1
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Chrupková P, van Stokkum IHM, Friedrich T, Moldenhauer M, Budisa N, Tseng HW, Polívka T, Cherepanov DA, Maksimov EG, Kloz M. Raman Vibrational Signatures of Excited States of Echinenone in the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) and Implications for its Photoactivation Mechanism. J Mol Biol 2024:168625. [PMID: 38797429 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168625] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
In this study, the vibrational characteristics of optically excited echinenone in various solvents and the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) in red and orange states are systematically investigated through steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy techniques. Time-resolved experiments, employing both Transient Absorption (TA) and Femtosecond Stimulated Raman Spectroscopy (FSRS), reveal different states in the OCP photoactivation process. The time-resolved studies indicate vibrational signatures of exited states positioned above the S1 state during the initial 140 fs of carotenoid evolution in OCP, an absence of a vibrational signature for the relaxed S1 state of echinenone in OCP, and more robust signatures of a highly excited ground state (GS) in OCP. Differences in S1 state vibration population signatures between OCP and solvents are attributed to distinct conformations of echinenone in OCP and hydrogen bonds at the keto group forming a short-lived intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) state. The vibrational dynamics of the hot GS in OCP show a more pronounced red shift of ground state CC vibration compared to echinenone in solvents, thus suggesting an unusually hot form of GS. The study proposes a hypothesis for the photoactivation mechanism of OCP, emphasizing the high level of vibrational excitation in longitudinal stretching modes as a driving force. In conclusion, the comparison of vibrational signatures reveals unique dynamics of energy dissipation in OCP, providing insights into the photoactivation mechanism and highlighting the impact of the protein environment on carotenoid behavior. The study underscores the importance of vibrational analysis in understanding the intricate processes involved in early phase OCP photoactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Chrupková
- The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, ELI Beamlines Facility, Za Radnicí 835, Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Science, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Ivo H M van Stokkum
- Vrije Universiteit, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Thomas Friedrich
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcus Moldenhauer
- Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Straße des 17. Juni 135, 10623 Berlin, Germany
| | - Nediljko Budisa
- University of Manitoba, Department of Chemistry, 144 Dysart Rd, 360 Parker Building, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Hsueh-Wei Tseng
- University of Manitoba, Department of Chemistry, 144 Dysart Rd, 360 Parker Building, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Tomáš Polívka
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Science, Branišovská 1760, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Dmitry A Cherepanov
- N.N. Semenov Federal Research Center for Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142432 Moscow, Russian Federation; Lomonosov Moscow State University, A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physical-Chemical Biology, 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Eugene G Maksimov
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Vorobyovy Gory 1-12, Moscow 119991, Russian Federation
| | - Miroslav Kloz
- The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC, ELI Beamlines Facility, Za Radnicí 835, Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic.
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2
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Sluchanko NN, Maksimov EG, Slonimskiy YB, Varfolomeeva LA, Bukhanko AY, Egorkin NA, Tsoraev GV, Khrenova MG, Ge B, Qin S, Boyko KM, Popov VO. Structural framework for the understanding spectroscopic and functional signatures of the cyanobacterial Orange Carotenoid Protein families. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127874. [PMID: 37939760 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127874] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) is a unique photoreceptor crucial for cyanobacterial photoprotection. Best studied Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 OCP belongs to the large OCP1 family. Downregulated by the Fluorescence Recovery Protein (FRP) in low-light, high-light-activated OCP1 binds to the phycobilisomes and performs non-photochemical quenching. Recently discovered families OCP2 and OCP3 remain structurally and functionally underexplored, and no systematic comparative studies have ever been conducted. Here we present two first crystal structures of OCP2 from morphoecophysiologically different cyanobacteria and provide their comprehensive structural, spectroscopic and functional comparison with OCP1, the recently described OCP3 and all-OCP ancestor. Structures enable correlation of spectroscopic signatures with the effective number of hydrogen and discovered here chalcogen bonds anchoring the ketocarotenoid in OCP, as well as with the rotation of the echinenone's β-ionone ring in the CTD. Structural data also helped rationalize the observed differences in OCP/FRP and OCP/phycobilisome functional interactions. These data are expected to foster OCP research and applications in optogenetics, targeted carotenoid delivery and cyanobacterial biomass engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai N Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia.
| | - Eugene G Maksimov
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Yury B Slonimskiy
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Larisa A Varfolomeeva
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Antonina Y Bukhanko
- M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Nikita A Egorkin
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Georgy V Tsoraev
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Maria G Khrenova
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chemistry Department, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Baosheng Ge
- China University of Petroleum (Huadong), College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qingdao 266580, People's Republic of China
| | - Song Qin
- Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, People's Republic of China.
| | - Konstantin M Boyko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia
| | - Vladimir O Popov
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Centre of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119071, Russia; M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of Biology, Moscow 119991, Russia
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3
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Cutolo EA, Caferri R, Campitiello R, Cutolo M. The Clinical Promise of Microalgae in Rheumatoid Arthritis: From Natural Compounds to Recombinant Therapeutics. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:630. [PMID: 38132951 PMCID: PMC10745133 DOI: 10.3390/md21120630] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an invalidating chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation and progressive bone damage. Dietary intervention is an important component in the treatment of RA to mitigate oxidative stress, a major pathogenic driver of the disease. Alongside traditional sources of antioxidants, microalgae-a diverse group of photosynthetic prokaryotes and eukaryotes-are emerging as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory food supplements. Several species accumulate therapeutic metabolites-mainly lipids and pigments-which interfere in the pro-inflammatory pathways involved in RA and other chronic inflammatory conditions. The advancement of the clinical uses of microalgae requires the continuous exploration of phytoplankton biodiversity and chemodiversity, followed by the domestication of wild strains into reliable producers of said metabolites. In addition, the tractability of microalgal genomes offers unprecedented possibilities to establish photosynthetic microbes as light-driven biofactories of heterologous immunotherapeutics. Here, we review the evidence-based anti-inflammatory mechanisms of microalgal metabolites and provide a detailed coverage of the genetic engineering strategies to enhance the yields of endogenous compounds and to develop innovative bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Andrea Cutolo
- Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Roberto Caferri
- Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Rosanna Campitiello
- Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (R.C.)
| | - Maurizio Cutolo
- Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (R.C.)
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Perozeni F, Baier T. Current Nuclear Engineering Strategies in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1566. [PMID: 37511941 PMCID: PMC10381326 DOI: 10.3390/life13071566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The green model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii recently emerged as a sustainable production chassis for the efficient biosynthesis of recombinant proteins and high-value metabolites. Its capacity for scalable, rapid and light-driven growth in minimal salt solutions, its simplicity for genetic manipulation and its "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) status are key features for its application in industrial biotechnology. Although nuclear transformation has typically resulted in limited transgene expression levels, recent developments now allow the design of powerful and innovative bioproduction concepts. In this review, we summarize the main obstacles to genetic engineering in C. reinhardtii and describe all essential aspects in sequence adaption and vector design to enable sufficient transgene expression from the nuclear genome. Several biotechnological examples of successful engineering serve as blueprints for the future establishment of C. reinhardtii as a green cell factory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Perozeni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Thomas Baier
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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Yahya RZ, Wellman GB, Overmans S, Lauersen KJ. Engineered production of isoprene from the model green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Metab Eng Commun 2023; 16:e00221. [PMID: 37006831 PMCID: PMC10063407 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2023.e00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Isoprene is a clear, colorless, volatile 5-carbon hydrocarbon that is one monomer of all cellular isoprenoids and a platform chemical with multiple applications in industry. Many plants have evolved isoprene synthases (IspSs) with the capacity to liberate isoprene from dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP) as part of cellular thermotolerance mechanisms. Isoprene is hydrophobic and volatile, rapidly leaves plant tissues and is one of the main carbon emission sources from vegetation globally. The universality of isoprenoid metabolism allows volatile isoprene production from microbes expressing heterologous IspSs. Here, we compared heterologous overexpression from the nuclear genome and localization into the plastid of four plant terpene synthases (TPs) in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Using sealed vial mixotrophic cultivation, direct quantification of isoprene production was achieved from the headspace of living cultures, with the highest isoprene production observed in algae expressing the Ipomoea batatas IspS. Perturbations of the downstream carotenoid pathway through keto carotenoid biosynthesis enhanced isoprene titers, which could be further enhanced by increasing flux towards DMADP through heterologous co-expression of a yeast isopentenyl-DP delta isomerase. Multiplexed controlled-environment testing revealed that cultivation temperature, rather than illumination intensity, was the main factor affecting isoprene yield from the engineered alga. This is the first report of heterologous isoprene production from a eukaryotic alga and sets a foundation for further exploration of carbon conversion to this commodity chemical.
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6
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Perozeni F, Pivato M, Angelini M, Maricchiolo E, Pompa A, Ballottari M. Towards microalga-based superfoods: heterologous expression of zeolin in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1184064. [PMID: 37229116 PMCID: PMC10203602 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1184064] [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: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are unicellular photosynthetic organisms that can be grown in artificial systems to capture CO2, release oxygen, use nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich wastes, and produce biomass and bioproducts of interest including edible biomass for space exploration. In the present study, we report a metabolic engineering strategy for the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to produce high-value proteins for nutritional purposes. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a species approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for human consumption, and its consumption has been reported to improve gastrointestinal health in both murine models and humans. By utilizing the biotechnological tools available for this green alga, we introduced a synthetic gene encoding a chimeric protein, zeolin, obtained by merging the γ-zein and phaseolin proteins, in the algal genome. Zein and phaseolin are major seed storage proteins of maize (Zea mays) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) that accumulate in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and storage vacuoles, respectively. Seed storage proteins have unbalanced amino acid content, and for this reason, need to be complemented with each other in the diet. The chimeric recombinant zeolin protein represents an amino acid storage strategy with a balanced amino acid profile. Zeolin protein was thus efficiently expressed in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; thus, we obtained strains that accumulate this recombinant protein in the endoplasmic reticulum, reaching a concentration up to 5.5 fg cell-1, or secrete it in the growth medium, with a titer value up to 82 µg/L, enabling the production of microalga-based super-food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Perozeni
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Pivato
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Margherita Angelini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Elisa Maricchiolo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari, Università degli Studi di Urbino, Urbino, Italy
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
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7
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Amendola S, Kneip JS, Meyer F, Perozeni F, Cazzaniga S, Lauersen KJ, Ballottari M, Baier T. Metabolic Engineering for Efficient Ketocarotenoid Accumulation in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:820-831. [PMID: 36821819 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Astaxanthin is a valuable ketocarotenoid with various pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Green microalgae harbor natural capacities for pigment accumulation due to their 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. Recently, a redesigned ß-carotene ketolase (BKT) was found to enable ketocarotenoid accumulation in the model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and transformants exhibited reduced photoinhibition under high-light. Here, a systematic screening by synthetic transgene design of carotenoid pathway enzymes and overexpression from the nuclear genome identified phytoene synthase (PSY/crtB) as a bottleneck for carotenoid accumulation in C. reinhardtii. Increased ß-carotene hydroxylase (CHYB) activity was found to be essential for engineered astaxanthin accumulation. A combined BKT, crtB, and CHYB expression strategy resulted in a volumetric astaxanthin production of 9.5 ± 0.3 mg L-1 (4.5 ± 0.1 mg g-1 CDW) in mixotrophic and 23.5 mg L-1 (1.09 mg L-1 h-1) in high cell density conditions, a 4-fold increase compared to previous reports in C. reinhardtii. This work presents a systematic investigation of bottlenecks in astaxanthin accumulation in C. reinhardtii and the phototrophic green cell factory design for competitive use in industrial biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Amendola
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jacob S Kneip
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Florian Meyer
- Genetics of Prokaryotes, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Federico Perozeni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Cazzaniga
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Kyle J Lauersen
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Thomas Baier
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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8
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Piccinini L, Iacopino S, Cazzaniga S, Ballottari M, Giuntoli B, Licausi F. A synthetic switch based on orange carotenoid protein to control blue-green light responses in chloroplasts. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022. [PMID: 35289909 DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.27.428448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology approaches to engineer light-responsive systems are widely used, but their applications in plants are still limited due to the interference with endogenous photoreceptors and the intrinsic requirement of light for photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria possess a family of soluble carotenoid-associated proteins named orange carotenoid proteins (OCPs) that, when activated by blue-green light, undergo a reversible conformational change that enables the photoprotection mechanism that occurs on the phycobilisome. Exploiting this system, we developed a chloroplast-localized synthetic photoswitch based on a protein complementation assay where two nanoluciferase fragments were fused to separate polypeptides corresponding to the OCP2 domains. Since Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) does not possess the prosthetic group needed for the assembly of the OCP2 complex, we first implemented the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway with a bacterial β-carotene ketolase enzyme (crtW) to generate keto-carotenoid-producing plants. The photoswitch was tested and characterized in Arabidopsis protoplasts and stably transformed plants with experiments aimed to uncover its regulation by a range of light intensities, wavelengths, and its conversion dynamics. Finally, we applied the OCP-based photoswitch to control transcriptional responses in chloroplasts in response to green light illumination by fusing the two OCP fragments with the plastidial SIGMA FACTOR 2 and bacteriophage T4 anti-sigma factor AsiA. This pioneering study establishes the basis for future implementation of plastid optogenetics to regulate organelle responses upon exposure to specific light spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Piccinini
- Plantlab, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Sergio Iacopino
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Stefano Cazzaniga
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona 37134, Italy
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona 37134, Italy
| | - Beatrice Giuntoli
- Plantlab, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa 56127, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Francesco Licausi
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
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9
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Piccinini L, Iacopino S, Cazzaniga S, Ballottari M, Giuntoli B, Licausi F. A synthetic switch based on orange carotenoid protein to control blue-green light responses in chloroplasts. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 189:1153-1168. [PMID: 35289909 PMCID: PMC9157063 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology approaches to engineer light-responsive systems are widely used, but their applications in plants are still limited due to the interference with endogenous photoreceptors and the intrinsic requirement of light for photosynthesis. Cyanobacteria possess a family of soluble carotenoid-associated proteins named orange carotenoid proteins (OCPs) that, when activated by blue-green light, undergo a reversible conformational change that enables the photoprotection mechanism that occurs on the phycobilisome. Exploiting this system, we developed a chloroplast-localized synthetic photoswitch based on a protein complementation assay where two nanoluciferase fragments were fused to separate polypeptides corresponding to the OCP2 domains. Since Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) does not possess the prosthetic group needed for the assembly of the OCP2 complex, we first implemented the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway with a bacterial β-carotene ketolase enzyme (crtW) to generate keto-carotenoid-producing plants. The photoswitch was tested and characterized in Arabidopsis protoplasts and stably transformed plants with experiments aimed to uncover its regulation by a range of light intensities, wavelengths, and its conversion dynamics. Finally, we applied the OCP-based photoswitch to control transcriptional responses in chloroplasts in response to green light illumination by fusing the two OCP fragments with the plastidial SIGMA FACTOR 2 and bacteriophage T4 anti-sigma factor AsiA. This pioneering study establishes the basis for future implementation of plastid optogenetics to regulate organelle responses upon exposure to specific light spectra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Piccinini
- Plantlab, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa 56127, Italy
| | - Sergio Iacopino
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
| | - Stefano Cazzaniga
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona 37134, Italy
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona 37134, Italy
| | - Beatrice Giuntoli
- Plantlab, Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa 56127, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
| | - Francesco Licausi
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa 56126, Italy
- Author for correspondence:
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10
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Walter J, Kromdijk J. Here comes the sun: How optimization of photosynthetic light reactions can boost crop yields. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 64:564-591. [PMID: 34962073 PMCID: PMC9302994 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthesis started to evolve some 3.5 billion years ago CO2 is the substrate for photosynthesis and in the past 200-250 years, atmospheric levels have approximately doubled due to human industrial activities. However, this time span is not sufficient for adaptation mechanisms of photosynthesis to be evolutionarily manifested. Steep increases in human population, shortage of arable land and food, and climate change call for actions, now. Thanks to substantial research efforts and advances in the last century, basic knowledge of photosynthetic and primary metabolic processes can now be translated into strategies to optimize photosynthesis to its full potential in order to improve crop yields and food supply for the future. Many different approaches have been proposed in recent years, some of which have already proven successful in different crop species. Here, we summarize recent advances on modifications of the complex network of photosynthetic light reactions. These are the starting point of all biomass production and supply the energy equivalents necessary for downstream processes as well as the oxygen we breathe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Walter
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 3EAUK
| | - Johannes Kromdijk
- Department of Plant SciencesUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeCB2 3EAUK
- Carl R Woese Institute for Genomic BiologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinois61801USA
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11
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Feng S, Kang K, Salaudeen S, Ahmadi A, He QS, Hu Y. Recent Advances in Algae-Derived Biofuels and Bioactive Compounds. Ind Eng Chem Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.1c04039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shanghuan Feng
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 3K7
| | - Kang Kang
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada N6A 3K7
| | - Shakirudeen Salaudeen
- Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4P3
| | - Ali Ahmadi
- Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4P3
| | - Quan Sophia He
- Department of Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada B2N 5E3
| | - Yulin Hu
- Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada C1A 4P3
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12
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Slonimskiy YB, Egorkin NA, Friedrich T, Maksimov EG, Sluchanko NN. Microalgal protein AstaP is a potent carotenoid solubilizer and delivery module with a broad carotenoid binding repertoire. FEBS J 2021; 289:999-1022. [PMID: 34582628 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Carotenoids are lipophilic substances with many biological functions, from coloration to photoprotection. Being potent antioxidants, carotenoids have multiple biomedical applications, including the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and retina degeneration. Nevertheless, the delivery of carotenoids is substantially limited by their poor solubility in the aqueous phase. Natural water-soluble carotenoproteins can facilitate this task, necessitating studies on their ability to uptake and deliver carotenoids. One such promising carotenoprotein, AstaP (astaxanthin-binding protein), was recently identified in eukaryotic microalgae, but its structure and functional properties remained largely uncharacterized. By using a correctly folded recombinant protein, here we show that AstaP is an efficient carotenoid solubilizer that can stably bind not only astaxanthin but also zeaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and, to a lesser extent, β-carotene, that is, carotenoids especially valuable to human health. AstaP accepts carotenoids provided as acetone solutions or embedded in membranes, forming carotenoid-protein complexes with an apparent stoichiometry of 1:1. We successfully produced AstaP holoproteins in specific carotenoid-producing strains of Escherichia coli, proving it is amenable to cost-efficient biotechnology processes. Regardless of the carotenoid type, AstaP remains monomeric in both apo- and holoform, while its rather minimalistic mass (~ 20 kDa) makes it an especially attractive antioxidant delivery module. In vitro, AstaP transfers different carotenoids to liposomes and to unrelated proteins from cyanobacteria, which can modulate their photoactivity and/or oligomerization. These findings expand the toolkit of the characterized carotenoid binding proteins and outline the perspective of the use of AstaP as a unique monomeric antioxidant nanocarrier with an extensive carotenoid binding repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yury B Slonimskiy
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nikita A Egorkin
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Thomas Friedrich
- Institute of Chemistry PC 14, Technical University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Eugene G Maksimov
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Nikolai N Sluchanko
- A.N. Bach Institute of Biochemistry, Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation
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Pivato M, Ballottari M. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cellular compartments and their contribution to intracellular calcium signalling. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:5312-5335. [PMID: 34077536 PMCID: PMC8318260 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+)-dependent signalling plays a well-characterized role in the response to different environmental stimuli, in both plant and animal cells. In the model organism for green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Ca2+ signals were reported to have a crucial role in different physiological processes, such as stress responses, photosynthesis, and flagella functions. Recent reports identified the underlying components of the Ca2+ signalling machinery at the level of specific subcellular compartments and reported in vivo imaging of cytosolic Ca2+ concentration in response to environmental stimuli. The characterization of these Ca2+-related mechanisms and proteins in C. reinhardtii is providing knowledge on how microalgae can perceive and respond to environmental stimuli, but also on how this Ca2+ signalling machinery has evolved. Here, we review current knowledge on the cellular mechanisms underlying the generation, shaping, and decoding of Ca2+ signals in C. reinhardtii, providing an overview of the known and possible molecular players involved in the Ca2+ signalling of its different subcellular compartments. The advanced toolkits recently developed to measure time-resolved Ca2+ signalling in living C. reinhardtii cells are also discussed, suggesting how they can improve the study of the role of Ca2+ signals in the cellular response of microalgae to environmental stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Pivato
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
- Correspondence:
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