thylakoid biogenesis and photosystem repair in oxygenic phototrophs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S. Proctor
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - George A. Sutherland
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Daniel P. Canniffe
- Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Andrew Hitchcock
- Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|