1
|
Zhao L, Cai Z, Li Y, Zhang Y. Engineering Rubisco to enhance CO 2 utilization. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2024; 9:55-68. [PMID: 38273863 PMCID: PMC10809010 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2023.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is a pivotal enzyme that mediates the fixation of CO2. As the most abundant protein on earth, Rubisco has a significant impact on global carbon, water, and nitrogen cycles. However, the significantly low carboxylation activity and competing oxygenase activity of Rubisco greatly impede high carbon fixation efficiency. This review first summarizes the current efforts in directly or indirectly modifying plant Rubisco, which has been challenging due to its high conservation and limitations in chloroplast transformation techniques. However, recent advancements in understanding Rubisco biogenesis with the assistance of chaperones have enabled successful heterologous expression of all Rubisco forms, including plant Rubisco, in microorganisms. This breakthrough facilitates the acquisition and evaluation of modified proteins, streamlining the measurement of their activity. Moreover, the establishment of a screening system in E. coli opens up possibilities for obtaining high-performance mutant enzymes through directed evolution. Finally, this review emphasizes the utilization of Rubisco in microorganisms, not only expanding their carbon-fixing capabilities but also holding significant potential for enhancing biotransformation processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhen Cai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yanping Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu AK, Kaeser B, Chen L, West-Roberts J, Taylor-Kearney LJ, Lavy A, Günzing D, Li WJ, Hammel M, Nogales E, Banfield JF, Shih PM. Deep-branching evolutionary intermediates reveal structural origins of form I rubisco. Curr Biol 2023; 33:5316-5325.e3. [PMID: 37979578 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.10.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
The enzyme rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) catalyzes the majority of biological carbon fixation on Earth. Although the vast majority of rubiscos across the tree of life assemble as homo-oligomers, the globally predominant form I enzyme-found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria-forms a unique hetero-oligomeric complex. The recent discovery of a homo-oligomeric sister group to form I rubisco (named form I') has filled a key gap in our understanding of the enigmatic origins of the form I clade. However, to elucidate the series of molecular events leading to the evolution of form I rubisco, we must examine more distantly related sibling clades to contextualize the molecular features distinguishing form I and form I' rubiscos. Here, we present a comparative structural study retracing the evolutionary history of rubisco that reveals a complex structural trajectory leading to the ultimate hetero-oligomerization of the form I clade. We structurally characterize the oligomeric states of deep-branching form Iα and I'' rubiscos recently discovered from metagenomes, which represent key evolutionary intermediates preceding the form I clade. We further solve the structure of form I'' rubisco, revealing the molecular determinants that likely primed the enzyme core for the transition from a homo-oligomer to a hetero-oligomer. Our findings yield new insight into the evolutionary trajectory underpinning the adoption and entrenchment of the prevalent assembly of form I rubisco, providing additional context when viewing the enzyme family through the broader lens of protein evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert K Liu
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Benjamin Kaeser
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - LinXing Chen
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jacob West-Roberts
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Leah J Taylor-Kearney
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
| | - Adi Lavy
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Damian Günzing
- Department of Physics, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Wen-Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P.R. China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, P.R. China
| | - Michal Hammel
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Eva Nogales
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA; Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Mao Y, Catherall E, Díaz-Ramos A, Greiff GRL, Azinas S, Gunn L, McCormick AJ. The small subunit of Rubisco and its potential as an engineering target. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:543-561. [PMID: 35849331 PMCID: PMC9833052 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Rubisco catalyses the first rate-limiting step in CO2 fixation and is responsible for the vast majority of organic carbon present in the biosphere. The function and regulation of Rubisco remain an important research topic and a longstanding engineering target to enhance the efficiency of photosynthesis for agriculture and green biotechnology. The most abundant form of Rubisco (Form I) consists of eight large and eight small subunits, and is found in all plants, algae, cyanobacteria, and most phototrophic and chemolithoautotrophic proteobacteria. Although the active sites of Rubisco are located on the large subunits, expression of the small subunit regulates the size of the Rubisco pool in plants and can influence the overall catalytic efficiency of the Rubisco complex. The small subunit is now receiving increasing attention as a potential engineering target to improve the performance of Rubisco. Here we review our current understanding of the role of the small subunit and our growing capacity to explore its potential to modulate Rubisco catalysis using engineering biology approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Aranzazú Díaz-Ramos
- SynthSys & Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, King’s Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edingburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - George R L Greiff
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Stavros Azinas
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, S-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Laura Gunn
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, S-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden
- Plant Biology Section, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bauwe H. Photorespiration - Rubisco's repair crew. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 280:153899. [PMID: 36566670 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153899] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The photorespiratory repair pathway (photorespiration in short) was set up from ancient metabolic modules about three billion years ago in cyanobacteria, the later ancestors of chloroplasts. These prokaryotes developed the capacity for oxygenic photosynthesis, i.e. the use of water as a source of electrons and protons (with O2 as a by-product) for the sunlight-driven synthesis of ATP and NADPH for CO2 fixation in the Calvin cycle. However, the CO2-binding enzyme, ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (known under the acronym Rubisco), is not absolutely selective for CO2 and can also use O2 in a side reaction. It then produces 2-phosphoglycolate (2PG), the accumulation of which would inhibit and potentially stop the Calvin cycle and subsequently photosynthetic electron transport. Photorespiration removes the 2-PG and in this way prevents oxygenic photosynthesis from poisoning itself. In plants, the core of photorespiration consists of ten enzymes distributed over three different types of organelles, requiring interorganellar transport and interaction with several auxiliary enzymes. It goes together with the release and to some extent loss of freshly fixed CO2. This disadvantageous feature can be suppressed by CO2-concentrating mechanisms, such as those that evolved in C4 plants thirty million years ago, which enhance CO2 fixation and reduce 2PG synthesis. Photorespiration itself provided a pioneer variant of such mechanisms in the predecessors of C4 plants, C3-C4 intermediate plants. This article is a review and update particularly on the enzyme components of plant photorespiration and their catalytic mechanisms, on the interaction of photorespiration with other metabolism and on its impact on the evolution of photosynthesis. This focus was chosen because a better knowledge of the enzymes involved and how they are embedded in overall plant metabolism can facilitate the targeted use of the now highly advanced methods of metabolic network modelling and flux analysis. Understanding photorespiration more than before as a process that enables, rather than reduces, plant photosynthesis, will help develop rational strategies for crop improvement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Bauwe
- University of Rostock, Plant Physiology, Albert-Einstein-Straße 3, D-18051, Rostock, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fujii M, Tanaka S. Interspecies Comparison of Interaction Energies between Photosynthetic Protein RuBisCO and 2CABP Ligand. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911347. [PMID: 36232645 PMCID: PMC9570433 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) functions as the initial enzyme in the dark reactions of photosynthesis, catalyzing reactions that extract CO2 from the atmosphere and fix CO2 into organic compounds. RuBisCO is classified into four types (isoforms I–IV) according to sequence-based phylogenetic trees. Given its size, the computational cost of accurate quantum-chemical calculations for functional analysis of RuBisCO is high; however, recent advances in hardware performance and the use of the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method have enabled the ab initio analyses of RuBisCO. Here, we performed FMO calculations on multiple structural datasets for various complexes with the 2′-carboxylarabinitol 1,5-bisphosphate (2CABP) ligand as a substrate analog and investigated whether phylogenetic relationships based on sequence information are physicochemically relevant as well as whether novel information unobtainable from sequence information can be revealed. We extracted features similar to the phylogenetic relationships found in sequence analysis, and in terms of singular value decomposition, we identified residues that strongly interacted with the ligand and the characteristics of the isoforms for each principal component. These results identified a strong correlation between phylogenetic relationships obtained by sequence analysis and residue interaction energies with the ligand. Notably, some important residues were located far from the ligand, making comparisons among species using only residues proximal to the ligand insufficient.
Collapse
|
6
|
An Insight of RuBisCO Evolution through a Multilevel Approach. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11121761. [PMID: 34944405 PMCID: PMC8698309 DOI: 10.3390/biom11121761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
RuBisCO is the most abundant enzyme on earth; it regulates the organic carbon cycle in the biosphere. Studying its structural evolution will help to develop new strategies of genetic improvement in order to increase food production and mitigate CO2 emissions. In the present work, we evaluate how the evolution of sequence and structure among isoforms I, II and III of RuBisCO defines their intrinsic flexibility and residue-residue interactions. To do this, we used a multilevel approach based on phylogenetic inferences, multiple sequence alignment, normal mode analysis, and molecular dynamics. Our results show that the three isoforms exhibit greater fluctuation in the loop between αB and βC, and also present a positive correlation with loop 6, an important region for enzymatic activity because it regulates RuBisCO conformational states. Likewise, an increase in the flexibility of the loop structure between αB and βC, as well as Lys330 (form II) and Lys322 (form III) of loop 6, is important to increase photosynthetic efficiency. Thus, the cross-correlation dynamics analysis showed changes in the direction of movement of the secondary structures in the three isoforms. Finally, key amino acid residues related to the flexibility of the RuBisCO structure were indicated, providing important information for its enzymatic engineering.
Collapse
|
7
|
Banda DM, Pereira JH, Liu AK, Orr DJ, Hammel M, He C, Parry MAJ, Carmo-Silva E, Adams PD, Banfield JF, Shih PM. Novel bacterial clade reveals origin of form I Rubisco. NATURE PLANTS 2020; 6:1158-1166. [PMID: 32868887 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-020-00762-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Rubisco sustains the biosphere through the fixation of CO2 into biomass. In plants and cyanobacteria, form I Rubisco is structurally comprised of large and small subunits, whereas all other Rubisco forms lack small subunits. The rise of the form I complex through the innovation of small subunits represents a key, yet poorly understood, transition in Rubisco's evolution. Through metagenomic analyses, we discovered a previously uncharacterized clade sister to form I Rubisco that evolved without small subunits. This clade diverged before the evolution of cyanobacteria and the origin of the small subunit; thus, it provides a unique reference point to advance our understanding of form I Rubisco evolution. Structural and kinetic data presented here reveal how a proto-form I Rubisco assembled and functioned without the structural stability imparted from small subunits. Our findings provide insight into a key evolutionary transition of the most abundant enzyme on Earth and the predominant entry point for nearly all global organic carbon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas M Banda
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jose H Pereira
- Technology Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Albert K Liu
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Douglas J Orr
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | - Michal Hammel
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Christine He
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Martin A J Parry
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
| | | | - Paul D Adams
- Technology Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jillian F Banfield
- Department of Earth and Planetary Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Patrick M Shih
- Department of Plant Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Feedstocks Division, Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, USA.
- Genome Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Huang D, Bian B, Zhang M, Wang C, Li C, Liao W. The role and proteomic analysis of ethylene in hydrogen gas-induced adventitious rooting development in cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) explants. PeerJ 2020; 8:e8896. [PMID: 32292654 PMCID: PMC7147439 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that both hydrogen gas (H2) and ethylene (ETH) play positive roles in plant adventitious rooting. However, the relationship between H2and ETH during this process has not been explored and remains insufficiently understood. In this study, cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) was used to explore the proteomic changes in ETH-H2-induced rooting. Our results show that hydrogen-rich water (HRW) and ethylene-releasing compound (ethephon) at proper concentrations promote adventitious rooting, with maximal biological responses occurring at 50% HRW or 0.5 µM ethephon. ETH inhibitors aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) and AgNO3 cause partial inhibition of adventitious rooting induced by H2, suggesting that ETH might be involved in H2-induced adventitious rooting. According to two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometric analyses, compared with the control, 9 proteins were up-regulated while 15 proteins were down-regulated in HRW treatment; four proteins were up-regulated while 10 proteins were down-regulated in ethephon treatment; and one protein was up-regulated while nine proteins were down-regulated in HRW+AVG treatment. Six of these differentially accumulated proteins were further analyzed, including photosynthesis -related proteins (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carall boxylase smsubunit (Rubisco), sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase (SBPase), oxygen-evolving enhancer protein (OEE1)), amino and metabolism-related protein (threonine dehydratase (TDH)), stress response-related protein (cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase (CAPX)), and folding, modification and degradation-related protein (protein disulfide-isomerase (PDI)). Moreover, the results of real-time PCR about the mRNA levels of these genes in various treatments were consistent with the 2-DE results. Therefore, ETH may be the downstream signaling molecule during H2- induced adventitious rooting and proteins Rubisco, SBPase, OEE1, TDH, CAPX and PDI may play important roles during the process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dengjing Huang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, PR China, Lanzhou, China
| | - Biting Bian
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, PR China, Lanzhou, China
| | - Meiling Zhang
- College of Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chunlei Wang
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, PR China, Lanzhou, China
| | - Changxia Li
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, PR China, Lanzhou, China
| | - Weibiao Liao
- College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, PR China, Lanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Iñiguez C, Capó-Bauçà S, Niinemets Ü, Stoll H, Aguiló-Nicolau P, Galmés J. Evolutionary trends in RuBisCO kinetics and their co-evolution with CO 2 concentrating mechanisms. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 101:897-918. [PMID: 31820505 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
RuBisCO-catalyzed CO2 fixation is the main source of organic carbon in the biosphere. This enzyme is present in all domains of life in different forms (III, II, and I) and its origin goes back to 3500 Mya, when the atmosphere was anoxygenic. However, the RuBisCO active site also catalyzes oxygenation of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, therefore, the development of oxygenic photosynthesis and the subsequent oxygen-rich atmosphere promoted the appearance of CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) and/or the evolution of a more CO2 -specific RuBisCO enzyme. The wide variability in RuBisCO kinetic traits of extant organisms reveals a history of adaptation to the prevailing CO2 /O2 concentrations and the thermal environment throughout evolution. Notable differences in the kinetic parameters are found among the different forms of RuBisCO, but the differences are also associated with the presence and type of CCMs within each form, indicative of co-evolution of RuBisCO and CCMs. Trade-offs between RuBisCO kinetic traits vary among the RuBisCO forms and also among phylogenetic groups within the same form. These results suggest that different biochemical and structural constraints have operated on each type of RuBisCO during evolution, probably reflecting different environmental selective pressures. In a similar way, variations in carbon isotopic fractionation of the enzyme point to significant differences in its relationship to the CO2 specificity among different RuBisCO forms. A deeper knowledge of the natural variability of RuBisCO catalytic traits and the chemical mechanism of RuBisCO carboxylation and oxygenation reactions raises the possibility of finding unrevealed landscapes in RuBisCO evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Concepción Iñiguez
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Sebastià Capó-Bauçà
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Ülo Niinemets
- Chair of Crop Science and Plant Biology, Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 1, 51006, Tartu, Estonia
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, Kohtu 6, 10130, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Heather Stoll
- Department of Earth Sciences, ETH Zürich, Sonnegstrasse 5, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pere Aguiló-Nicolau
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - Jeroni Galmés
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bundela R, Keown J, Watkin S, Pearce FG. Structure of a hyperthermostable dimeric archaeal Rubisco from Hyperthermus butylicus. Acta Crystallogr D Struct Biol 2019; 75:536-544. [DOI: 10.1107/s2059798319006466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The crystal structure of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) from the hyperthermophilic archaeonHyperthermus butylicusis presented at 1.8 Å resolution. Previous structures of archaeal Rubisco have been found to assemble into decamers, and this oligomerization was thought to be required for a highly thermally stable enzyme. In the current study,H. butylicusRubisco is shown to exist as a dimer in solution, yet has a thermal denaturation midpoint of 114°C, suggesting that high thermal stability can be achieved without an increased oligomeric state. This increased thermal stability appears to be due to an increased number of electrostatic interactions within the monomeric subunit. As such,H. butylicusRubisco presents a well characterized system in which to investigate the role of assembly and thermal stability in enzyme function.
Collapse
|
11
|
The Prodigal Compound: Return of Ribosyl 1,5-Bisphosphate as an Important Player in Metabolism. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2018; 83:83/1/e00040-18. [PMID: 30567937 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00040-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ribosyl 1,5-bisphosphate (PRibP) was discovered 65 years ago and was believed to be an important intermediate in ribonucleotide metabolism, a role immediately taken over by its "big brother" phosphoribosyldiphosphate. Only recently has PRibP come back into focus as an important player in the metabolism of ribonucleotides with the discovery of the pentose bisphosphate pathway that comprises, among others, the intermediates PRibP and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (cf. ribose 5-phosphate and ribulose 5-phosphate of the pentose phosphate pathway). Enzymes of several pathways produce and utilize PRibP not only in ribonucleotide metabolism but also in the catabolism of phosphonates, i.e., compounds containing a carbon-phosphorus bond. Pathways for PRibP metabolism are found in all three domains of life, most prominently among organisms of the archaeal domain, where they have been identified either experimentally or by bioinformatic analysis within all of the four main taxonomic groups, Euryarchaeota, TACK, DPANN, and Asgard. Advances in molecular genetics of archaea have greatly improved the understanding of the physiology of PRibP metabolism, and reconciliation of molecular enzymology and three-dimensional structure analysis of enzymes producing or utilizing PRibP emphasize the versatility of the compound. Finally, PRibP is also an effector of several metabolic activities in many organisms, including higher organisms such as mammals. In the present review, we describe all aspects of PRibP metabolism, with emphasis on the biochemical, genetic, and physiological aspects of the enzymes that produce or utilize PRibP. The inclusion of high-resolution structures of relevant enzymes that bind PRibP provides evidence for the flexibility and importance of the compound in metabolism.
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu D, Ramya RCS, Mueller-Cajar O. Surveying the expanding prokaryotic Rubisco multiverse. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2018; 364:3983162. [PMID: 28854711 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnx156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The universal, but catalytically modest, CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco is currently experiencing intense interest by researchers aiming to enhance crop photosynthesis. These efforts are mostly focused on the highly conserved hexadecameric enzyme found in land plants. In comparison, prokaryotic organisms harbor a far greater diversity in Rubisco forms. Recent work towards improving our appreciation of microbial Rubisco properties and harnessing their potential is surveyed. New structural models are providing informative glimpses into catalytic subtleties and diverse oligomeric states. Ongoing characterization is informing us about the conservation of constraints, such as sugar phosphate inhibition and the associated dependence on Rubisco activase helper proteins. Prokaryotic Rubiscos operate under a far wider range of metabolic contexts than the photosynthetic function of higher plant enzymes. Relaxed selection pressures may have resulted in the exploration of a larger volume of sequence space than permitted in organisms performing oxygenic photosynthesis. To tap into the potential of microbial Rubiscos, in vivo selection systems are being used to discover functional metagenomic Rubiscos. Various directed evolution systems to optimize their function have been developed. It is anticipated that this approach will provide access to biotechnologically valuable enzymes that cannot be encountered in the higher plant Rubisco space.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Di Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | | | - Oliver Mueller-Cajar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Erb TJ, Zarzycki J. A short history of RubisCO: the rise and fall (?) of Nature's predominant CO 2 fixing enzyme. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017; 49:100-107. [PMID: 28843191 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) is arguably one of the most abundant proteins in the biosphere and a key enzyme in the global carbon cycle. Although RubisCO has been intensively studied, its evolutionary origins and rise as Nature's most dominant carbon dioxide (CO2)-fixing enzyme still remain in the dark. In this review we will bring together biochemical, structural, physiological, microbiological, as well as phylogenetic data to speculate on the evolutionary roots of the CO2-fixation reaction of RubisCO, the emergence of RubisCO-based autotrophic CO2-fixation in the context of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, and the further evolution of RubisCO into the 'RubisCOsome', a complex of various proteins assembling and interacting with the enzyme to improve its operational capacity (functionality) under different biological and environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tobias J Erb
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Synthetic Metabolism, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
| | - Jan Zarzycki
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Synthetic Metabolism, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Satagopan S, Sun Y, Parquette JR, Tabita FR. Synthetic CO 2-fixation enzyme cascades immobilized on self-assembled nanostructures that enhance CO 2/O 2 selectivity of RubisCO. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:175. [PMID: 28694846 PMCID: PMC5501267 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0861-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With increasing concerns over global warming and depletion of fossil-fuel reserves, it is attractive to develop innovative strategies to assimilate CO2, a greenhouse gas, into usable organic carbon. Cell-free systems can be designed to operate as catalytic platforms with enzymes that offer exceptional selectivity and efficiency, without the need to support ancillary reactions of metabolic pathways operating in intact cells. Such systems are yet to be exploited for applications involving CO2 utilization and subsequent conversion to valuable products, including biofuels. The Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle and the enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) play a pivotal role in global CO2 fixation. RESULTS We hereby demonstrate the co-assembly of two RubisCO-associated multienzyme cascades with self-assembled synthetic amphiphilic peptide nanostructures. The immobilized enzyme cascades sequentially convert either ribose-5-phosphate (R-5-P) or glucose, a simpler substrate, to ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP), the acceptor for incoming CO2 in the carboxylation reaction catalyzed by RubisCO. Protection from proteolytic degradation was observed in nanostructures associated with the small dimeric form of RubisCO and ancillary enzymes. Furthermore, nanostructures associated with a larger variant of RubisCO resulted in a significant enhancement of the enzyme's selectivity towards CO2, without adversely affecting the catalytic activity. CONCLUSIONS The ability to assemble a cascade of enzymes for CO2 capture using self-assembling nanostructure scaffolds with functional enhancements show promise for potentially engineering entire pathways (with RubisCO or other CO2-fixing enzymes) to redirect carbon from industrial effluents into useful bioproducts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sriram Satagopan
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1292 USA
| | - Yuan Sun
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1185 USA
| | - Jon R. Parquette
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, 100 West 18th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1185 USA
| | - F. Robert Tabita
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, 484 West 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210-1292 USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wachter RM. A peptide adhesive molded by magnesium glues Rubisco's subunits together. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:6851-6852. [PMID: 28432177 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.h116.767145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Rubisco enzymes play central roles in carbon fixation, with potential importance in biotechnology, but have eluded a full description of their multistep assembly and function. A new article describes the fascinating discovery that some archaeal Rubiscos contain a built-in assembly domain inserted into an otherwise canonical Rubisco fold, providing a tremendous expansion of our understanding of the diversity of naturally occurring Rubiscos.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebekka M Wachter
- From the School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Bioenergy and Photosynthesis, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287
| |
Collapse
|