Electron nuclear double resonance differentiates complementary roles for active site histidines in (6-4) photolyase

A marine cryptochrome with an inverse photo-oligomerization mechanism

Cryptochromes (CRYs) are a structurally conserved but functionally diverse family of proteins that can confer unique sensory properties to organisms. In the marine bristle worm Platynereis dumerilii, its light receptive cryptochrome L-CRY (PdLCry) allows the animal to discriminate between sunlight and moonlight, an important requirement for synchronizing its lunar cycle-dependent mass spawning. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we show that in the dark, PdLCry adopts a dimer arrangement observed neither in plant nor insect CRYs. Intense illumination disassembles the dimer into monomers. Structural and functional data suggest a mechanistic coupling between the light-sensing flavin adenine dinucleotide chromophore, the dimer interface, and the C-terminal tail helix, with a likely involvement of the phosphate binding loop. Taken together, our work establishes PdLCry as a CRY protein with inverse photo-oligomerization with respect to plant CRYs, and provides molecular insights into how this protein might help discriminating the different light intensities associated with sunlight and moonlight.

Identification of conserved miRNAs and their targets in Jatropha curcas: an in silico approach

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs with an approximate length of 18-22 nucleotides and involved in the regulation of gene expression in transcriptional or post-transcriptional levels. They were found to be associated with leaf morphogenesis, flowering time, vegetative phase change, and response to environmental cues in plants, where they act as a critical regulatory factor. The nature of high conservancy of plant miRNAs within the plant species made it possible to detect the conserved miRNAs by computational approaches. Expressed Sequence Tags (EST) based comparative genomic approaches provide advantages over wet lab approaches as it is convenient, easy to carry out and less time consuming. EST-based in silico approach can unravel new conserved miRNAs in plants, even when the complete genome sequence is not available.

RESULTS

To identify the novel miRNAs, a total of 46,865 ESTs from Jatropha curcas were searched for homology to all available 6746 mature miRNAs of plant eudicotyledons. Finally, we ended up with 12 novel miRNAs in Jatropha that range from 18 to 19 nucleotides where their respective precursor miRNAs had 54.11-71.76% (A + U) content. The putative miRNAs belong to 12 individual miRNA family and most of them have higher (A + U) content ranging from 47.36 to 77.77% than their respective miRNA homologs. Many of the target genes by the newly identified miRNAs were associated with plant growth and development, stress response, defense and hormone signaling, and oil synthesis pathways.

CONCLUSION

These findings have the potential to speed up miRNA identification and expand our understanding of miRNA functions in J. curcas.

Ab initio derivation of flavin hyperfine interactions for the protein magnetosensor cryptochrome

The radicals derived from flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) are a corner stone of recent hypotheses about magnetoreception, including the compass of migratory songbirds. These models attribute a magnetic sense to coherent spin dynamics in radical pairs within the flavo-protein cryptochrome. The primary determinant of sensitivity and directionality of this process are the hyperfine interactions of the involved radicals. Here, we present a comprehensive computational study of the hyperfine couplings in the protonated and unprotonated FAD radicals in cryptochrome 4 from C. livia. We combine long (800 ns) molecular dynamics trajectories to accurate quantum chemistry calculations. Hyperfine parameters are derived using auxiliary density functional theory applied to cluster and hybrid QM/MM (Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics) models comprising the FAD and its significant surrounding environment, as determined by a detailed sensitivity analysis. Thanks to this protocol we elucidate the sensitivity of the hyperfine interaction parameters to structural fluctuations and the polarisation effect of the protein environment. We find that the ensemble-averaged hyperfine interactions are predominantly governed by thermally induced geometric distortions of the flavin. We discuss our results in view of the expected performance of these radicals as part of a magnetoreceptor. Our data could be used to parametrize spin Hamiltonians including not only average values but also standard deviations.

A single amino acid residue tunes the stability of the fully reduced flavin cofactor and photorepair activity in photolyases

The ultraviolet-induced DNA lesions, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts (6-4 photoproducts), can be directly photorepaired by CPD photolyases and 6-4 photolyases, respectively. The fully reduced flavin (hydroquinone, HQ) cofactor is required for the catalysis of both types of these photolyases. On the other hand, flavin cofactor in the semi-reduced state, semiquinone (SQ), can be utilized by photolyase homologs, the cryptochromes. However, the evolutionary process of the transition of the functional states of` flavin cofactors in photolyases and cryptochromes remains mysterious. In this work, we investigated three representative photolyases (Escherichia coli CPD photolyase, Microcystis aeruginosa DASH, and Phaeodactylum tricornutum 6-4 photolyase). We show that the residue at a single site adjacent to the flavin cofactor (corresponding to Ala377 in E. coli CPD photolyase, hereafter referred to as site 377) can fine-tune the stability of the HQ cofactor. We found that, in the presence of a polar residue (such as Ser or Asn) at site 377, HQ was stabilized against oxidation. Furthermore, this polar residue enhanced the photorepair activity of these photolyases both in vitro and in vivo. In constrast, substitution of hydrophobic residues, such as Ile, at site 377 in these photolyases adversely affected the stability of HQ. We speculate that these differential residue preferences at site 377 in photolyase proteins might reflect an important evolutionary event that altered the stability of HQ on the timeline from expression of photolyases to that of cryptochromes.

Mechanistic insight into light-dependent recognition of Timeless by Drosophila Cryptochrome

Cryptochrome (CRY) entrains the fly circadian clock by binding to Timeless (TIM) in light. Undocking of a helical C-terminal tail (CTT) in response to photoreduction of the CRY flavin cofactor gates TIM recognition. We present a generally applicable select western-blot-free tagged-protein interaction (SWFTI) assay that allowed the quantification of CRY binding to TIM in dark and light. The assay was used to study CRY variants with residue substitutions in the flavin pocket and correlate their TIM affinities with CTT undocking, as measured by pulse-dipolar ESR spectroscopy and evaluated by molecular dynamics simulations. CRY variants with the CTT removed or undocked bound TIM constitutively, whereas those incapable of photoreduction bound TIM weakly. In response to the flavin redox state, two conserved histidine residues contributed to a robust on/off switch by mediating CTT interactions with the flavin pocket and TIM. Our approach provides an expeditious means to quantify the interactions of difficult-to-produce proteins.

Direct Observation of Ultrafast Proton Rocking in the BLUF Domain

We present direct observation of ultrafast proton rocking in the central motif of a BLUF domain protein scaffold. The mutant design has taken considerations of modulating the proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) driving forces by replacing Tyr in the original motif with Trp, as well as of removing the interference of a competing electron transfer pathway. Using femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy and detailed kinetics analysis, we resolved an electron-transfer-coupled Grotthuss-type forward and reversed proton rocking along the FMN-Gln-Trp proton relay chain. The rates of forward and reversed proton transfer are determined to be very close, namely 51 ps vs 52 ps. The kinetic isotope effect (KIE) constants associated with the forward and reversed proton transfer are 3.9 and 5.3, respectively. The observation of ultrafast proton rocking is not only a crucial step towards revealing the nature of proton relay in BLUF domain, but also provides a new paradigm of proton transfer in proteins for theoretical investigations.

DNA damage repair: historical perspectives, mechanistic pathways and clinical translation for targeted cancer therapy

Genomic instability is the hallmark of various cancers with the increasing accumulation of DNA damage. The application of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in cancer treatment is typically based on this property of cancers. However, the adverse effects including normal tissues injury are also accompanied by the radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Targeted cancer therapy has the potential to suppress cancer cells' DNA damage response through tailoring therapy to cancer patients lacking specific DNA damage response functions. Obviously, understanding the broader role of DNA damage repair in cancers has became a basic and attractive strategy for targeted cancer therapy, in particular, raising novel hypothesis or theory in this field on the basis of previous scientists' findings would be important for future promising druggable emerging targets. In this review, we first illustrate the timeline steps for the understanding the roles of DNA damage repair in the promotion of cancer and cancer therapy developed, then we summarize the mechanisms regarding DNA damage repair associated with targeted cancer therapy, highlighting the specific proteins behind targeting DNA damage repair that initiate functioning abnormally duo to extrinsic harm by environmental DNA damage factors, also, the DNA damage baseline drift leads to the harmful intrinsic targeted cancer therapy. In addition, clinical therapeutic drugs for DNA damage and repair including therapeutic effects, as well as the strategy and scheme of relative clinical trials were intensive discussed. Based on this background, we suggest two hypotheses, namely "environmental gear selection" to describe DNA damage repair pathway evolution, and "DNA damage baseline drift", which may play a magnified role in mediating repair during cancer treatment. This two new hypothesis would shed new light on targeted cancer therapy, provide a much better or more comprehensive holistic view and also promote the development of new research direction and new overcoming strategies for patients.

pH-dependence of signaling-state formation in Drosophila cryptochrome

Cryptochromes, FAD-dependent blue light photoreceptors, undergo a series of electron transfer reactions after light excitation. Time-resolved optical spectroscopy was employed to investigate the pH dependence of all light-dependent reactions in the cryptochrome from fruit flies. Signal state formation experiments on a time scale of seconds were found to be strongly pH dependent, and formation of both anionic and neutral FAD radicals could be detected, with reaction rates increasing by a factor of ~2.5 from basic to neutral pH values. Additionally, the influence of the amino acid His378 was investigated in further detail: Two protein variants, DmCry H378A and H378Q, showed significantly reduced rate constants for signal state formation, which again differed at neutral and alkaline pH values. Hence, His378 was identified as an amino acid responsible for the pronounced pH dependence; however, this amino acid can be excluded as a proton donor for the protonation of the anionic FAD radical. Other conserved amino acids appear to alter the overall polarity of the binding pocket and thus to be responsible for the pronounced pH dependence. Furthermore, the influence of pH and other experimental parameters, such as temperature, glycerol or ferricyanide concentrations, on the intermediately formed FAD-tryptophan radical pair was explored, which deprotonates on a microsecond time scale with a clear pH dependence, and subsequently recombines within milliseconds. Surprisingly, the latter reaction showed no pH dependence; potential reasons are discussed. All results are reviewed in terms of the photoreceptor and potential magnetoreceptor functions of Drosophila cryptochrome.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of a novel plant type cryptochrome gene from the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis

A full-length cDNA sequence of plant type CRY (designated Hae-P-CRY) was cloned from the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis. The cDNA sequence was 3608 base pairs (bp) in length, which contained a 2988-bp open reading frame encoding 995 amino acids with molecular mass of 107.7 kDa and isoelectric point of 6.19. Multiple alignment analysis revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of Hae-P-CRY shared high identity of 47-66% with corresponding plant type CRYs from other eukaryotes. The catalytic motifs of plant type CRYs were detected in the amino acid sequence of Hae-P-CRY including the typical PHR and CTE domains. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Hae-P-CRY was grouped together with other plant type CRYs from green algae and higher plants, which distinguished from other distinct groups. The transcriptional level of Hae-P-CRY was strongly decreased after 0-4 h under HL stress. In addition, the Hae-P-CRY gene was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and successfully purified. The typical spectroscopic characteristics of plant type CRYs were present in Hae-P-CRY indicated that it may be an active enzyme, which provided valuable clue for further functional investigation in the green alga H. pluvialis. These results lay the foundation for further function and interaction protein identification involved in CRYs mediated signal pathway under HL stress in H. pluvialis.

Structure of the bifunctional cryptochrome aCRY from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Photolyases and cryptochromes form an almost ubiquitous family of blue light photoreceptors involved in the repair and maintenance of DNA integrity or regulatory control. We found that one cryptochrome from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (CraCRY) is capable of both, control of transcript levels and the sexual cycle of the alga in a positive (germination) and negative manner (mating ability), as well as catalyzing the repair of UV-DNA lesions. Its 1.6 Å crystal structure shows besides the FAD chromophore an aromatic tetrad that is indispensable in animal-like type I cryptochromes for light-driven change of their signaling-active redox state and formation of a stable radical pair. Given CraCRY’s catalytic activity as (6-4) photolyase in vivo and in vitro, we present the first co-crystal structure of a cryptochrome with duplex DNA comprising a (6-4) pyrimidine–pyrimidone lesion. This 2.9 Å structure reveals a distinct conformation for the catalytic histidine His₁, H357, that challenges previous models of a single-photon driven (6-4) photolyase mechanism.

Photoactivation of Drosophila melanogaster cryptochrome through sequential conformational transitions

Cryptochromes are blue-light photoreceptor proteins, which provide input to circadian clocks. The cryptochrome from Drosophila melanogaster (DmCry) modulates the degradation of Timeless and itself. It is unclear how light absorption by the chromophore and the subsequent redox reactions trigger these events. Here, we use nano- to millisecond time-resolved x-ray solution scattering to reveal the light-activated conformational changes in DmCry and the related (6-4) photolyase. DmCry undergoes a series of structural changes, culminating in the release of the carboxyl-terminal tail (CTT). The photolyase has a simpler structural response. We find that the CTT release in DmCry depends on pH. Mutation of a conserved histidine, important for the biochemical activity of DmCry, does not affect transduction of the structural signal to the CTT. Instead, molecular dynamics simulations suggest that it stabilizes the CTT in the resting-state conformation. Our structural photocycle unravels the first molecular events of signal transduction in an animal cryptochrome.

EPR spectroscopy on flavin radicals in flavoproteins

Flavin semiquinone redox states are important intermediates in a broad variety of reactions catalyzed by flavoproteins. As paramagnetic states they can be favorably probed by EPR spectroscopy in all its flavors. This review summarizes recent results in the characterization of flavin radicals. On the one hand, flavin radical states, e.g., trapped as reaction intermediates, can be characterized using modern pulsed EPR methods to unravel their electronic structure and to gain information about the surrounding environment and its changes on protein action. On the other hand, short-lived intermediate flavin radical states generated, e.g., photochemically, can be followed by time-resolved EPR, which allows a direct tracking of flavin-dependent reactions with a temporal resolution reaching nanoseconds.

Riboflavin induces Metarhizium spp. to produce conidia with elevated tolerance to UV-B, and upregulates photolyases, laccases and polyketide synthases genes

AIMS

The effect of nutritional supplementation of two Metarhizium species with riboflavin (Rb) during production of conidia was evaluated on (i) conidial tolerance (based on germination) to UV-B radiation and on (ii) conidial expression following UV-B irradiation, of enzymes known to be active in photoreactivation, viz., photolyase (Phr), laccase (Lac) and polyketide synthase (Pks).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Metarhizium acridum (ARSEF 324) and Metarhizium robertsii (ARSEF 2575) were grown either on (i) potato dextrose agar medium (PDA), (ii) PDA supplemented with 1% yeast extract (PDAY), (iii) PDA supplemented with Rb (PDA+Rb), or (iv) PDAY supplemented with Rb (PDAY+Rb). Resulting conidia were exposed to 866·7 mW m^-2 of UV-B Quaite-weighted irradiance to total doses of 3·9 or 6·24 kJ m^-2 . Some conidia also were exposed to 16 klux of white light (WL) after being irradiated, or not, with UV-B to investigate the role of possible photoreactivation. Relative germination of conidia produced on PDA+Rb (regardless Rb concentration) or on PDAY and exposed to UV-B was higher compared to conidia cultivated on PDA without Rb supplement, or to conidia suspended in Rb solution immediately prior to UV-B exposure. The expression of MaLac3 and MaPks2 for M. acridum, as well as MrPhr2, MrLac1, MrLac2 and MrLac3 for M. robertsii was higher when the isolates were cultivated on PDA+Rb and exposed to UV-B followed by exposure to WL, or exposed to WL only.

CONCLUSIONS

Rb in culture medium increases the UV-B tolerance of M. robertsii and M. acridum conidia, and which may be related to increased expression of Phr, Lac and Pks genes in these conidia.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The enhanced UV-B tolerance of Metarhizium spp. conidia produced on Rb-enriched media may improve the effectiveness of these fungi in biological control programs.

Electron transfer vs. proton-coupled electron transfer as the mechanism of reaction between amino acids and triplet-excited benzophenones revealed by time-resolved CIDNP

We use proportionality between NMR signal enhancements in geminate products and hyperfine coupling constants in transient radicals to elucidate reaction mechanism in detail.

Residues at a Single Site Differentiate Animal Cryptochromes from Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimer Photolyases by Affecting the Proteins' Preferences for Reduced FAD

Cryptochromes (CRYs) and photolyases belong to the cryptochrome/photolyase family (CPF). Reduced FAD is essential for photolyases to photorepair UV-induced cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) or 6-4 photoproducts in DNA. In Drosophila CRY (dCRY, a type I animal CRY), FAD is converted to the anionic radical but not to the reduced state upon illumination, which might induce a conformational change in the protein to relay the light signal downstream. To explore the foundation of these differences, multiple sequence alignment of 650 CPF protein sequences was performed. We identified a site facing FAD (Ala377 in Escherichia coli CPD photolyase and Val415 in dCRY), hereafter referred to as "site 377", that was distinctly conserved across these sequences: CPD photolyases often had Ala, Ser, or Asn at this site, whereas animal CRYs had Ile, Leu, or Val. The binding affinity for reduced FAD, but not the photorepair activity of E. coli photolyase, was dramatically impaired when replacing Ala377 with any of the three CRY residues. Conversely, in V415S and V415N mutants of dCRY, FAD was photoreduced to its fully reduced state after prolonged illumination, and light-dependent conformational changes of these mutants were severely inhibited. We speculate that the residues at site 377 play a key role in the different preferences of CPF proteins for reduced FAD, which differentiate animal CRYs from CPD photolyases.

Characterization of three pyranose dehydrogenase isoforms from the litter-decomposing basidiomycete Leucoagaricus meleagris (syn. Agaricus meleagris)

Multigenicity is commonly found in fungal enzyme systems, with the purpose of functional compensation upon deficiency of one of its members or leading to enzyme isoforms with new functionalities through gene diversification. Three genes of the flavin-dependent glucose-methanol-choline (GMC) oxidoreductase pyranose dehydrogenase (AmPDH) were previously identified in the litter-degrading fungus Agaricus (Leucoagaricus) meleagris, of which only AmPDH1 was successfully expressed and characterized. The aim of this work was to study the biophysical and biochemical properties of AmPDH2 and AmPDH3 and compare them with those of AmPDH1. AmPDH1, AmPDH2 and AmPDH3 showed negligible oxygen reactivity and possess a covalently tethered FAD cofactor. All three isoforms can oxidise a range of different monosaccarides and oligosaccharides including glucose, mannose, galactose and xylose, which are the main constituent sugars of cellulose and hemicelluloses, and judging from the apparent steady-state kinetics determined for these sugars, the three isoforms do not show significant differences pertaining to their reaction with sugar substrates. They oxidize glucose both at C2 and C3 and upon prolonged reaction C2 and C3 double-oxidized glucose is obtained, confirming that the A. meleagris genes pdh2 (AY753308.1) and pdh3 (DQ117577.1) indeed encode CAZy class AA3_2 pyranose dehydrogenases. While reactivity with electron donor substrates was comparable for the three AmPDH isoforms, their kinetic properties differed significantly for the model electron acceptor substrates tested, a radical (the 2,2'-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid] cation radical), a quinone (benzoquinone) and a complexed iron ion (the ferricenium ion). Thus, a possible explanation for this PDH multiplicity in A. meleagris could be that different isoforms react preferentially with structurally different electron acceptors in vivo.

Repair of (6-4) Lesions in DNA by (6-4) Photolyase: 20 Years of Quest for the Photoreaction Mechanism

Exposure of DNA to ultraviolet (UV) light from the Sun or from other sources causes the formation of harmful and carcinogenic crosslinks between adjacent pyrimidine nucleobases, namely cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and pyrimidine(6-4)pyrimidone photoproducts. Nature has developed unique flavoenzymes, called DNA photolyases, that utilize blue light, that is photons of lower energy than those of the damaging light, to repair these lesions. In this review, we focus on the chemically challenging repair of the (6-4) photoproducts by (6-4) photolyase and describe the major events along the quest for the reaction mechanisms, over the 20 years since the discovery of (6-4) photolyase.

Spin Densities in Flavin Analogs within a Flavoprotein

Characterization by electron paramagnetic resonance techniques of several variants of Anabaena flavodoxin, where the naturally occurring FMN cofactor is substituted by different analogs, makes it possible to improve the details of the spin distribution map in the isoallosazine ring in its semiquinone state. The analyzed variants were selected to monitor the effects of intrinsic changes in the flavin ring electronic structure, as well as perturbations in the apoflavodoxin-flavin interaction, on the spin populations. When these effects were analyzed together with the functional properties of the different flavodoxin variants, a relationship between spin population and biochemical parameters, as the reduction potential, could be envisaged.

Insights into Light-driven DNA Repair by Photolyases: Challenges and Opportunities for Electronic Structure Theory

Ultraviolet radiation causes two of the most abundant mutagenic and cytotoxic DNA lesions: cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 6-4 photoproducts. (6-4) Photolyases are light-activated enzymes that selectively bind to DNA and trigger repair of mutagenic 6-4 photoproducts via photoinduced electron transfer from flavin adenine dinucleotide anion (FADH^- ) to the lesion triggering repair. This review provides an overview of the sequential steps of the repair process, that is light absorption and resonance energy transfer, photoinduced electron transfer and electron-induced splitting mechanisms, with an emphasis on the role of theory and computation. In addition, theoretical calculations and physical properties that can be used to classify specific mechanism are discussed in an effort to trace the fundamental aspects of each individual step and assist the interpretation of experimental data. The current challenges and suggested future directions are outlined for each step, concluding with a view on the future.

Ultrafast flavin photoreduction in an oxidized animal (6-4) photolyase through an unconventional tryptophan tetrad

Ultrafast photoreduction of animal (6-4) photolyase: delocalized oxidation hole reaches fourth tryptophan in less than 40 ps.

Inhomogeneous ensembles of radical pairs in chemical compasses

The biophysical basis for the ability of animals to detect the geomagnetic field and to use it for finding directions remains a mystery of sensory biology. One much debated hypothesis suggests that an ensemble of specialized light-induced radical pair reactions can provide the primary signal for a magnetic compass sensor. The question arises what features of such a radical pair ensemble could be optimized by evolution so as to improve the detection of the direction of weak magnetic fields. Here, we focus on the overlooked aspect of the noise arising from inhomogeneity of copies of biomolecules in a realistic biological environment. Such inhomogeneity leads to variations of the radical pair parameters, thereby deteriorating the signal arising from an ensemble and providing a source of noise. We investigate the effect of variations in hyperfine interactions between different copies of simple radical pairs on the directional response of a compass system. We find that the choice of radical pair parameters greatly influences how strongly the directional response of an ensemble is affected by inhomogeneity.

Changes in active site histidine hydrogen bonding trigger cryptochrome activation

Cryptochrome (CRY) is the principal light sensor of the insect circadian clock. Photoreduction of the Drosophila CRY (dCRY) flavin cofactor to the anionic semiquinone (ASQ) restructures a C-terminal tail helix (CTT) that otherwise inhibits interactions with targets that include the clock protein Timeless (TIM). All-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicate that flavin reduction destabilizes the CTT, which undergoes large-scale conformational changes (the CTT release) on short (25 ns) timescales. The CTT release correlates with the conformation and protonation state of conserved His378, which resides between the CTT and the flavin cofactor. Poisson-Boltzmann calculations indicate that flavin reduction substantially increases the His378 pKa Consistent with coupling between ASQ formation and His378 protonation, dCRY displays reduced photoreduction rates with increasing pH; however, His378Asn/Arg variants show no such pH dependence. Replica-exchange MD simulations also support CTT release mediated by changes in His378 hydrogen bonding and verify other responsive regions of the protein previously identified by proteolytic sensitivity assays. His378 dCRY variants show varying abilities to light-activate TIM and undergo self-degradation in cellular assays. Surprisingly, His378Arg/Lys variants do not degrade in light despite maintaining reactivity toward TIM, thereby implicating different conformational responses in these two functions. Thus, the dCRY photosensory mechanism involves flavin photoreduction coupled to protonation of His378, whose perturbed hydrogen-bonding pattern alters the CTT and surrounding regions.

Characterization of the Intermediate in and Identification of the Repair Mechanism of (6-4) Photolesions by Photolyases

Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations are employed to assign previously recorded experimental spectroscopic signatures of the intermediates occurring during the photo-induced repair of (6-4) photolesions by photolyases to specific molecular structures. Based on this close comparison of experiment and theory it is demonstrated that the acting repair mechanism involves proton transfer from the protonated His365 to the N3' nitrogen of the lesion, which proceeds simultaneously with intramolecular OH transfer along an oxetane-like transition state.

Structural Changes of the Active Center during the Photoactivation of Xenopus (6-4) Photolyase

Photolyases (PHRs) repair the UV-induced photoproducts, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) or pyrimidine-pyrimidone (6-4) photoproduct [(6-4) PP], restoring normal bases to maintain genetic integrity. CPD and (6-4) PP are repaired by substrate-specific PHRs, CPD PHR and (6-4) PHR, respectively. Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is the chromophore of both PHRs, and the resting oxidized form (FAD(ox)), at least under in vitro purified conditions, is first photoconverted to the neutral semiquinoid radical (FADH(•)) form, followed by photoconversion into the enzymatically active fully reduced (FADH(-)) form. Previously, we reported light-induced difference Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra corresponding to the photoactivation process of Xenopus (6-4) PHR. Spectral differences between the absence and presence of (6-4) PP were observed in the photoactivation process. To identify the FTIR signals where these differences appeared, we compared the FTIR spectra of photoactivation (i) in the presence and absence of (6-4) PP, (ii) of (13)C labeling, (15)N labeling, and [(14)N]His/(15)N labeling, and (iii) of H354A and H358A mutants. We successfully assigned the vibrational bands for (6-4) PP, the α-helix and neutral His residue(s). In particular, we assigned three bands to the C ═ O groups of (6-4) PP in the three different redox states of FAD. Furthermore, the changed hydrogen bonding environments of C ═ O groups of (6-4) PP suggested restructuring of the binding pocket of the DNA lesion in the process of photoactivation.

Electron transfer mechanisms of DNA repair by photolyase

Photolyase is a flavin photoenzyme that repairs two DNA base damage products induced by ultraviolet (UV) light: cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and 6-4 photoproducts. With femtosecond spectroscopy and site-directed mutagenesis, investigators have recently made significant advances in our understanding of UV-damaged DNA repair, and the entire enzymatic dynamics can now be mapped out in real time. For dimer repair, six elementary steps have been characterized, including three electron transfer reactions and two bond-breaking processes, and their reaction times have been determined. A unique electron-tunneling pathway was identified, and the critical residues in modulating the repair function at the active site were determined. The dynamic synergy between the elementary reactions for maintaining high repair efficiency was elucidated, and the biological nature of the flavin active state was uncovered. For 6-4 photoproduct repair, a proton-coupled electron transfer repair mechanism has been revealed. The elucidation of electron transfer mechanisms and two repair photocycles is significant and provides a molecular basis for future practical applications, such as in rational drug design for curing skin cancer.

Reaction of pyranose dehydrogenase from Agaricus meleagris with its carbohydrate substrates

Monomeric Agaricus meleagris pyranose dehydrogenase (AmPDH) belongs to the glucose-methanol-choline family of oxidoreductases. An FAD cofactor is covalently tethered to His103 of the enzyme. AmPDH can double oxidize various mono- and oligosaccharides at different positions (C1 to C4). To study the structure/function relationship of selected active-site residues of AmPDH pertaining to substrate (carbohydrate) turnover in more detail, several active-site variants were generated, heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris, and characterized by biochemical, biophysical and computational means. The crystal structure of AmPDH shows two active-site histidines, both of which could take on the role as the catalytic base in the reductive half-reaction. Steady-state kinetics revealed that His512 is the only catalytic base because H512A showed a reduction in (kcat /KM )glucose by a factor of 10(5) , whereas this catalytic efficiency was reduced by two or three orders of magnitude for His556 variants (H556A, H556N). This was further corroborated by transient-state kinetics, where a comparable decrease in the reductive rate constant was observed for H556A, whereas the rate constant for the oxidative half-reaction (using benzoquinone as substrate) was increased for H556A compared to recombinant wild-type AmPDH. Steady-state kinetics furthermore indicated that Gln392, Tyr510, Val511 and His556 are important for the catalytic efficiency of PDH. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and free energy calculations were used to predict d-glucose oxidation sites, which were validated by GC-MS measurements. These simulations also suggest that van der Waals interactions are the main driving force for substrate recognition and binding.

Proton transfer to flavin stabilizes the signaling state of the blue light receptor plant cryptochrome

Plant cryptochromes regulate the circadian rhythm, flowering time, and photomorphogenesis in higher plants as responses to blue light. In the dark, these photoreceptors bind oxidized FAD in the photolyase homology region (PHR). Upon blue light absorption, FAD is converted to the neutral radical state, the likely signaling state, by electron transfer via a conserved tryptophan triad and proton transfer from a nearby aspartic acid. Here we demonstrate, by infrared and time-resolved UV-visible spectroscopy on the PHR domain, that replacement of the aspartic acid Asp-396 with cysteine prevents proton transfer. The lifetime of the radical is decreased by 6 orders of magnitude. This short lifetime does not permit to drive conformational changes in the C-terminal extension that have been associated with signal transduction. Only in the presence of ATP do both the wild type and mutant form a long-lived radical state. However, in the mutant, an anion radical is formed instead of the neutral radical, as found previously in animal type I cryptochromes. Infrared spectroscopic experiments demonstrate that the light-induced conformational changes of the PHR domain are conserved in the mutant despite the lack of proton transfer. These changes are not detected in the photoreduction of the non-photosensory d-amino acid oxidase to the anion radical. In conclusion, formation of the anion radical is sufficient to generate a protein response in plant cryptochromes. Moreover, the intrinsic proton transfer is required for stabilization of the signaling state in the absence of ATP.

The Trichoderma reesei Cry1 protein is a member of the cryptochrome/photolyase family with 6-4 photoproduct repair activity

DNA-photolyases use UV-visible light to repair DNA damage caused by UV radiation. The two major types of DNA damage are cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) and 6–4 photoproducts (6-4PP), which are repaired under illumination by CPD and 6–4 photolyases, respectively. Cryptochromes are proteins related to DNA photolyases with strongly reduced or lost DNA repair activity, and have been shown to function as blue-light photoreceptors and to play important roles in circadian rhythms in plants and animals. Both photolyases and cryptochromes belong to the cryptochrome/photolyase family, and are widely distributed in all organisms. Here we describe the characterization of cry1, a member of the cryptochrome/photolyase protein family of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei. We determined that cry1 transcript accumulates when the fungus is exposed to light, and that such accumulation depends on the photoreceptor Blr1 and is modulated by Envoy. Conidia of cry1 mutants show decreased photorepair capacity of DNA damage caused by UV light. In contrast, strains over-expressing Cry1 show increased repair, as compared to the parental strain even in the dark. These observations suggest that Cry1 may be stimulating other systems involved in DNA repair, such as the nucleotide excision repair system. We show that Cry1, heterologously expressed and purified from E. coli, is capable of binding to undamaged and 6-4PP damaged DNA. Photorepair assays in vitro clearly show that Cry1 repairs 6-4PP, but not CPD and Dewar DNA lesions.

A quantum chemical perspective on (6-4) photolesion repair by photolyases

(6-4)-Photolyases are fascinating enzymes which repair (6-4)-DNA photolesions utilizing light themselves. It is well known that upon initial photo-excitation of an antenna pigment an electron is transferred from an adjacent FADH(-) cofactor to the photolesion initiating repair, i.e. restoration of the original undamaged DNA bases. Concerning the molecular details of this amazing repair mechanism, the early steps of energy transfer and catalytic electron generation are well understood, the terminal repair mechanism, however, is still a matter of ongoing debate. In this perspective article, recent results of quantum chemical investigations are presented, and their meaning for the repair mechanism under natural conditions is outlined. Consequences of natural light conditions, temperature and thermal equilibration are highlighted when issues like the initial protonation state of the relevant histidines and the lesion, or the direction of electron transfer are discussed.

EPR on Flavoproteins

Flavoproteins often employ radical mechanisms in their enzymatic reactions. This involves paramagnetic species, which can ideally be investigated with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. In this chapter we focus on the example of flavin-based photoreceptors and discuss, how different EPR methods have been used to extract information about the flavin radical's electronic state, its binding pocket, electron-transfer pathways, and about the protein's tertiary and quaternary structure.

Activation of a unique flavin-dependent tRNA-methylating agent

TrmFO is a tRNA methyltransferase that uses methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH2THF) and flavin adenine dinucleotide hydroquinone as cofactors. We have recently shown that TrmFO from Bacillus subtilis stabilizes a TrmFO-CH2-FADH adduct and an ill-defined neutral flavin radical. The adduct contains a unique N-CH2-S moiety, with a methylene group bridging N5 of the isoalloxazine ring and the sulfur of an active-site cysteine (Cys53). In the absence of tRNA substrate, this species is remarkably stable but becomes catalytically competent for tRNA methylation following tRNA addition using the methylene group as the source of methyl. Here, we demonstrate that this dormant methylating agent can be activated at low pH, and we propose that this process is triggered upon tRNA addition. The reaction proceeds via protonation of Cys53, cleavage of the C-S bond, and generation of a highly reactive [FADH(N5)═CH2]+ iminium intermediate, which is proposed to be the actual tRNA-methylating agent. This mechanism is fully supported by DFT calculations. The radical present in TrmFO is characterized here by optical and EPR/ENDOR spectroscopy approaches together with DFT calculations and is shown to be the one-electron oxidized product of the TrmFO-CH2-FADH adduct. It is also relatively stable, and its decomposition is facilitated by high pH. These results provide new insights into the structure and reactivity of the unique flavin-dependent methylating agent used by this class of enzymes.

Combined QM/MM investigation on the light-driven electron-induced repair of the (6-4) thymine dimer catalyzed by DNA photolyase

The (6-4) photolyases are blue-light-activated enzymes that selectively bind to DNA and initiate splitting of mutagenic thymine (6-4) thymine photoproducts (T(6-4)T-PP) via photoinduced electron transfer from flavin adenine dinucleotide anion (FADH(-)) to the lesion triggering repair. In the present work, the repair mechanism after the initial electron transfer and the effect of the protein/DNA environment are investigated theoretically by means of hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/MM) simulations using X-ray structure of the enzyme-DNA complex. By comparison of three previously proposed repair mechanisms, we found that the lowest activation free energy is required for the pathway in which the key step governing the repair photocycle is electron transfer coupled with the proton transfer from the protonated histidine, His365, to the N3' nitrogen of the pyrimidone thymine. The transfer simultaneously occurs with concerted intramolecular OH transfer without formation of an oxetane or isolated water molecule intermediate. In contrast to previously suggested mechanisms, this newly identified pathway requires neither a subsequent two-photon process nor electronic excitation of the photolesion.

Repair of the (6-4) photoproduct by DNA photolyase requires two photons

It takes two (photons) to tango: Single-turnover flash experiments showed that the flavoenzyme (6-4) photolyase uses a successive two-photon mechanism to repair the UV-induced T(6-4)T lesion in DNA (see picture). The intermediate (X) formed by the first photoreaction is likely to be the oxetane-bridged dimer T(ox)T. The enzyme could stabilize the normally short-lived T(ox)T, allowing repair to be completed by the second photoreaction.

Variable electron transfer pathways in an amphibian cryptochrome: tryptophan versus tyrosine-based radical pairs

Electron transfer reactions play vital roles in many biological processes. Very often the transfer of charge(s) proceeds stepwise over large distances involving several amino acid residues. By using time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance and optical spectroscopy, we have studied the mechanism of light-induced reduction of the FAD cofactor of cryptochrome/photolyase family proteins. In this study, we demonstrate that electron abstraction from a nearby amino acid by the excited FAD triggers further electron transfer steps even if the conserved chain of three tryptophans, known to be an effective electron transfer pathway in these proteins, is blocked. Furthermore, we were able to characterize this secondary electron transfer pathway and identify the amino acid partner of the resulting flavin-amino acid radical pair as a tyrosine located at the protein surface. This alternative electron transfer pathway could explain why interrupting the conserved tryptophan triad does not necessarily alter photoreactions of cryptochromes in vivo. Taken together, our results demonstrate that light-induced electron transfer is a robust property of cryptochromes and more intricate than commonly anticipated.

DNA photolyases and SP lyase: structure and mechanism of light-dependent and independent DNA lyases

Light is essential for many critical biological processes including vision, circadian rhythms, photosynthesis and DNA repair. DNA photolyases use light energy and a fully reduced flavin cofactor to repair the major UV-induced DNA damages, the cis-syn cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and the pyrimidine-pyrimidone (6-4) photoproducts. Catalysis involves two photoreactions, the photoactivation which leads to the conversion of the flavin cofactor to its catalytic active form and the photorepair whose efficiency depends on a light-harvesting antenna chromophore. Very interestingly, an alternative and light-independent direct reversal mechanism to repair a distinct photolesion is found in bacterial spores, catalyzed by spore photoproduct lyase. This radical SAM enzyme uses an iron-sulfur cluster and S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) to split a specific photoproduct, the so-called spore photoproduct (SP), back to two thymidine residues. The recently solved crystal structure of SP lyase provides new insights into this unique DNA repair mechanism and allows a detailed comparison with DNA photolyases. Similarities as well as divergences between DNA photolyases and SP lyase are highlighted in this review.

Fourier-transform infrared study of the photoactivation process of Xenopus (6-4) photolyase

Photolyases (PHRs) are blue light-activated DNA repair enzymes that maintain genetic integrity by reverting UV-induced photoproducts into normal bases. The flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) chromophore of PHRs has four different redox states: oxidized (FAD(ox)), anion radical (FAD(•-)), neutral radical (FADH(•)), and fully reduced (FADH(-)). We combined difference Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with UV-visible spectroscopy to study the detailed photoactivation process of Xenopus (6-4) PHR. Two photons produce the enzymatically active, fully reduced PHR from oxidized FAD: FAD(ox) is converted to semiquinone via light-induced one-electron and one-proton transfers and then to FADH(-) by light-induced one-electron transfer. We successfully trapped FAD(•-) at 200 K, where electron transfer occurs but proton transfer does not. UV-visible spectroscopy following 450 nm illumination of FAD(ox) at 277 K defined the FADH(•)/FADH(-) mixture and allowed calculation of difference FTIR spectra among the four redox states. The absence of a characteristic C=O stretching vibration indicated that the proton donor is not a protonated carboxylic acid. Structural changes in Trp and Tyr are suggested by UV-visible and FTIR analysis of FAD(•-) at 200 K. Spectral analysis of amide I vibrations revealed structural perturbation of the protein's β-sheet during initial electron transfer (FAD(•-) formation), a transient increase in α-helicity during proton transfer (FADH(•) formation), and reversion to the initial amide I signal following subsequent electron transfer (FADH(-) formation). Consequently, in (6-4) PHR, unlike cryptochrome-DASH, formation of enzymatically active FADH(-) did not perturb α-helicity. Protein structural changes in the photoactivation of (6-4) PHR are discussed on the basis of these FTIR observations.

The electronic structure of the neutral isoalloxazine semiquinone within Anabaena flavodoxin: new insights from HYSCORE experiments

A complete study of Anabaena flavodoxin in the neutral semiquinone state by means of the EPR pulse technique HYSCORE is here presented. The results provide new information about the hyperfine interactions of the unpaired electronic spin and the nuclei in the isoalloxazine ring. This allows a better knowledge of the electronic structure of the neutral flavin radical within the protein. Combination of these results with other previously obtained by using other EPR related techniques allowed producing a very precise mapping of the flavin spin distribution in the neutral semiquinone state. This information can be very useful for determining the relationship between the electronic structure and mechanisms in flavoproteins. An experimental protocol for measuring the electronic structure details available to date is suggested.

The Protonation States of the Active-Site Histidines in (6-4) Photolyase

The active sites of the (6-4) photolyases contain two conserved histidine residues, which, in the Drosophila melanogaster enzyme, correspond to His365 and His369. While there are nine combinations in which the three possible protonation states of the two histidines (with protons on Nδ (HID), Nε (HIE), or both Nδ and Nε (HIP)) can be paired, there is presently no consensus as to which of these states is present, let alone mechanistically relevant. EPR hyperfine couplings for selected protons of the FADH(•) radical have previously been used to address this issue. Our QM/MM calculations show, however, that the experimental couplings are equally well reproduced by each of the nine combinations. Since the EPR results seemingly cannot be used to unequivocally assign the protonation states, the pKa values of the two histidines were calculated using the popular PROPKA, H++, and APBS approaches, in various environments and for several lesions. These techniques consistently indicate that, at pH = 7, both His365 and His369 should be neutral, although His369 is found to be more prone to becoming protonated. In a comparative approach, a series of molecular dynamics simulations was performed with all nine combinations, employing various reference crystal structures and different oxidation states of the FAD cofactor. The overall result of this approach is in agreement with our pKa results. Consequently, although the introduction of the reduced cofactor results in an increased stability for selected protonated states, particularly the His365═HID and His369═HIP combination, the neutral combination His365═HID and His365═HIE stands out as the most relevant state for the activity of the enzyme.

Structure of full-length Drosophila cryptochrome

The cryptochrome/photolyase (CRY/PL) family of photoreceptors mediates adaptive responses to ultraviolet and blue light exposure in all kingdoms of life. Whereas PLs function predominantly in DNA repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 photolesions caused by ultraviolet radiation, CRYs transduce signals important for growth, development, magnetosensitivity and circadian clocks. Despite these diverse functions, PLs/CRYs preserve a common structural fold, a dependence on flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and an internal photoactivation mechanism. However, members of the CRY/PL family differ in the substrates recognized (protein or DNA), photochemical reactions catalysed and involvement of an antenna cofactor. It is largely unknown how the animal CRYs that regulate circadian rhythms act on their substrates. CRYs contain a variable carboxy-terminal tail that appends the conserved PL homology domain (PHD) and is important for function. Here, we report a 2.3-Å resolution crystal structure of Drosophila CRY with an intact C terminus. The C-terminal helix docks in the analogous groove that binds DNA substrates in PLs. Conserved Trp 536 juts into the CRY catalytic centre to mimic PL recognition of DNA photolesions. The FAD anionic semiquinone found in the crystals assumes a conformation to facilitate restructuring of the tail helix. These results help reconcile the diverse functions of the CRY/PL family by demonstrating how conserved protein architecture and photochemistry can be elaborated into a range of light-driven functions.

Repair of DNA Dewar photoproduct to (6-4) photoproduct in (6-4) photolyase

Dewar photoproduct (Dewar PP) is the valence isomer of (6-4) photoproduct ((6-4)PP) in photodamaged DNA. Compared to the extensive studied CPD photoproducts, the underlying repair mechanisms for the (6-4)PP, and especially for the Dewar PP, are not well-established to date. In this paper, the repair mechanism of DNA Dewar photoproduct T(dew)C in (6-4) photolyase was elucidated using hybrid density functional theory. Our results showed that, during the repair process, the T(dew)C has to isomerize to T(6-4)C photolesion first via direct C6'-N3' bond cleavage facilitated by electron injection. This isomerization mechanism is energetically much more efficient than other possible rearrangement pathways. The calculations provide a theoretical interpretation to recent experimental observations.

A catalytic intermediate and several flavin redox states stabilized by folate-dependent tRNA methyltransferase from Bacillus subtilis

The flavoprotein TrmFO catalyzes the C5 methylation of uridine 54 in the TΨC loop of tRNAs using 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (CH(2)THF) as a methylene donor and FAD as a reducing agent. Here, we report biochemical and spectroscopic studies that unravel the remarkable capability of Bacillus subtilis TrmFO to stabilize, in the presence of oxygen, several flavin-reduced forms, including an FADH(•) radical, and a catalytic intermediate endowed with methylating activity. The FADH(•) radical was characterized by high-field electron paramagnetic resonance and electron nuclear double-resonance spectroscopies. Interestingly, the enzyme exhibited tRNA methylation activity in the absence of both an added carbon donor and an external reducing agent, indicating that a reaction intermediate, containing presumably CH(2)THF and FAD hydroquinone, is present in the freshly purified enzyme. Isolation by acid treatment, under anaerobic conditions, of noncovalently bound molecules, followed by mass spectrometry analysis, confirmed the presence in TrmFO of nonmodified FAD. Addition of formaldehyde to the purified enzyme protects the reduced flavins from decay by probably preventing degradation of CH(2)THF. The absence of air-stable reduced FAD species during anaerobic titration of oxidized TrmFO, performed in the absence or presence of added CH(2)THF, argues against their thermodynamic stabilization but rather implicates their kinetic trapping by the enzyme. Altogether, the unexpected isolation of a stable catalytic intermediate suggests that the flavin-binding pocket of TrmFO is a highly insulated environment, diverting the reduced FAD present in this intermediate from uncoupled reactions.

New insights into the ultrafast photophysics of oxidized and reduced FAD in solution

The ultrafast photophysics of oxidized and reduced flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in aqueous solution was studied by broadband UV-vis femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. We observed that oxidized FAD (FAD(ox)) in solution readily aggregates at submillimolar concentration. Upon excitation of FAD(ox), three excited-state lifetimes were found and assigned to three different species: the closed (stacked) conformation of the monomer (∼5.4 ps), the open (extended) conformation of the monomer (∼2.8 ns), and the dimer (∼27 ps). In the case of the stacked conformation of the monomer, we show that intramolecular electron transfer from the adenine to the isoalloxazine ring occurs with a time constant of 5.4 ps and is followed by charge recombination on a faster time scale, namely, 390 fs. We additionally demonstrate that deprotonated reduced flavin (FADH(-)) undergoes biphotonic ionization under high excitation fluence and dissociates into a hydrated electron and the neutral semiquinone radical FADH(•).