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van Midden KP, Mantz M, Fonovič M, Gazvoda M, Svete J, Huesgen PF, van der Hoorn RAL, Klemenčič M. Mechanistic insights into CrCEP1: A dual-function cysteine protease with endo- and transpeptidase activity. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 271:132505. [PMID: 38768911 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Proteases, essential regulators of plant stress responses, remain enigmatic in their precise functional roles. By employing activity-based probes for real-time monitoring, this study aimed to delve into protease activities in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. However, our work revealed that the activity-based probes strongly labelled three non-proteolytic proteins-PsbO, PsbP, and PsbQ-integral components of photosystem II's oxygen-evolving complex. Subsequent biochemical assays and mass spectrometry experiments revealed the involvement of CrCEP1, a previously uncharacterized papain-like cysteine protease, as the catalyst of this labelling reaction. Further experiments with recombinant CrCEP1 and PsbO proteins replicated the reaction in vitro. Our data unveiled that endopeptidase CrCEP1 also has transpeptidase activity, ligating probes and peptides to the N-termini of Psb proteins, thereby expanding the repertoire of its enzymatic activities. The hitherto unknown transpeptidase activity of CrCEP1, working in conjunction with its proteolytic activity, unveils putative complex and versatile roles for proteases in cellular processes during stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina P van Midden
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Melissa Mantz
- Central Institute for Engineering, Electronics and Analytics, ZEA-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; CECAD, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Marko Fonovič
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular and Structural Biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martin Gazvoda
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jurij Svete
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Pitter F Huesgen
- Central Institute for Engineering, Electronics and Analytics, ZEA-3, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany; CECAD, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; CIBSS- Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Marina Klemenčič
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Machado MD, Soares EV. Palmelloid-like phenotype in the alga Raphidocelis subcapitata exposed to pollutants: A generalized adaptive strategy to stress or a specific cellular response? AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 264:106732. [PMID: 37879199 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
This work focuses on the formation of palmelloid-like phenotype in the freshwater alga Raphidocelis subcapitata (formerly known as Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Selenastrum capricornutum), when exposed to adverse conditions generated by the presence of organic [the antibiotic erythromycin (ERY) and the herbicide metolachlor (MET)] or inorganic [the heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn)] pollutants, at environmentally relevant concentrations. This alga in absence of stress or when exposed to ERY or Zn, up to 200 µg/L, essentially showed a single-nucleus state, although algal growth was reduced or stopped. R. subcapitata "switched" to a multinucleated state (palmelloid-like morphology) and accumulated energy-reserve compounds (neutral lipids) when stressed by 100-200 µg/L MET or 200 µg/L Cd; at these concentrations of pollutants, growth was arrested, however, the majority of the algal population (≥83 %) was alive. The formation of palmelloid-like phenotype, at sub-lethal concentrations of pollutants, was dependent on the pollutant, its concentration and exposure time. The multinucleated structure is a transitory phenotype since R. subcapitata population was able to revert to a single-nucleus state, with normal cell size, within 24-96 h (depending on the impact of the toxic in the alga), after being transferred to fresh OECD medium, without pollutants. The obtained results indicate that the formation of a palmelloid-like phenotype in R. subcapitata is dependent on the mode of action of toxics and their concentration, not constituting a generalized defense mechanism against stress. The observations here shown contribute to understanding the different strategies used by the unicellular alga R. subcapitata to cope with severe stress imposed by organic and inorganic pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela D Machado
- Bioengineering Laboratory - CIETI, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal; CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Eduardo V Soares
- Bioengineering Laboratory - CIETI, ISEP, Polytechnic of Porto, rua Dr António Bernardino de Almeida, 431, 4249-015, Porto, Portugal; CEB - Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; LABBELS - Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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Tejada-Jimenez M, Leon-Miranda E, Llamas A. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii-A Reference Microorganism for Eukaryotic Molybdenum Metabolism. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1671. [PMID: 37512844 PMCID: PMC10385300 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Molybdenum (Mo) is vital for the activity of a small but essential group of enzymes called molybdoenzymes. So far, specifically five molybdoenzymes have been discovered in eukaryotes: nitrate reductase, sulfite oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase, and mARC. In order to become biologically active, Mo must be chelated to a pterin, forming the so-called Mo cofactor (Moco). Deficiency or mutation in any of the genes involved in Moco biosynthesis results in the simultaneous loss of activity of all molybdoenzymes, fully or partially preventing the normal development of the affected organism. To prevent this, the different mechanisms involved in Mo homeostasis must be finely regulated. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a unicellular, photosynthetic, eukaryotic microalga that has produced fundamental advances in key steps of Mo homeostasis over the last 30 years, which have been extrapolated to higher organisms, both plants and animals. These advances include the identification of the first two molybdate transporters in eukaryotes (MOT1 and MOT2), the characterization of key genes in Moco biosynthesis, the identification of the first enzyme that protects and transfers Moco (MCP1), the first characterization of mARC in plants, and the discovery of the crucial role of the nitrate reductase-mARC complex in plant nitric oxide production. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the progress achieved in using C. reinhardtii as a model organism in Mo homeostasis and to propose how this microalga can continue improving with the advancements in this field in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Tejada-Jimenez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Campus de Rabanales and Campus Internacional de Excelencia Agroalimentario (CeiA3), Edificio Severo Ochoa, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Esperanza Leon-Miranda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Campus de Rabanales and Campus Internacional de Excelencia Agroalimentario (CeiA3), Edificio Severo Ochoa, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Angel Llamas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Campus de Rabanales and Campus Internacional de Excelencia Agroalimentario (CeiA3), Edificio Severo Ochoa, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
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Ma K, Deng L, Wu H, Fan J. Towards green biomanufacturing of high-value recombinant proteins using promising cell factory: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2022; 9:83. [PMID: 38647750 PMCID: PMC10992328 DOI: 10.1186/s40643-022-00568-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Microalgae are cosmopolitan organisms in nature with short life cycles, playing a tremendous role in reducing the pressure of industrial carbon emissions. Besides, microalgae have the unique advantages of being photoautotrophic and harboring both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems, becoming a popular host for recombinant proteins. Currently, numerous advanced molecular tools related to microalgal transgenesis have been explored and established, especially for the model species Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii hereafter). The development of genetic tools and the emergence of new strategies further increase the feasibility of developing C. reinhardtii chloroplasts as green factories, and the strong genetic operability of C. reinhardtii endows it with enormous potential as a synthetic biology platform. At present, C. reinhardtii chloroplasts could successfully produce plenty of recombinant proteins, including antigens, antibodies, antimicrobial peptides, protein hormones and enzymes. However, additional techniques and toolkits for chloroplasts need to be developed to achieve efficient and markerless editing of plastid genomes. Mining novel genetic elements and selectable markers will be more intensively studied in the future, and more factors affecting protein expression are urged to be explored. This review focuses on the latest technological progress of selectable markers for Chlamydomonas chloroplast genetic engineering and the factors that affect the efficiency of chloroplast protein expression. Furthermore, urgent challenges and prospects for future development are pointed out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, People's Republic of China
| | - Haizhen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianhua Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Applied Biology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, People's Republic of China.
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, People's Republic of China.
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Schoeters F, Spit J, Azizah RN, Van Miert S. Pilot-Scale Cultivation of the Snow Alga Chloromonas typhlos in a Photobioreactor. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:896261. [PMID: 35757813 PMCID: PMC9218667 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.896261] [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: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The most studied and cultivated microalgae have a temperature optimum between 20 and 35°C. This temperature range hampers sustainable microalgae growth in countries with colder periods. To overcome this problem, psychrotolerant microalgae, such as the snow alga Chloromonas typhlos, can be cultivated during these colder periods. However, most of the research work has been carried out in the laboratory. The step between laboratory-scale and large-scale cultivation is difficult, making pilot-scale tests crucial to gather more information. Here, we presented a successful pilot-scale growth test of C. typhlos. Seven batch mode growth periods were compared during two longer growth tests in a photobioreactor of 350 L. We demonstrated the potential of this alga to be cultivated at colder ambient temperatures. The tests were performed during winter and springtime to compare ambient temperature and sunlight influences. The growth and CO2 usage were continuously monitored to calculate the productivity and CO2 fixation efficiency. A maximum dry weight of 1.082 g L-1 was achieved while a maximum growth rate and maximum daily volumetric and areal productivities of 0.105 d-1, 0.110 g L-1 d-1, and 2.746 g m-2 d-1, respectively, were measured. Future tests to optimize the cultivation of C. typhlos and production of astaxanthin, for example, will be crucial to explore the potential of biomass production of C. typhlos on a commercial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floris Schoeters
- Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Geel, Belgium
| | - Jornt Spit
- Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Geel, Belgium
| | - Rahmasari Nur Azizah
- Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Geel, Belgium.,I-BioStat, Data Science Institute, Hasselt University, Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Sabine Van Miert
- Radius, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Geel, Belgium
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Yi L, Liu B, Nixon PJ, Yu J, Chen F. Recent Advances in Understanding the Structural and Functional Evolution of FtsH Proteases. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:837528. [PMID: 35463435 PMCID: PMC9020784 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.837528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The FtsH family of proteases are membrane-anchored, ATP-dependent, zinc metalloproteases. They are universally present in prokaryotes and the mitochondria and chloroplasts of eukaryotic cells. Most bacteria bear a single ftsH gene that produces hexameric homocomplexes with diverse house-keeping roles. However, in mitochondria, chloroplasts and cyanobacteria, multiple FtsH homologs form homo- and heterocomplexes with specialized functions in maintaining photosynthesis and respiration. The diversification of FtsH homologs combined with selective pairing of FtsH isomers is a versatile strategy to enable functional adaptation. In this article we summarize recent progress in understanding the evolution, structure and function of FtsH proteases with a focus on the role of FtsH in photosynthesis and respiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lanbo Yi
- Institute for Food and Bioresource Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peter J. Nixon
- Sir Ernst Chain Building-Wolfson Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Peter J. Nixon, ; orcid.org/0000-0003-1952-6937
| | - Jianfeng Yu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Sir Ernst Chain Building-Wolfson Laboratories, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Jianfeng Yu, ; orcid.org/0000-0001-7174-3803
| | - Feng Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Feng Chen, ; orcid.org/0000-0002-9054-943X
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Zou Y, Bozhkov PV. Chlamydomonas proteases: classification, phylogeny, and molecular mechanisms. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:7680-7693. [PMID: 34468747 PMCID: PMC8643629 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Proteases can regulate myriad biochemical pathways by digesting or processing target proteins. While up to 3% of eukaryotic genes encode proteases, only a tiny fraction of proteases are mechanistically understood. Furthermore, most of the current knowledge about proteases is derived from studies of a few model organisms, including Arabidopsis thaliana in the case of plants. Proteases in other plant model systems are largely unexplored territory, limiting our mechanistic comprehension of post-translational regulation in plants and hampering integrated understanding of how proteolysis evolved. We argue that the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has a number of technical and biological advantages for systematic studies of proteases, including reduced complexity of many protease families and ease of cell phenotyping. With this end in view, we share a genome-wide inventory of proteolytic enzymes in Chlamydomonas, compare the protease degradomes of Chlamydomonas and Arabidopsis, and consider the phylogenetic relatedness of Chlamydomonas proteases to major taxonomic groups. Finally, we summarize the current knowledge of the biochemical regulation and physiological roles of proteases in this algal model. We anticipate that our survey will promote and streamline future research on Chlamydomonas proteases, generating new insights into proteolytic mechanisms and the evolution of digestive and limited proteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zou
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter V Bozhkov
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala, Sweden
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The Papain-like Cysteine Protease HpXBCP3 from Haematococcus pluvialis Involved in the Regulation of Growth, Salt Stress Tolerance and Chlorophyll Synthesis in Microalgae. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111539. [PMID: 34768970 PMCID: PMC8583958 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The papain-like cysteine proteases (PLCPs), the most important group of cysteine proteases, have been reported to participate in the regulation of growth, senescence, and abiotic stresses in plants. However, the functions of PLCPs and their roles in stress response in microalgae was rarely reported. The responses to different abiotic stresses in Haematococcus pluvialis were often observed, including growth regulation and astaxanthin accumulation. In this study, the cDNA of HpXBCP3 containing 1515 bp open reading frame (ORF) was firstly cloned from H. pluvialis by RT-PCR. The analysis of protein domains and molecular evolution showed that HpXBCP3 was closely related to AtXBCP3 from Arabidopsis. The expression pattern analysis revealed that it significantly responds to NaCl stress in H. pluvialis. Subsequently, transformants expressing HpXBCP3 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were obtained and subjected to transcriptomic analysis. Results showed that HpXBCP3 might affect the cell cycle regulation and DNA replication in transgenic Chlamydomonas, resulting in abnormal growth of transformants. Moreover, the expression of HpXBCP3 might increase the sensitivity to NaCl stress by regulating ubiquitin and the expression of WD40 proteins in microalgae. Furthermore, the expression of HpXBCP3 might improve chlorophyll content by up-regulating the expression of NADH-dependent glutamate synthases in C. reinhardtii. This study indicated for the first time that HpXBCP3 was involved in the regulation of cell growth, salt stress response, and chlorophyll synthesis in microalgae. Results in this study might enrich the understanding of PLCPs in microalgae and provide a novel perspective for studying the mechanism of environmental stress responses in H. pluvialis.
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