pH-Dependent Regulation of Electron Flow in Photosystem II by a Histidine Residue at the Stromal Surface

Reaction Mechanism of the Terminal Plastoquinone QB in Photosystem II as Revealed by Time-Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy

The secondary plastoquinone (PQ) electron acceptor QB in photosystem II (PSII) undergoes a two-step photoreaction through electron transfer from the primary PQ electron acceptor QA, converting into plastoquinol (PQH2). However, the detailed mechanism of the QB reactions remains elusive. Here, we investigated the reaction mechanism of QB in cyanobacterial PSII core complexes using two time-revolved infrared (TRIR) methods: dispersive-type TRIR spectroscopy and rapid-scan Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Upon the first flash, the ∼140 μs phase is attributed to electron transfer from QA•- to QB, while the ∼2.2 and ∼440 ms phases are assigned to the binding of an internal PQ in a nearby cavity to the vacant QB site and an external PQ traveling to the QB site through channels, respectively, followed by immediate electron transfer. The resultant QB•- is suggested to be in equilibrium with QBH•, which is protonated at the distal oxygen. Upon the second flash, the ∼130 μs and ∼3.3 ms phases are attributed to electron transfer to QBH• and the protonation of QB•- followed by electron transfer, respectively, forming QBH-, which then immediately accepts a proton from D1-H215 at the proximal oxygen to become QBH2. The resultant D1-H215 anion is reprotonated in ∼22 ms via a pathway involving the bicarbonate ligand. The final ∼490 ms phase may reflect the release of PQH2 and its replacement with PQ. The present results highlight the importance of time-resolved infrared spectroscopy in elucidating the mechanism of QB reactions in PSII.

Conformational control over proton-coupled electron transfer in metalloenzymes

From the reduction of dinitrogen to the oxidation of water, the chemical transformations catalysed by metalloenzymes underlie global geochemical and biochemical cycles. These reactions represent some of the most kinetically and thermodynamically challenging processes known and require the complex choreography of the fundamental building blocks of nature, electrons and protons, to be carried out with utmost precision and accuracy. The rate-determining step of catalysis in many metalloenzymes consists of a protein structural rearrangement, suggesting that nature has evolved to leverage macroscopic changes in protein molecular structure to control subatomic changes in metallocofactor electronic structure. The proton-coupled electron transfer mechanisms operative in nitrogenase, photosystem II and ribonucleotide reductase exemplify this interplay between molecular and electronic structural control. We present the culmination of decades of study on each of these systems and clarify what is known regarding the interplay between structural changes and functional outcomes in these metalloenzyme linchpins.

Conformation-Dependent Hydrogen-Bonding Interactions in a Switchable Artificial Metalloprotein

Hydrogen-bonding (H-bonding) interactions in metalloprotein active sites can critically regulate enzyme function. Changes in the protein structure triggered by interplay with substrates, products, and partner proteins are often translated to the metallocofactor by way of specific changes in H-bond networks connected to the active site. However, the complexities of metalloprotein architecture and mechanism often preclude our ability to define the precise molecular interactions giving rise to these intricate regulatory pathways. To address this shortcoming, we have developed conformationally switchable artificial metalloproteins (swArMs) in which allosteric Gln-binding triggers protein conformational changes that impact the microenvironment surrounding an installed metallocofactor. Herein, we report a combined structural, spectroscopic, and computational approach to enhance the conformation-dependent changes in H-bond interactions surrounding the metallocofactor site of a swArM. Structure-informed molecular dynamics simulations were employed to predict point mutations that could enhance active site H-bond interactions preferentially in the Gln-bound holo-conformation of the swArM. Testing our predictions via the unique infrared spectral signals associated with the metallocofactor site, we have identified three key residues capable of imparting conformational control over the metallocofactor microenvironment. The resultant swArMs not only model biologically relevant structural regulation but also provide an enhanced Gln-responsive biological probe to be leveraged in future biosensing applications.

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

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.

Lys264 of the D2 Protein Performs a Dual Role in Photosystem II Modifying Assembly and Electron Transfer through the Quinone-Iron Acceptor Complex

Bicarbonate (HCO3-) binding regulates electron flow between the primary (QA) and secondary (QB) plastoquinone electron acceptors of Photosystem II (PS II). Lys264 of the D2 subunit of PS II contributes to a hydrogen-bond network that stabilizes HCO3- ligation to the non-heme iron in the QA-Fe-QB complex. Using the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, alanine and glutamate were introduced to create the K264A and K264E mutants. Photoautotrophic growth was slowed in K264E cells but not in the K264A strain. Both mutants accumulated an unassembled CP43 precomplex as well as the CP43-lacking RC47 assembly intermediate, indicating weakened binding of the CP43 precomplex to RC47. Assembly was impeded more in K264E cells than in the K264A strain, but K264A cells were more susceptible to high-light-induced photodamage when assayed using PS II-specific electron acceptors. Furthermore, an impaired repair mechanism was observed in the K264A mutant in protein labeling experiments. Unexpectedly, unlike the K264A strain, the K264E mutant displayed inhibited oxygen evolution following high-light exposure when HCO3- was added to support whole chain electron transport. In both mutants, the decay of chlorophyll fluorescence was slowed, indicating impaired electron transfer between QA and QB. Furthermore, the fluorescence decay kinetics in the K264E strain were insensitive to addition of either formate or HCO3-, whereas HCO3--reversible formate-induced inhibition in the K264A mutant was observed. Exchange of plastoquinol with the membrane plastoquinone pool at the QB-binding site was also retarded in both mutants. Hence, D2-Lys264 possesses key roles in both assembly and activity of PS II.