1
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Meier SSM, Multamäki E, Ranzani AT, Takala H, Möglich A. Leveraging the histidine kinase-phosphatase duality to sculpt two-component signaling. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4876. [PMID: 38858359 PMCID: PMC11164954 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49251-8] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacteria must constantly probe their environment for rapid adaptation, a crucial need most frequently served by two-component systems (TCS). As one component, sensor histidine kinases (SHK) control the phosphorylation of the second component, the response regulator (RR). Downstream responses hinge on RR phosphorylation and can be highly stringent, acute, and sensitive because SHKs commonly exert both kinase and phosphatase activity. With a bacteriophytochrome TCS as a paradigm, we here interrogate how this catalytic duality underlies signal responses. Derivative systems exhibit tenfold higher red-light sensitivity, owing to an altered kinase-phosphatase balance. Modifications of the linker intervening the SHK sensor and catalytic entities likewise tilt this balance and provide TCSs with inverted output that increases under red light. These TCSs expand synthetic biology and showcase how deliberate perturbations of the kinase-phosphatase duality unlock altered signal-response regimes. Arguably, these aspects equally pertain to the engineering and the natural evolution of TCSs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elina Multamäki
- Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Américo T Ranzani
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Heikki Takala
- Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland.
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
- Bayreuth Center for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
- North-Bavarian NMR Center, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
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2
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García de Fuentes A, Möglich A. Reduction midpoint potential of a paradigm light-oxygen-voltage receptor and its modulation by methionine residues. RSC Chem Biol 2024; 5:530-543. [PMID: 38846079 PMCID: PMC11151830 DOI: 10.1039/d4cb00056k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Light-dependent adaptations of organismal physiology, development, and behavior abound in nature and depend on sensory photoreceptors. As one class, light-oxygen-voltage (LOV) photoreceptors harness flavin-nucleotide chromophores to sense blue light. Photon absorption drives the LOV receptor to its signaling state, characterized by a metastable thioadduct between the flavin and a conserved cysteine residue. With this cysteine absent, LOV receptors instead undergo photoreduction to the flavin semiquinone which however can still elicit downstream physiological responses. Irrespective of the cysteine presence, the LOV photochemical response thus entails a formal reduction of the flavin. Against this backdrop, we here investigate the reduction midpoint potential E 0 in the paradigmatic LOV2 domain from Avena sativa phototropin 1 (AsLOV2), and how it can be deliberately varied. Replacements of residues at different sites near the flavin by methionine consistently increase E 0 from its value of around -280 mV by up to 40 mV. Moreover, methionine introduction invariably impairs photoactivation efficiency and thus renders the resultant AsLOV2 variants less light-sensitive. Although individual methionine substitutions also affect the stability of the signaling state and downstream allosteric responses, no clear-cut correlation with the redox properties emerges. With a reduction midpoint potential near -280 mV, AsLOV2 and, by inference, other LOV receptors may be partially reduced inside cells which directly affects their light responsiveness. The targeted modification of the chromophore environment, as presently demonstrated, may mitigate this effect and enables the design of LOV receptors with stratified redox sensitivities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth 95447 Bayreuth Germany
- Bayreuth Center for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Universität Bayreuth 95447 Bayreuth Germany
- North-Bavarian NMR Center, Universität Bayreuth 95447 Bayreuth Germany
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3
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Xu Q, Vogt A, Frechen F, Yi C, Küçükerden M, Ngum N, Sitjà-Roqueta L, Greiner A, Parri R, Masana M, Wenger N, Wachten D, Möglich A. Engineering Bacteriophytochrome-coupled Photoactivated Adenylyl Cyclases for Enhanced Optogenetic cAMP Modulation. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168257. [PMID: 37657609 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168257] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Sensory photoreceptors abound in nature and enable organisms to adapt behavior, development, and physiology to environmental light. In optogenetics, photoreceptors allow spatiotemporally precise, reversible, and non-invasive control by light of cellular processes. Notwithstanding the development of numerous optogenetic circuits, an unmet demand exists for efficient systems sensitive to red light, given its superior penetration of biological tissue. Bacteriophytochrome photoreceptors sense the ratio of red and far-red light to regulate the activity of enzymatic effector modules. The recombination of bacteriophytochrome photosensor modules with cyclase effectors underlies photoactivated adenylyl cyclases (PAC) that catalyze the synthesis of the ubiquitous second messenger 3', 5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP). Via homologous exchanges of the photosensor unit, we devised novel PACs, with the variant DmPAC exhibiting 40-fold activation of cyclase activity under red light, thus surpassing previous red-light-responsive PACs. Modifications of the PHY tongue modulated the responses to red and far-red light. Exchanges of the cyclase effector offer an avenue to further enhancing PACs but require optimization of the linker to the photosensor. DmPAC and a derivative for 3', 5'-cyclic guanosine monophosphate allow the manipulation of cyclic-nucleotide-dependent processes in mammalian cells by red light. Taken together, we advance the optogenetic control of second-messenger signaling and provide insight into the signaling and design of bacteriophytochrome receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianzhao Xu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Arend Vogt
- Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, 10117 Berlin, Germany. https://twitter.com/ArendVogt
| | - Fabian Frechen
- Institute of Innate Immunity, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Chengwei Yi
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Melike Küçükerden
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Neville Ngum
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, United Kingdom
| | - Laia Sitjà-Roqueta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Andreas Greiner
- Macromolecular Chemistry and Bavarian Polymer Institute, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95440, Germany
| | - Rhein Parri
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, United Kingdom
| | - Mercè Masana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain. https://twitter.com/mercemasana
| | - Nikolaus Wenger
- Charité - University Medicine Berlin, Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dagmar Wachten
- Institute of Innate Immunity, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany. https://twitter.com/DagmarWachten
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; Bayreuth Center for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Universität Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany; North-Bavarian NMR Center, Universität Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.
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4
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Meier SSM, Multamäki E, Ranzani AT, Takala H, Möglich A. Multimodal Control of Bacterial Gene Expression by Red and Blue Light. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2760:463-477. [PMID: 38468104 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3658-9_26] [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: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
By applying sensory photoreceptors, optogenetics realizes the light-dependent control of cellular events and state. Given reversibility, noninvasiveness, and exquisite spatiotemporal precision, optogenetic approaches enable innovative use cases in cell biology, synthetic biology, and biotechnology. In this chapter, we detail the implementation of the pREDusk, pREDawn, pCrepusculo, and pAurora optogenetic circuits for controlling bacterial gene expression by red and blue light, respectively. The protocols provided here guide the practical use and multiplexing of these circuits, thereby enabling graded protein production in bacteria at analytical and semi-preparative scales.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elina Multamäki
- Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Américo T Ranzani
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Heikki Takala
- Department of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla, Finland
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
- Bayreuth Center for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
- North-Bavarian NMR Center, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
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5
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Pennacchietti F, Alvelid J, Morales RA, Damenti M, Ollech D, Oliinyk OS, Shcherbakova DM, Villablanca EJ, Verkhusha VV, Testa I. Blue-shift photoconversion of near-infrared fluorescent proteins for labeling and tracking in living cells and organisms. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8402. [PMID: 38114484 PMCID: PMC10730883 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44054-9] [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: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Photolabeling of intracellular molecules is an invaluable approach to studying various dynamic processes in living cells with high spatiotemporal precision. Among fluorescent proteins, photoconvertible mechanisms and their products are in the visible spectrum (400-650 nm), limiting their in vivo and multiplexed applications. Here we report the phenomenon of near-infrared to far-red photoconversion in the miRFP family of near infrared fluorescent proteins engineered from bacterial phytochromes. This photoconversion is induced by near-infrared light through a non-linear process, further allowing optical sectioning. Photoconverted miRFP species emit fluorescence at 650 nm enabling photolabeling entirely performed in the near-infrared range. We use miRFPs as photoconvertible fluorescent probes to track organelles in live cells and in vivo, both with conventional and super-resolution microscopy. The spectral properties of miRFPs complement those of GFP-like photoconvertible proteins, allowing strategies for photoconversion and spectral multiplexed applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Pennacchietti
- Department of Applied Physics and SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden.
| | - Jonatan Alvelid
- Department of Applied Physics and SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden
| | - Rodrigo A Morales
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, 17176, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Stockholm, 17176, Sweden
| | - Martina Damenti
- Department of Applied Physics and SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden
| | - Dirk Ollech
- Department of Applied Physics and SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden
| | | | - Daria M Shcherbakova
- Department of Genetics, and Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Eduardo J Villablanca
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet and University Hospital, Stockholm, 17176, Sweden
- Center for Molecular Medicine (CMM), Stockholm, 17176, Sweden
| | - Vladislav V Verkhusha
- Medicum, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland
- Department of Genetics, and Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Ilaria Testa
- Department of Applied Physics and SciLifeLab, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, 17165, Sweden.
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6
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Fischer T, Köhler L, Engel PD, Song C, Gärtner W, Wachtveitl J, Slavov C. Conserved tyrosine in phytochromes controls the photodynamics through steric demand and hydrogen bonding capabilities. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOENERGETICS 2023; 1864:148996. [PMID: 37437858 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2023.148996] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Using ultrafast spectroscopy and site-specific mutagenesis, we demonstrate the central role of a conserved tyrosine within the chromophore binding pocket in the forward (Pr → Pfr) photoconversion of phytochromes. Taking GAF1 of the knotless phytochrome All2699g1 from Nostoc as representative member of phytochromes, it was found that the mutations have no influence on the early (<30 ps) dynamics associated with conformational changes of the chromophore in the excited state. Conversely, they drastically impact the extended protein-controlled excited state decay (>100 ps). Thus, the steric demand, position and H-bonding capabilities of the identified tyrosine control the chromophore photoisomerization while leaving the excited state chromophore dynamics unaffected. In effect, this residue operates as an isomerization-steric-gate that tunes the excited state lifetime and the photoreaction efficiency by modulating the available space of the chromophore and by stabilizing the primary intermediate Lumi-R. Understanding the role of such a conserved structural element sheds light on a key aspect of phytochrome functionality and provides a basis for rational design of optimized photoreceptors for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Fischer
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Straße 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Lisa Köhler
- Institute for Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Philipp D Engel
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Straße 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Chen Song
- Institute for Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Gärtner
- Institute for Analytical Chemistry, University of Leipzig, Linnéstraße 3, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Josef Wachtveitl
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Straße 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Chavdar Slavov
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Straße 7, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, 33620 Tampa, United States of America.
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7
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Figueroa D, Baeza C, Ruiz D, Inzunza C, Romero A, Toro R, Salinas F. Expanding the molecular versatility of an optogenetic switch in yeast. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1029217. [PMID: 36457859 PMCID: PMC9705753 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1029217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the FUN-LOV (FUNgal Light Oxygen and Voltage) optogenetic switch enables high levels of light-activated gene expression in a reversible and tunable fashion. The FUN-LOV components, under identical promoter and terminator sequences, are encoded in two different plasmids, which limits its future applications in wild and industrial yeast strains. In this work, we aim to expand the molecular versatility of the FUN-LOV switch to increase its biotechnological applications. Initially, we generated new variants of this system by replacing the promoter and terminator sequences and by cloning the system in a single plasmid (FUN-LOVSP). In a second step, we included the nourseothricin (Nat) or hygromycin (Hph) antibiotic resistances genes in the new FUN-LOVSP plasmid, generating two new variants (FUN-LOVSP-Nat and FUN-LOVSP-Hph), to allow selection after genome integration. Then, we compared the levels of light-activated expression for each FUN-LOV variants using the luciferase reporter gene in the BY4741 yeast strain. The results indicate that FUN-LOVSP-Nat and FUN-LOVSP-Hph, either episomally or genome integrated, reached higher levels of luciferase expression upon blue-light stimulation compared the original FUN-LOV system. Finally, we demonstrated the functionality of FUN-LOVSP-Hph in the 59A-EC1118 wine yeast strain, showing similar levels of reporter gene induction under blue-light respect to the laboratory strain, and with lower luciferase expression background in darkness condition. Altogether, the new FUN-LOV variants described here are functional in different yeast strains, expanding the biotechnological applications of this optogenetic tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Figueroa
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Camila Baeza
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Diego Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Claudia Inzunza
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrés Romero
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Toro
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Salinas
- Laboratorio de Genómica Funcional, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- ANID–Millennium Science Initiative–Millennium Institute for Integrative Biology (iBIO), Santiago, Chile
- *Correspondence: Francisco Salinas,
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8
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Protein control of photochemistry and transient intermediates in phytochromes. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6838. [PMID: 36369284 PMCID: PMC9652276 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34640-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytochromes are ubiquitous photoreceptors responsible for sensing light in plants, fungi and bacteria. Their photoactivation is initiated by the photoisomerization of the embedded chromophore, triggering large conformational changes in the protein. Despite numerous experimental and computational studies, the role of chromophore-protein interactions in controlling the mechanism and timescale of the process remains elusive. Here, we combine nonadiabatic surface hopping trajectories and adiabatic molecular dynamics simulations to reveal the molecular details of such control for the Deinococcus radiodurans bacteriophytochrome. Our simulations reveal that chromophore photoisomerization proceeds through a hula-twist mechanism whose kinetics is mainly determined by the hydrogen bond of the chromophore with a close-by histidine. The resulting photoproduct relaxes to an early intermediate stabilized by a tyrosine, and finally evolves into a late intermediate, featuring a more disordered binding pocket and a weakening of the aspartate-to-arginine salt-bridge interaction, whose cleavage is essential to interconvert the phytochrome to the active state.
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9
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Multamäki E, García de Fuentes A, Sieryi O, Bykov A, Gerken U, Ranzani A, Köhler J, Meglinski I, Möglich A, Takala H. Optogenetic Control of Bacterial Expression by Red Light. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3354-3367. [PMID: 35998606 PMCID: PMC9594775 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In optogenetics, as in nature, sensory photoreceptors serve to control cellular processes by light. Bacteriophytochrome (BphP) photoreceptors sense red and far-red light via a biliverdin chromophore and, in response, cycle between the spectroscopically, structurally, and functionally distinct Pr and Pfr states. BphPs commonly belong to two-component systems that control the phosphorylation of cognate response regulators and downstream gene expression through histidine kinase modules. We recently demonstrated that the paradigm BphP from Deinococcus radiodurans exclusively acts as a phosphatase but that its photosensory module can control the histidine kinase activity of homologous receptors. Here, we apply this insight to reprogram two widely used setups for bacterial gene expression from blue-light to red-light control. The resultant pREDusk and pREDawn systems allow gene expression to be regulated down and up, respectively, uniformly under red light by 100-fold or more. Both setups are realized as portable, single plasmids that encode all necessary components including the biliverdin-producing machinery. The triggering by red light affords high spatial resolution down to the single-cell level. As pREDusk and pREDawn respond sensitively to red light, they support multiplexing with optogenetic systems sensitive to other light colors. Owing to the superior tissue penetration of red light, the pREDawn system can be triggered at therapeutically safe light intensities through material layers, replicating the optical properties of the skin and skull. Given these advantages, pREDusk and pREDawn enable red-light-regulated expression for diverse use cases in bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elina Multamäki
- Department
of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | | | - Oleksii Sieryi
- Optoelectronics
and Measurement Techniques, University of
Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland
| | - Alexander Bykov
- Optoelectronics
and Measurement Techniques, University of
Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland
| | - Uwe Gerken
- Lehrstuhl
für Spektroskopie weicher Materie, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Köhler
- Lehrstuhl
für Spektroskopie weicher Materie, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany
| | - Igor Meglinski
- Optoelectronics
and Measurement Techniques, University of
Oulu, Oulu 90014, Finland,College
of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston
University, Birmingham B4 7ET, U.K.
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Lehrstuhl
für Biochemie, Photobiochemie, Universität
Bayreuth, Bayreuth 95447, Germany,. Phone: +49 921 55
7835
| | - Heikki Takala
- Department
of Anatomy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki 00014, Finland,Department
of Biological and Environmental Science, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyvaskyla, Jyvaskyla 40014, Finland,. Phone: +358 46 923 6211
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10
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Ranzani AT, Wehrmann M, Kaiser J, Juraschitz M, Weber AM, Pietruschka G, Gerken U, Mayer G, Möglich A. Light-Dependent Control of Bacterial Expression at the mRNA Level. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3482-3492. [PMID: 36129831 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Sensory photoreceptors mediate numerous light-dependent adaptations across organisms. In optogenetics, photoreceptors achieve the reversible, non-invasive, and spatiotemporally precise control by light of gene expression and other cellular processes. The light-oxygen-voltage receptor PAL binds to small RNA aptamers with sequence specificity upon blue-light illumination. By embedding the responsive aptamer in the ribosome-binding sequence of genes of interest, their expression can be downregulated by light. We developed the pCrepusculo and pAurora optogenetic systems that are based on PAL and allow to down- and upregulate, respectively, bacterial gene expression using blue light. Both systems are realized as compact, single plasmids that exhibit stringent blue-light responses with low basal activity and up to several 10-fold dynamic range. As PAL exerts light-dependent control at the RNA level, it can be combined with other optogenetic circuits that control transcription initiation. By integrating regulatory mechanisms operating at the DNA and mRNA levels, optogenetic circuits with emergent properties can thus be devised. As a case in point, the pEnumbra setup permits to upregulate gene expression under moderate blue light whereas strong blue light shuts off expression again. Beyond providing novel signal-responsive expression systems for diverse applications in biotechnology and synthetic biology, our work also illustrates how the light-dependent PAL-aptamer interaction can be harnessed for the control and interrogation of RNA-based processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Américo T Ranzani
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Markus Wehrmann
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Jennifer Kaiser
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Marc Juraschitz
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Anna M Weber
- Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES), University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Georg Pietruschka
- Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES), University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Uwe Gerken
- Lehrstuhl für Spektroskopie weicher Materie, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Günter Mayer
- Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES), University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany.,Center of Aptamer Research & Development, University of Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.,Bayreuth Center for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Universität Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany.,North-Bavarian NMR Center, Universität Bayreuth, 95447 Bayreuth, Germany
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11
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Ohlendorf R, Möglich A. Light-regulated gene expression in Bacteria: Fundamentals, advances, and perspectives. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1029403. [PMID: 36312534 PMCID: PMC9614035 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1029403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous photoreceptors and genetic circuits emerged over the past two decades and now enable the light-dependent i.e., optogenetic, regulation of gene expression in bacteria. Prompted by light cues in the near-ultraviolet to near-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, gene expression can be up- or downregulated stringently, reversibly, non-invasively, and with precision in space and time. Here, we survey the underlying principles, available options, and prominent examples of optogenetically regulated gene expression in bacteria. While transcription initiation and elongation remain most important for optogenetic intervention, other processes e.g., translation and downstream events, were also rendered light-dependent. The optogenetic control of bacterial expression predominantly employs but three fundamental strategies: light-sensitive two-component systems, oligomerization reactions, and second-messenger signaling. Certain optogenetic circuits moved beyond the proof-of-principle and stood the test of practice. They enable unprecedented applications in three major areas. First, light-dependent expression underpins novel concepts and strategies for enhanced yields in microbial production processes. Second, light-responsive bacteria can be optogenetically stimulated while residing within the bodies of animals, thus prompting the secretion of compounds that grant health benefits to the animal host. Third, optogenetics allows the generation of precisely structured, novel biomaterials. These applications jointly testify to the maturity of the optogenetic approach and serve as blueprints bound to inspire and template innovative use cases of light-regulated gene expression in bacteria. Researchers pursuing these lines can choose from an ever-growing, versatile, and efficient toolkit of optogenetic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Ohlendorf
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Andreas Möglich
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- Bayreuth Center for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- North-Bavarian NMR Center, Universität Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
- *Correspondence: Andreas Möglich,
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Hilgers F, Hogenkamp F, Klaus O, Kruse L, Loeschcke A, Bier C, Binder D, Jaeger KE, Pietruszka J, Drepper T. Light-mediated control of gene expression in the anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus using photocaged inducers. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:902059. [PMID: 36246361 PMCID: PMC9561348 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.902059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Photocaged inducer molecules, especially photocaged isopropyl-β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (cIPTG), are well-established optochemical tools for light-regulated gene expression and have been intensively applied in Escherichia coli and other bacteria including Corynebacterium glutamicum, Pseudomonas putida or Bacillus subtilis. In this study, we aimed to implement a light-mediated on-switch for target gene expression in the facultative anoxygenic phototroph Rhodobacter capsulatus by using different cIPTG variants under both phototrophic and non-phototrophic cultivation conditions. We could demonstrate that especially 6-nitropiperonyl-(NP)-cIPTG can be applied for light-mediated induction of target gene expression in this facultative phototrophic bacterium. Furthermore, we successfully applied the optochemical approach to induce the intrinsic carotenoid biosynthesis to showcase engineering of a cellular function. Photocaged IPTG thus represents a light-responsive tool, which offers various promising properties suitable for future applications in biology and biotechnology including automated multi-factorial control of cellular functions as well as optimization of production processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabienne Hilgers
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Fabian Hogenkamp
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Oliver Klaus
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Luzie Kruse
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Anita Loeschcke
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Claus Bier
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Dennis Binder
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Karl-Erich Jaeger
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences: Biotechnology (IBG-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Jörg Pietruszka
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences: Biotechnology (IBG-1), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jörg Pietruszka, ; Thomas Drepper,
| | - Thomas Drepper
- Institute of Molecular Enzyme Technology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jörg Pietruszka, ; Thomas Drepper,
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13
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Wu XJ, Qu JY, Wang CT, Zhang YP, Li PP. Biliverdin incorporation into the cyanobacteriochrome SPI1085g3 from Spirulina. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:952678. [PMID: 35983329 PMCID: PMC9378818 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.952678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) bind linear tetrapyrrole chromophores, mostly phycocyanobilin (PCB), and exhibit considerable spectral diversity with a high potential for biotechnological applications. Particular attention has been given to the conversion into intrinsic biliverdin (BV) incorporation due to the absence of PCB in mammalian cells. Our recent study discovered that a red/green CBCR of Spirulina subsalsa, SPI1085g3, was covalently attached to PCB and exhibited strong red fluorescence with a unique red/dark switch. In this study, we found that SPI1085g3 could be modestly chromophorylated with BV and absorb somewhat shifted (10 nm) red light, while the single C448S mutant could efficiently bind BV and exhibit unidirectional photoconversion and moderate dark reversion. The fluorescence in its dark-adapted state was switched off by red light, followed by a moderate recovery in the dark, and these were properties similar to those of PCB-binding SPI1085g3. Furthermore, by introducing the CY motif into the conserved CH motif for chromophore attachment, we developed another variant, C448S_CY, which showed increased BV-binding efficiency. As expected, C448S_CY had a significant enhancement in fluorescence quantum yield, reaching that of PCB-binding SPI1085g3 (0.14). These BV-binding CBCRs offer an improved platform for the development of unique photoswitchable fluorescent proteins compared with PCB-binding CBCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Jun Wu
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- National Positioning Observation Station of Hung-tse Lake Wetland Ecosystem in Jiangsu Province, Hongze, China
- *Correspondence: Xian-Jun Wu,
| | - Jia-Ying Qu
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chang-Tian Wang
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ping-Ping Li
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Sustainable Forestry in Southern China of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- National Positioning Observation Station of Hung-tse Lake Wetland Ecosystem in Jiangsu Province, Hongze, China
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14
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Zhuang B, Vos MH. Photoswitching Behavior of Flavin-Inhibitor Complex in a Nonphotocatalytic Flavoenzyme. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:11569-11573. [PMID: 35727223 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c04763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
An unprecedented photoswitching phenomenon of flavin-inhibitor complexes in a flavoenzyme was revealed by femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The vast majority of flavoenzymes, including monomeric sarcosine oxidase (MSOX), perform non-light-driven physiological functions. Yet, the participation of flavin cofactors in photoinduced electron transfer reactions is widespread. MSOX catalyzes the oxidative demethylation of sarcosine; methylthioacetate (MTA) is a substrate analog inhibitor that forms a complex with MSOX exhibiting intense absorption bands over the whole visible range due to flavin-MTA charge transfer (CT) interactions. Here, we demonstrate that upon excitation, these CT interactions vanish during a barrierless high quantum yield reaction in ∼300 fs. The initial complex subsequently geminately re-forms in a few nanoseconds near room temperature in a thermally activated way with an activation energy of 28 kJ/mol. We attribute this hitherto undocumented process to a well-defined photoinduced isomerization of MTA in the active site, as corroborated by experiments with the heavier ligand methylselenoacetate. Photoisomerization phenomena involving CT transitions may be further explored in photocatalytic and photoswitching applications of flavoenzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhuang
- LOB, CNRS, INSERM, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Marten H Vos
- LOB, CNRS, INSERM, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France
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15
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Garzella F, Bianchini P, Diaspro A, Losi A, Gärtner W, Abbruzzetti S, Viappiani C. A red-green photochromic bacterial protein as a new contrast agent for improved photoacoustic imaging. PHOTOACOUSTICS 2022; 26:100358. [PMID: 35656384 PMCID: PMC9152790 DOI: 10.1016/j.pacs.2022.100358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The GAF3 domain of the cyanobacteriochrome Slr1393 from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, binding phycocyanobilin as a chromophore, shows photochromicity between two stable, green- and red-absorbing states, characterized by relatively high photoconversion yields. Using nanosecond-pulsed excitation by red or green light, respectively, and suitable cw photoconversion beams, we demonstrate that the light-modulatable photoacoustic waveforms arising from GAF3 can be easily distinguished from background signals originating from non-modulatable competitive absorbers and scattering media. It is demonstrated that this effect can be exploited to identify the position of the photochromic molecule by using as a phantom a cylindrical capillary tube filled with either a GAF3 solution or with an E.coli suspension overexpressing GAF3. These properties identify the high potential of GAF3 to be included in the palette of genetically encoded photochromic probes for photoacoustic imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Garzella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Informatiche, Università di Parma, Italy
- Nanoscopy @ Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Bianchini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Informatiche, Università di Parma, Italy
- Nanoscopy @ Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- DIFILAB, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Alberto Diaspro
- Nanoscopy @ Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
- DIFILAB, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Aba Losi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Informatiche, Università di Parma, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Gärtner
- Institut für Analytische Chemie - Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefania Abbruzzetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Informatiche, Università di Parma, Italy
| | - Cristiano Viappiani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche, Fisiche e Informatiche, Università di Parma, Italy
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16
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McCue AC, Kuhlman B. Design and engineering of light-sensitive protein switches. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022; 74:102377. [PMID: 35461160 PMCID: PMC9968517 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2022.102377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Engineered, light-sensitive protein switches are used to interrogate a broad variety of biological processes. These switches are typically constructed by genetically fusing naturally occurring light-responsive protein domains with functional domains from other proteins. Protein activity can be controlled using a variety of mechanisms including light-induced colocalization, caging, and allosteric regulation. Protein design efforts have focused on reducing background signaling, maximizing the change in activity upon light stimulation, and perturbing the kinetics of switching. It is common to combine structure-based modeling with experimental screening to identify ideal fusion points between domains and discover point mutations that optimize switching. Here, we introduce commonly used light-sensitive domains and summarize recent progress in using them to regulate protein activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia C McCue
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Brian Kuhlman
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
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17
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Rockwell NC, Moreno MV, Martin SS, Lagarias JC. Protein-chromophore interactions controlling photoisomerization in red/green cyanobacteriochromes. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2022; 21:471-491. [PMID: 35411484 PMCID: PMC9609751 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-022-00213-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Photoreceptors in the phytochrome superfamily use 15,16-photoisomerization of a linear tetrapyrrole (bilin) chromophore to photoconvert between two states with distinct spectral and biochemical properties. Canonical phytochromes include master regulators of plant growth and development in which light signals trigger interconversion between a red-absorbing 15Z dark-adapted state and a metastable, far-red-absorbing 15E photoproduct state. Distantly related cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) carry out a diverse range of photoregulatory functions in cyanobacteria and exhibit considerable spectral diversity. One widespread CBCR subfamily typically exhibits a red-absorbing 15Z dark-adapted state similar to that of phytochrome that gives rise to a distinct green-absorbing 15E photoproduct. This red/green CBCR subfamily also includes red-inactive examples that fail to undergo photoconversion, providing an opportunity to study protein-chromophore interactions that either promote photoisomerization or block it. In this work, we identified a conserved lineage of red-inactive CBCRs. This enabled us to identify three substitutions sufficient to block photoisomerization in photoactive red/green CBCRs. The resulting red-inactive variants faithfully replicated the fluorescence and circular dichroism properties of naturally occurring examples. Converse substitutions restored photoconversion in naturally red-inactive CBCRs. This work thus identifies protein-chromophore interactions that control the fate of the excited-state population in red/green cyanobacteriochromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan C Rockwell
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Marcus V Moreno
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Shelley S Martin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - J Clark Lagarias
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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18
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Kneuttinger AC. A guide to designing photocontrol in proteins: methods, strategies and applications. Biol Chem 2022; 403:573-613. [PMID: 35355495 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2021-0417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Light is essential for various biochemical processes in all domains of life. In its presence certain proteins inside a cell are excited, which either stimulates or inhibits subsequent cellular processes. The artificial photocontrol of specifically proteins is of growing interest for the investigation of scientific questions on the organismal, cellular and molecular level as well as for the development of medicinal drugs or biocatalytic tools. For the targeted design of photocontrol in proteins, three major methods have been developed over the last decades, which employ either chemical engineering of small-molecule photosensitive effectors (photopharmacology), incorporation of photoactive non-canonical amino acids by genetic code expansion (photoxenoprotein engineering), or fusion with photoreactive biological modules (hybrid protein optogenetics). This review compares the different methods as well as their strategies and current applications for the light-regulation of proteins and provides background information useful for the implementation of each technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea C Kneuttinger
- Institute of Biophysics and Physical Biochemistry and Regensburg Center for Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany
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19
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Rydzewski J, Walczewska-Szewc K, Czach S, Nowak W, Kuczera K. Enhancing the Inhomogeneous Photodynamics of Canonical Bacteriophytochrome. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:2647-2657. [PMID: 35357137 PMCID: PMC9014414 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The ability of phytochromes
to act as photoswitches in plants and
microorganisms depends on interactions between a bilin-like chromophore
and a host protein. The interconversion occurs between the spectrally
distinct red (Pr) and far-red (Pfr) conformers. This conformational
change is triggered by the photoisomerization of the chromophore D-ring
pyrrole. In this study, as a representative example of a phytochrome-bilin
system, we consider biliverdin IXα (BV) bound to bacteriophytochrome
(BphP) from Deinococcus radiodurans. In the absence
of light, we use an enhanced sampling molecular dynamics (MD) method
to overcome the photoisomerization energy barrier. We find that the
calculated free energy (FE) barriers between essential metastable
states agree with spectroscopic results. We show that the enhanced
dynamics of the BV chromophore in BphP contributes to triggering nanometer-scale
conformational movements that propagate by two experimentally determined
signal transduction pathways. Most importantly, we describe how the
metastable states enable a thermal transition known as the dark reversion
between Pfr and Pr, through a previously unknown intermediate state
of Pfr. We present the heterogeneity of temperature-dependent Pfr
states at the atomistic level. This work paves a way toward understanding
the complete mechanism of the photoisomerization of a bilin-like chromophore
in phytochromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Rydzewski
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Walczewska-Szewc
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Sylwia Czach
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Wieslaw Nowak
- Institute of Physics, Faculty of Physics, Astronomy and Informatics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100, Torun, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kuczera
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66047, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045, United States
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