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Shenkutie SM, Nagano S, Hughes J. Expression, purification and crystallization of the photosensory module of phytochrome B (phyB) from Sorghum bicolor. Acta Crystallogr F Struct Biol Commun 2024; 80:59-66. [PMID: 38376821 PMCID: PMC10910535 DOI: 10.1107/s2053230x24000827] [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: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Sorghum, a short-day tropical plant, has been adapted for temperate grain production, in particular through the selection of variants at the MATURITY loci (Ma1-Ma6) that reduce photoperiod sensitivity. Ma3 encodes phytochrome B (phyB), a red/far-red photochromic biliprotein photoreceptor. The multi-domain gene product, comprising 1178 amino acids, autocatalytically binds the phytochromobilin chromophore to form the photoactive holophytochrome (Sb.phyB). This study describes the development of an efficient heterologous overproduction system which allows the production of large quantities of various holoprotein constructs, along with purification and crystallization procedures. Crystals of the Pr (red-light-absorbing) forms of NPGP, PGP and PG (residues 1-655, 114-655 and 114-458, respectively), each C-terminally tagged with His6, were successfully produced. While NPGP crystals did not diffract, those of PGP and PG diffracted to 6 and 2.1 Å resolution, respectively. Moving the tag to the N-terminus and replacing phytochromobilin with phycocyanobilin as the ligand produced PG crystals that diffracted to 1.8 Å resolution. These results demonstrate that the diffraction quality of challenging protein crystals can be improved by removing flexible regions, shifting fusion tags and altering small-molecule ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sintayehu Manaye Shenkutie
- Department of Plant Physiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Senckenbergstrasse 3, 35390 Giessen, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Hawassa University, PO Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Soshichiro Nagano
- Department of Plant Physiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Senckenbergstrasse 3, 35390 Giessen, Germany
| | - Jon Hughes
- Department of Plant Physiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Senckenbergstrasse 3, 35390 Giessen, Germany
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2
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Hildebrandt P. Vibrational Spectroscopy of Phytochromes. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1007. [PMID: 37371587 DOI: 10.3390/biom13061007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Phytochromes are biological photoswitches that translate light into physiological functions. Spectroscopic techniques are essential tools for molecular research into these photoreceptors. This review is directed at summarizing how resonance Raman and IR spectroscopy contributed to an understanding of the structure, dynamics, and reaction mechanism of phytochromes, outlining the substantial experimental and theoretical challenges and describing the strategies to master them. It is shown that the potential of the various vibrational spectroscopic techniques can be most efficiently exploited using integral approaches via a combination of theoretical methods as well as other experimental techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hildebrandt
- Institut für Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Sekr. PC 14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-10623 Berlin, Germany
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Takala H, Edlund P, Ihalainen JA, Westenhoff S. Tips and turns of bacteriophytochrome photoactivation. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2021; 19:1488-1510. [PMID: 33107538 DOI: 10.1039/d0pp00117a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Phytochromes are ubiquitous photosensor proteins, which control the growth, reproduction and movement in plants, fungi and bacteria. Phytochromes switch between two photophysical states depending on the light conditions. In analogy to molecular machines, light absorption induces a series of structural changes that are transduced from the bilin chromophore, through the protein, and to the output domains. Recent progress towards understanding this structural mechanism of signal transduction has been manifold. We describe this progress with a focus on bacteriophytochromes. We describe the mechanism along three structural tiers, which are the chromophore-binding pocket, the photosensory module, and the output domains. We discuss possible interconnections between the tiers and conclude by presenting future directions and open questions. We hope that this review may serve as a compendium to guide future structural and spectroscopic studies designed to understand structural signaling in phytochromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heikki Takala
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland. and Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Box 63, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petra Edlund
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Box 462, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Janne A Ihalainen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Box 35, 40014 Jyvaskyla, Finland.
| | - Sebastian Westenhoff
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, Box 462, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Nagano S, Guan K, Shenkutie SM, Feiler C, Weiss M, Kraskov A, Buhrke D, Hildebrandt P, Hughes J. Structural insights into photoactivation and signalling in plant phytochromes. NATURE PLANTS 2020; 6:581-588. [PMID: 32366982 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-020-0638-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Plant phytochromes are red/far-red photochromic photoreceptors that act as master regulators of development, controlling the expression of thousands of genes. Here, we describe the crystal structures of four plant phytochrome sensory modules, three at about 2 Å resolution or better, including the first of an A-type phytochrome. Together with extensive spectral data, these structures provide detailed insight into the structure and function of plant phytochromes. In the Pr state, the substitution of phycocyanobilin and phytochromobilin cofactors has no structural effect, nor does the amino-terminal extension play a significant functional role. Our data suggest that the chromophore propionates and especially the phytochrome-specific domain tongue act differently in plant and prokaryotic phytochromes. We find that the photoproduct in period-ARNT-single-minded (PAS)-cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase-adenylyl cyclase-FhlA (GAF) bidomains might represent a novel intermediate between MetaRc and Pfr. We also discuss the possible role of a likely nuclear localization signal specific to and conserved in the phytochrome A lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soshichiro Nagano
- Institut für Pflanzenphysiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen, Germany
| | - Kaoling Guan
- Institut für Pflanzenphysiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen, Germany
| | | | - Christian Feiler
- BESSY II, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred Weiss
- BESSY II, Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anastasia Kraskov
- Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Technische Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Buhrke
- Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Technische Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Peter Hildebrandt
- Institut für Chemie, Sekr. PC14, Technische Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jon Hughes
- Institut für Pflanzenphysiologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen, Germany.
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Klose C, Nagy F, Schäfer E. Thermal Reversion of Plant Phytochromes. MOLECULAR PLANT 2020; 13:386-397. [PMID: 31812690 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Phytochromes are red/far-red reversible photoreceptors essential for plant growth and development. Phytochrome signaling is mediated by the physiologically active far-red-absorbing Pfr form that can be inactivated to the red-absorbing Pr ground state by light-dependent photoconversion or by light-independent thermal reversion, also termed dark reversion. Although the term "dark reversion" is justified by historical reasons and frequently used in the literature, "thermal reversion" more appropriately describes the process of light-independent but temperature-regulated Pfr relaxation that not only occurs in darkness but also in light and is used throughout the review. Thermal reversion is a critical parameter for the light sensitivity of phytochrome-mediated responses and has been studied for decades, often resulting in contradictory findings. Thermal reversion is an intrinsic property of the phytochrome molecules but can be modulated by intra- and intermolecular interactions, as well as biochemical modifications, such as phosphorylation. In this review, we outline the research history of phytochrome thermal reversion, highlighting important predictions that have been made before knowing the molecular basis. We further summarize and discuss recent findings about the molecular mechanisms regulating phytochrome thermal reversion and its functional roles in light and temperature sensing in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Klose
- Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Ferenc Nagy
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Eberhard Schäfer
- Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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Rockwell NC, Lagarias JC. Phytochrome evolution in 3D: deletion, duplication, and diversification. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 225:2283-2300. [PMID: 31595505 PMCID: PMC7028483 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Canonical plant phytochromes are master regulators of photomorphogenesis and the shade avoidance response. They are also part of a widespread superfamily of photoreceptors with diverse spectral and biochemical properties. Plant phytochromes belong to a clade including other phytochromes from glaucophyte, prasinophyte, and streptophyte algae (all members of the Archaeplastida) and those from cryptophyte algae. This is consistent with recent analyses supporting the existence of an AC (Archaeplastida + Cryptista) clade. AC phytochromes have been proposed to arise from ancestral cyanobacterial genes via endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT), but most recent studies instead support multiple horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events to generate extant eukaryotic phytochromes. In principle, this scenario would be compared to the emerging understanding of early events in eukaryotic evolution to generate a coherent picture. Unfortunately, there is currently a major discrepancy between the evolution of phytochromes and the evolution of eukaryotes; phytochrome evolution is thus not a solved problem. We therefore examine phytochrome evolution in a broader context. Within this context, we can identify three important themes in phytochrome evolution: deletion, duplication, and diversification. These themes drive phytochrome evolution as organisms evolve in response to environmental challenges.
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Viczián A, Ádám É, Staudt AM, Lambert D, Klement E, Romero Montepaone S, Hiltbrunner A, Casal J, Schäfer E, Nagy F, Klose C. Differential phosphorylation of the N-terminal extension regulates phytochrome B signaling. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 225:1635-1650. [PMID: 31596952 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Phytochrome B (phyB) is an excellent light quality and quantity sensor that can detect subtle changes in the light environment. The relative amounts of the biologically active photoreceptor (phyB Pfr) are determined by the light conditions and light independent thermal relaxation of Pfr into the inactive phyB Pr, termed thermal reversion. Little is known about the regulation of thermal reversion and how it affects plants' light sensitivity. In this study we identified several serine/threonine residues on the N-terminal extension (NTE) of Arabidopsis thaliana phyB that are differentially phosphorylated in response to light and temperature, and examined transgenic plants expressing nonphosphorylatable and phosphomimic phyB mutants. The NTE of phyB is essential for thermal stability of the Pfr form, and phosphorylation of S86 particularly enhances the thermal reversion rate of the phyB Pfr-Pr heterodimer in vivo. We demonstrate that S86 phosphorylation is especially critical for phyB signaling compared with phosphorylation of the more N-terminal residues. Interestingly, S86 phosphorylation is reduced in light, paralleled by a progressive Pfr stabilization under prolonged irradiation. By investigating other phytochromes (phyD and phyE) we provide evidence that acceleration of thermal reversion by phosphorylation represents a general mechanism for attenuating phytochrome signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Viczián
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Ádám
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
- Research Institute of Translational Biomedicine, Department of Dermatology and Allergology, University of Szeged, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anne-Marie Staudt
- Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dorothee Lambert
- Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva Klement
- Laboratory of Proteomics Research, Biological Research Centre, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Sofia Romero Montepaone
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA), Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1417DSE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Andreas Hiltbrunner
- Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jorge Casal
- Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura (IFEVA), Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), C1417DSE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires, CONICET, C1405BWE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eberhard Schäfer
- Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ferenc Nagy
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Cornelia Klose
- Institute of Biology II, University of Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
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Gourinchas G, Etzl S, Winkler A. Bacteriophytochromes - from informative model systems of phytochrome function to powerful tools in cell biology. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2019; 57:72-83. [PMID: 30878713 PMCID: PMC6625962 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2019.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Bacteriophytochromes are a subfamily of the diverse light responsive phytochrome photoreceptors. Considering their preferential interaction with biliverdin IXα as endogenous cofactor, they have recently been used for creating optogenetic tools and engineering fluorescent probes. Ideal absorption characteristics for the activation of bacteriophytochrome-based systems in the therapeutic near-infrared window as well the availability of biliverdin in mammalian tissues have resulted in tremendous progress in re-engineering bacteriophytochromes for diverse applications. At the same time, both the structural analysis and the functional characterization of diverse naturally occurring bacteriophytochrome systems have unraveled remarkable differences in signaling mechanisms and have so far only touched the surface of the evolutionary diversity within the family of bacteriophytochromes. This review highlights recent findings and future challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Gourinchas
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Stefan Etzl
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas Winkler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/II, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria.
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