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Elias E, Liguori N, Croce R. The origin of pigment-binding differences in CP29 and LHCII: the role of protein structure and dynamics. PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN PHOTOCHEMISTRY ASSOCIATION AND THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR PHOTOBIOLOGY 2023:10.1007/s43630-023-00368-7. [PMID: 36740636 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00368-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The first step of photosynthesis in plants is performed by the light-harvesting complexes (LHC), a large family of pigment-binding proteins embedded in the photosynthetic membranes. These complexes are conserved across species, suggesting that each has a distinct role. However, they display a high degree of sequence homology and their static structures are almost identical. What are then the structural features that determine their different properties? In this work, we compared the two best-characterized LHCs of plants: LHCII and CP29. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we could rationalize the difference between them in terms of pigment-binding properties. The data also show that while the loops between the helices are very flexible, the structure of the transmembrane regions remains very similar in the crystal and the membranes. However, the small structural differences significantly affect the excitonic coupling between some pigment pairs. Finally, we analyzed in detail the structure of the long N-terminus of CP29, showing that it is structurally stable and it remains on top of the membrane even in the absence of other proteins. Although the structural changes upon phosphorylation are minor, they can explain the differences in the absorption properties of the pigments observed experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Elias
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nicoletta Liguori
- 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.
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2
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Mascoli V, Liguori N, Cupellini L, Elias E, Mennucci B, Croce R. Uncovering the interactions driving carotenoid binding in light-harvesting complexes. Chem Sci 2021; 12:5113-5122. [PMID: 34163750 PMCID: PMC8179543 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc00071c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Carotenoids are essential constituents of plant light-harvesting complexes (LHCs), being involved in protein stability, light harvesting, and photoprotection. Unlike chlorophylls, whose binding to LHCs is known to require coordination of the central magnesium, carotenoid binding relies on weaker intermolecular interactions (such as hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces), whose character is far more elusive. Here we addressed the key interactions responsible for carotenoid binding to LHCs by combining molecular dynamics simulations and polarizable quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations on the major LHC, LHCII. We found that carotenoid binding is mainly stabilized by van der Waals interactions with the surrounding chlorophyll macrocycles rather than by hydrogen bonds to the protein, the latter being more labile than predicted from structural data. Furthermore, the interaction network in the binding pockets is relatively insensitive to the chemical structure of the embedded carotenoid. Our results are consistent with a number of experimental data and challenge the role played by specific interactions in the assembly of pigment-protein complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Mascoli
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1081 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Nicoletta Liguori
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1081 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Lorenzo Cupellini
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pisa Via G. Moruzzi 13 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Eduard Elias
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1081 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Benedetta Mennucci
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pisa Via G. Moruzzi 13 56124 Pisa Italy
| | - Roberta Croce
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1081 1081 HV Amsterdam The Netherlands
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3
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Lapillo M, Cignoni E, Cupellini L, Mennucci B. The energy transfer model of nonphotochemical quenching: Lessons from the minor CP29 antenna complex of plants. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2020; 1861:148282. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2020.148282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Liguori N, Croce R, Marrink SJ, Thallmair S. Molecular dynamics simulations in photosynthesis. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2020; 144:273-295. [PMID: 32297102 PMCID: PMC7203591 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-020-00741-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthesis is regulated by a dynamic interplay between proteins, enzymes, pigments, lipids, and cofactors that takes place on a large spatio-temporal scale. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provide a powerful toolkit to investigate dynamical processes in (bio)molecular ensembles from the (sub)picosecond to the (sub)millisecond regime and from the Å to hundreds of nm length scale. Therefore, MD is well suited to address a variety of questions arising in the field of photosynthesis research. In this review, we provide an introduction to the basic concepts of MD simulations, at atomistic and coarse-grained level of resolution. Furthermore, we discuss applications of MD simulations to model photosynthetic systems of different sizes and complexity and their connection to experimental observables. Finally, we provide a brief glance on which methods provide opportunities to capture phenomena beyond the applicability of classical MD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoletta Liguori
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Roberta Croce
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics, Faculty of Sciences, De Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute & Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastian Thallmair
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute & Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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5
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Albanese P, Melero R, Engel BD, Grinzato A, Berto P, Manfredi M, Chiodoni A, Vargas J, Sorzano CÓS, Marengo E, Saracco G, Zanotti G, Carazo JM, Pagliano C. Pea PSII-LHCII supercomplexes form pairs by making connections across the stromal gap. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10067. [PMID: 28855679 PMCID: PMC5577252 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10700-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In higher plant thylakoids, the heterogeneous distribution of photosynthetic protein complexes is a determinant for the formation of grana, stacks of membrane discs that are densely populated with Photosystem II (PSII) and its light harvesting complex (LHCII). PSII associates with LHCII to form the PSII-LHCII supercomplex, a crucial component for solar energy conversion. Here, we report a biochemical, structural and functional characterization of pairs of PSII-LHCII supercomplexes, which were isolated under physiologically-relevant cation concentrations. Using single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, we determined the three-dimensional structure of paired C2S2M PSII-LHCII supercomplexes at 14 Å resolution. The two supercomplexes interact on their stromal sides through a specific overlap between apposing LHCII trimers and via physical connections that span the stromal gap, one of which is likely formed by interactions between the N-terminal loops of two Lhcb4 monomeric LHCII subunits. Fast chlorophyll fluorescence induction analysis showed that paired PSII-LHCII supercomplexes are energetically coupled. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that additional flexible physical connections may form between the apposing LHCII trimers of paired PSII-LHCII supercomplexes in appressed thylakoid membranes. Our findings provide new insights into how interactions between pairs of PSII-LHCII supercomplexes can link adjacent thylakoids to mediate the stacking of grana membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Albanese
- Applied Science and Technology Department-BioSolar Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Viale T. Michel 5, 15121, Alessandria, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58 B, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Roberto Melero
- Biocomputing Unit, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Benjamin D Engel
- Department of Molecular Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Alessandro Grinzato
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58 B, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Paola Berto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58 B, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Marcello Manfredi
- ISALIT-Department of Science and Technological Innovation, University of Eastern Piedmont, Viale T. Michel 11, 15121, Alessandria, Italy
- Department of Science and Technological Innovation, University of Eastern Piedmont, Viale T. Michel 11, 15121, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Angelica Chiodoni
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies - CSFT@POLITO, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Trento 21, 10129, Torino, Italy
| | - Javier Vargas
- Biocomputing Unit, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Emilio Marengo
- Department of Science and Technological Innovation, University of Eastern Piedmont, Viale T. Michel 11, 15121, Alessandria, Italy
| | - Guido Saracco
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies - CSFT@POLITO, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Corso Trento 21, 10129, Torino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Zanotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58 B, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Jose-Maria Carazo
- Biocomputing Unit, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología-CSIC, Darwin 3, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Pagliano
- Applied Science and Technology Department-BioSolar Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Viale T. Michel 5, 15121, Alessandria, Italy.
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6
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Structure of spinach photosystem II-LHCII supercomplex at 3.2 Å resolution. Nature 2016; 534:69-74. [PMID: 27251276 DOI: 10.1038/nature18020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 373] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During photosynthesis, the plant photosystem II core complex receives excitation energy from the peripheral light-harvesting complex II (LHCII). The pathways along which excitation energy is transferred between them, and their assembly mechanisms, remain to be deciphered through high-resolution structural studies. Here we report the structure of a 1.1-megadalton spinach photosystem II-LHCII supercomplex solved at 3.2 Å resolution through single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. The structure reveals a homodimeric supramolecular system in which each monomer contains 25 protein subunits, 105 chlorophylls, 28 carotenoids and other cofactors. Three extrinsic subunits (PsbO, PsbP and PsbQ), which are essential for optimal oxygen-evolving activity of photosystem II, form a triangular crown that shields the Mn4CaO5-binding domains of CP43 and D1. One major trimeric and two minor monomeric LHCIIs associate with each core-complex monomer, and the antenna-core interactions are reinforced by three small intrinsic subunits (PsbW, PsbH and PsbZ). By analysing the closely connected interfacial chlorophylls, we have obtained detailed insights into the energy-transfer pathways between the antenna and core complexes.
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From light-harvesting to photoprotection: structural basis of the dynamic switch of the major antenna complex of plants (LHCII). Sci Rep 2015; 5:15661. [PMID: 26493782 PMCID: PMC4616226 DOI: 10.1038/srep15661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Light-Harvesting Complex II (LHCII) is largely responsible for light absorption and excitation energy transfer in plants in light-limiting conditions, while in high-light it participates in photoprotection. It is generally believed that LHCII can change its function by switching between different conformations. However, the underlying molecular picture has not been elucidated yet. The available crystal structures represent the quenched form of the complex, while solubilized LHCII has the properties of the unquenched state. To determine the structural changes involved in the switch and to identify potential quenching sites, we have explored the structural dynamics of LHCII, by performing a series of microsecond Molecular Dynamics simulations. We show that LHCII in the membrane differs substantially from the crystal and has the signatures that were experimentally associated with the light-harvesting state. Local conformational changes at the N-terminus and at the xanthophyll neoxanthin are found to strongly correlate with changes in the interactions energies of two putative quenching sites. In particular conformational disorder is observed at the terminal emitter resulting in large variations of the excitonic coupling strength of this chlorophyll pair. Our results strongly support the hypothesis that light-harvesting regulation in LHCII is coupled with structural changes.
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Fehr N, Dietz C, Polyhach Y, von Hagens T, Jeschke G, Paulsen H. Modeling of the N-terminal Section and the Lumenal Loop of Trimeric Light Harvesting Complex II (LHCII) by Using EPR. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:26007-20. [PMID: 26316535 PMCID: PMC4646254 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.669804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2015] [Revised: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The major light harvesting complex II (LHCII) of green plants plays a key role in the absorption of sunlight, the regulation of photosynthesis, and in preventing photodamage by excess light. The latter two functions are thought to involve the lumenal loop and the N-terminal domain. Their structure and mobility in an aqueous environment are only partially known. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been used to measure the structure of these hydrophilic protein domains in detergent-solubilized LHCII. A new technique is introduced to prepare LHCII trimers in which only one monomer is spin-labeled. These heterogeneous trimers allow to measure intra-molecular distances within one LHCII monomer in the context of a trimer by using double electron-electron resonance (DEER). These data together with data from electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) allowed to model the N-terminal protein section, which has not been resolved in current crystal structures, and the lumenal loop domain. The N-terminal domain covers only a restricted area above the superhelix in LHCII, which is consistent with the "Velcro" hypothesis to explain thylakoid grana stacking (Standfuss, J., van Terwisscha Scheltinga, A. C., Lamborghini, M., and Kühlbrandt, W. (2005) EMBO J. 24, 919-928). The conformation of the lumenal loop domain is surprisingly different between LHCII monomers and trimers but not between complexes with and without neoxanthin bound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Fehr
- From the Department of General Botany, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55128 Mainz, Germany and
| | - Carsten Dietz
- From the Department of General Botany, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55128 Mainz, Germany and
| | - Yevhen Polyhach
- the Department of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog-Weg 2, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tona von Hagens
- the Department of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog-Weg 2, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Gunnar Jeschke
- the Department of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, Vladimir Prelog-Weg 2, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Harald Paulsen
- From the Department of General Botany, Johannes Gutenberg-University, 55128 Mainz, Germany and
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9
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Guzzi R, Bartucci R. Electron spin resonance of spin-labeled lipid assemblies and proteins. Arch Biochem Biophys 2015; 580:102-11. [PMID: 26116378 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2015.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Spin-label electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy is a valuable means to study molecular mobility and interactions in biological systems. This paper deals with conventional, continuous wave ESR of nitroxide spin-labels at 9-GHz providing an introduction to the basic principles of the technique and applications to self-assembled lipid aggregates and proteins. Emphasis is given to segmental lipid chain order and rotational dynamics of lipid structures, environmental polarity of membranes and proteins, structure and conformational dynamics of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Guzzi
- Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Rosa Bartucci
- Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy.
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Chan CH, Tsai CJ, Chiang YW. Side-Chain Packing Interactions Stabilize an Intermediate of BAX Protein against Chemical and Thermal Denaturation. J Phys Chem B 2014; 119:54-64. [DOI: 10.1021/jp5091334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Hui Chan
- Department of Chemistry and
Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Tsai
- Department of Chemistry and
Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Wei Chiang
- Department of Chemistry and
Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan
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