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DiMario RJ, Kophs AN, Apalla AJA, Schnable JN, Cousins AB. Multiple highly expressed phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase genes have divergent enzyme kinetic properties in two C4 grasses. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2023; 132:413-428. [PMID: 37675505 PMCID: PMC10667006 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcad116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (PEPC) catalyses the irreversible carboxylation of PEP with bicarbonate to produce oxaloacetate. This reaction powers the carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) in plants that perform C4 photosynthesis. This CCM is generally driven by a single PEPC gene product that is highly expressed in the cytosol of mesophyll cells. We found two C4 grasses, Panicum miliaceum and Echinochloa colona, that each have two highly expressed PEPC genes. We characterized the kinetic properties of the two most abundant PEPCs in E. colona and P. miliaceum to better understand how the enzyme's amino acid structure influences its function. METHODS Coding sequences of the two most abundant PEPC proteins in E. colona and P. miliaceum were synthesized by GenScript and were inserted into bacteria expression plasmids. Point mutations resulting in substitutions at conserved amino acid residues (e.g. N-terminal serine and residue 890) were created via site-directed PCR mutagenesis. The kinetic properties of semi-purified plant PEPCs from Escherichia coli were analysed using membrane-inlet mass spectrometry and a spectrophotometric enzyme-coupled reaction. KEY RESULTS The two most abundant P. miliaceum PEPCs (PmPPC1 and PmPPC2) have similar sequence identities (>95 %), and as a result had similar kinetic properties. The two most abundant E. colona PEPCs (EcPPC1 and EcPPC2) had identities of ~78 % and had significantly different kinetic properties. The PmPPCs and EcPPCs had different responses to allosteric inhibitors and activators, and substitutions at the conserved N-terminal serine and residue 890 resulted in significantly altered responses to allosteric regulators. CONCLUSIONS The two, significantly expressed C4Ppc genes in P. miliaceum were probably the result of genomes combining from two closely related C4Panicum species. We found natural variation in PEPC's sensitivity to allosteric inhibition that seems to bypass the conserved 890 residue, suggesting alternative evolutionary pathways for increased malate tolerance and other kinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J DiMario
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Ashley N Kophs
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Anthony J A Apalla
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - James N Schnable
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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Cao J, Cheng G, Wang L, Maimaitijiang T, Lan H. Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of the Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase Gene Family in Suaeda aralocaspica, an Annual Halophyte With Single-Cellular C 4 Anatomy. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:665279. [PMID: 34527003 PMCID: PMC8435749 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.665279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) plays pivotal roles in the carbon fixation of photosynthesis and a variety of metabolic and stress pathways. Suaeda aralocaspica belongs to a single-cellular C4 species and carries out a photosynthetic pathway in an unusually elongated chlorenchyma cell, which is expected to have PEPCs with different characteristics. To identify the different isoforms of PEPC genes in S. aralocaspica and comparatively analyze their expression and regulation patterns as well as the biochemical and enzymatic properties in this study, we characterized a bacterial-type PEPC (BTPC; SaPEPC-4) in addition to the two plant-type PEPCs (PTPCs; SaPEPC-1 and SaPEPC-2) using a genome-wide identification. SaPEPC-4 presented a lower expression level in all test combinations with an unknown function; two SaPTPCs showed distinct subcellular localizations and different spatiotemporal expression patterns but positively responded to abiotic stresses. Compared to SaPEPC-2, the expression of SaPEPC-1 specifically in chlorenchyma cell tissues was much more active with the progression of development and under various stresses, particularly sensitive to light, implying the involvement of SaPEPC-1 in a C4 photosynthetic pathway. In contrast, SaPEPC-2 was more like a non-photosynthetic PEPC. The expression trends of two SaPTPCs in response to light, development, and abiotic stresses were also matched with the changes in PEPC activity in vivo (native) or in vitro (recombinant), and the biochemical properties of the two recombinant SaPTPCs were similar in response to various effectors while the catalytic efficiency, substrate affinity, and enzyme activity of SaPEPC-2 were higher than that of SaPEPC-1 in vitro. All the different properties between these two SaPTPCs might be involved in transcriptional (e.g., specific cis-elements), posttranscriptional [e.g., 5'-untranslated region (5'-UTR) secondary structure], or translational (e.g., PEPC phosphorylation/dephosphorylation) regulatory events. The comparative studies on the different isoforms of the PEPC gene family in S. aralocaspica may help to decipher their exact role in C4 photosynthesis, plant growth/development, and stress resistance.
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Phansopa C, Dunning LT, Reid JD, Christin PA. Lateral Gene Transfer Acts As an Evolutionary Shortcut to Efficient C4 Biochemistry. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 37:3094-3104. [PMID: 32521019 PMCID: PMC7751175 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adaptation of proteins for novel functions often requires changes in their kinetics via amino acid replacement. This process can require multiple mutations, and therefore extended periods of selection. The transfer of genes among distinct species might speed up the process, by providing proteins already adapted for the novel function. However, this hypothesis remains untested in multicellular eukaryotes. The grass Alloteropsis is an ideal system to test this hypothesis due to its diversity of genes encoding phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, an enzyme that catalyzes one of the key reactions in the C4 pathway. Different accessions of Alloteropsis either use native isoforms relatively recently co-opted from other functions or isoforms that were laterally acquired from distantly related species that evolved the C4 trait much earlier. By comparing the enzyme kinetics, we show that native isoforms with few amino acid replacements have substrate KM values similar to the non-C4 ancestral form, but exhibit marked increases in catalytic efficiency. The co-option of native isoforms was therefore followed by rapid catalytic improvements, which appear to rely on standing genetic variation observed within one species. Native C4 isoforms with more amino acid replacements exhibit additional changes in affinities, suggesting that the initial catalytic improvements are followed by gradual modifications. Finally, laterally acquired genes show both strong increases in catalytic efficiency and important changes in substrate handling. We conclude that the transfer of genes among distant species sharing the same physiological novelty creates an evolutionary shortcut toward more efficient enzymes, effectively accelerating evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chatchawal Phansopa
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Luke T Dunning
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - James D Reid
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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4
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DiMario RJ, Kophs AN, Pathare VS, Schnable JC, Cousins AB. Kinetic variation in grass phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylases provides opportunity to enhance C 4 photosynthetic efficiency. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 105:1677-1688. [PMID: 33345397 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The high rates of photosynthesis and the carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) in C4 plants are initiated by the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (PEPC). The flow of inorganic carbon into the CCM of C4 plants is driven by PEPC's affinity for bicarbonate (KHCO3 ), which can be rate limiting when atmospheric CO2 availability is restricted due to low stomatal conductance. We hypothesize that natural variation in KHCO3 across C4 plants is driven by specific amino acid substitutions to impact rates of C4 photosynthesis under environments such as drought that restrict stomatal conductance. To test this hypothesis, we measured KHCO3 from 20 C4 grasses to compare kinetic properties with specific amino acid substitutions. There was nearly a twofold range in KHCO3 across these C4 grasses (24.3 ± 1.5 to 46.3 ± 2.4 μm), which significantly impacts modeled rates of C4 photosynthesis. Additionally, molecular engineering of a low-HCO3- affinity PEPC identified key domains that confer variation in KHCO3 . This study advances our understanding of PEPC kinetics and builds the foundation for engineering increased-HCO3- affinity and C4 photosynthetic efficiency in important C4 crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J DiMario
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Ashley N Kophs
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Varsha S Pathare
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - James C Schnable
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, 68583, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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Khoshravesh R, Stata M, Adachi S, Sage TL, Sage RF. Evolutionary Convergence of C 4 Photosynthesis: A Case Study in the Nyctaginaceae. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:578739. [PMID: 33224166 PMCID: PMC7667235 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.578739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis evolved over 65 times, with around 24 origins in the eudicot order Caryophyllales. In the Caryophyllales family Nyctaginaceae, the C4 pathway is known in three genera of the tribe Nyctagineae: Allionia, Okenia and Boerhavia. Phylogenetically, Allionia and Boerhavia/Okenia are separated by three genera whose photosynthetic pathway is uncertain. To clarify the distribution of photosynthetic pathways in the Nyctaginaceae, we surveyed carbon isotope ratios of 159 species of the Nyctaginaceae, along with bundle sheath (BS) cell ultrastructure, leaf gas exchange, and C4 pathway biochemistry in five species from the two C4 clades and closely related C3 genera. All species in Allionia, Okenia and Boerhavia are C4, while no C4 species occur in any other genera of the family, including three that branch between Allionia and Boerhavia. This demonstrates that C4 photosynthesis evolved twice in Nyctaginaceae. Boerhavia species use the NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) subtype of C4 photosynthesis, while Allionia species use the NAD-malic enzyme (NAD-ME) subtype. The BS cells of Allionia have many more mitochondria than the BS of Boerhavia. Bundle sheath mitochondria are closely associated with chloroplasts in Allionia which facilitates CO2 refixation following decarboxylation by mitochondrial NAD-ME. The close relationship between Allionia and Boerhavia could provide insights into why NADP-ME versus NAD-ME subtypes evolve, particularly when coupled to analysis of their respective genomes. As such, the group is an excellent system to dissect the organizational hierarchy of convergent versus divergent traits produced by C4 evolution, enabling us to understand when convergence is favored versus when divergent modifications can result in a common phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxana Khoshravesh
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Matt Stata
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shunsuke Adachi
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Global Innovation Research, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Japan
| | - Tammy L. Sage
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rowan F. Sage
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Moody NR, Christin PA, Reid JD. Kinetic Modifications of C 4 PEPC Are Qualitatively Convergent, but Larger in Panicum Than in Flaveria. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:1014. [PMID: 32719709 PMCID: PMC7350407 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis results from a set of anatomical features and biochemical components that act together to concentrate CO2 within the leaf and boost productivity. This complex trait evolved independently many times, resulting in various realizations of the phenotype, but in all C4 plants the primary fixation of atmospheric carbon is catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Comparisons of C4 and non-C4 PEPC from a few closely related species suggested that the enzyme was modified to meet the demands of the C4 cycle. However, very few C4 groups have been investigated, hampering general conclusions. To test the hypothesis that distant C4 lineages underwent convergent biochemical changes, we compare the kinetic variation between C4 and non-C4 PEPC from a previously assessed young lineage (Flaveria, Asteraceae) with those from an older lineage found within the distantly related grass family (Panicum). Despite the evolutionary distance, the kinetic changes between the non-C4 and C4 PEPC are qualitatively similar, with a decrease in sensitivity for inhibitors, an increased specificity (k cat/K m) for bicarbonate, and a decreased specificity (k cat/K m) for PEP. The differences are more pronounced in the older lineage Panicum, which might indicate that optimization of PEPC for the C4 context increases with evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas R. Moody
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | - James D. Reid
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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Hermida-Carrera C, Fares MA, Font-Carrascosa M, Kapralov MV, Koch MA, Mir A, Molins A, Ribas-Carbó M, Rocha J, Galmés J. Exploring molecular evolution of Rubisco in C 3 and CAM Orchidaceae and Bromeliaceae. BMC Evol Biol 2020; 20:11. [PMID: 31969115 PMCID: PMC6977233 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1551-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The CO2-concentrating mechanism associated to Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) alters the catalytic context for Rubisco by increasing CO2 availability and provides an advantage in particular ecological conditions. We hypothesized about the existence of molecular changes linked to these particular adaptations in CAM Rubisco. We investigated molecular evolution of the Rubisco large (L-) subunit in 78 orchids and 144 bromeliads with C3 and CAM photosynthetic pathways. The sequence analyses were complemented with measurements of Rubisco kinetics in some species with contrasting photosynthetic mechanism and differing in the L-subunit sequence. RESULTS We identified potential positively selected sites and residues with signatures of co-adaptation. The implementation of a decision tree model related Rubisco specific variable sites to the leaf carbon isotopic composition of the species. Differences in the Rubisco catalytic traits found among C3 orchids and between strong CAM and C3 bromeliads suggested Rubisco had evolved in response to differing CO2 concentration. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that the variability in the Rubisco L-subunit sequence in orchids and bromeliads is composed of coevolving sites under potential positive adaptive signal. The sequence variability was related to δ13C in orchids and bromeliads, however it could not be linked to the variability found in the kinetic properties of the studied species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Hermida-Carrera
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears Spain
| | - Mario A. Fares
- Integrative and Systems Biology Group, Department of Abiotic Stress, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (CSIC–UPV), 46022 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Marcel Font-Carrascosa
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears Spain
| | - Maxim V. Kapralov
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU United Kingdom
| | - Marcus A. Koch
- Department of Biodiversity and Plant Systematics, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 345, 9120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arnau Mir
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears Spain
| | - Arántzazu Molins
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears Spain
| | - Miquel Ribas-Carbó
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears Spain
| | - Jairo Rocha
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Research Group, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears Spain
| | - Jeroni Galmés
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears-INAGEA, Ctra. Valldemossa km. 7.5, 07122 Palma, Illes Balears Spain
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9
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Chen F, Jin W, Gao H, Guo Z, Lin H, Li J, Hu K, Guan X, Kalia VC, Lee JK, Zhang L, Li Y. Cloning, Expression and Characterization of Two Beta Carbonic Anhydrases from a Newly Isolated CO 2 Fixer, Serratia marcescens Wy064. Indian J Microbiol 2019; 59:64-72. [PMID: 30728632 DOI: 10.1007/s12088-018-0773-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial strains from karst landform soil were enriched via chemostat culture in the presence of sodium bicarbonate. Two chemolithotrophic strains were isolated and identified as Serratia marcescens Wy064 and Bacillus sp. Wy065. Both strains could grow using sodium bicarbonate as the sole carbon source. Furthermore, the supplement of the medium with three electron donors (Na2S, NaNO2, and Na2S2O3) improved the growth of both strains. The activities of carbonic anhydrase (CA) and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) could be detected in the crude enzyme of strain Wy064, implying that the strain Wy064 might employ Calvin cycle to fix CO2. S. marcescens genome mining revealed four potential CA genes designated CA1-CA4. The proteins encoded by genes CA1-3 were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified recombinant enzymes of CA1 and CA3 exhibited CO2 hydration activities, whereas enzyme CA2 was expressed in inclusion bodies. A CO2 hydration assay demonstrated that the specific activity of CA3 was significantly higher than that of CA1. The maximum CO2 hydration activities for CA1 and CA3 were observed at pH 7.5 and 40 °C. The activities of CA1 and CA3 were significantly enhanced by several metal ions, especially Zn2+, which resulted in 21.1-fold and 26.1-fold increases of CO2 hydration activities, respectively. The apparent K m and V max for CO2 as substrate were 27 mM and 179 WAU/mg for CA1, and 14 mM and 247 WAU/mg for CA3, respectively. Structure modeling combined with sequence analysis indicated that CA1 and CA3 should belong to the Type II β-CA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanbing Chen
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
| | - Wensong Jin
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
| | - Huifang Gao
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
| | - Zewang Guo
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Lin
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahuan Li
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
| | - Kaihui Hu
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
| | - Xiong Guan
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
| | - Vipin C Kalia
- 2Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029 Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Kul Lee
- 2Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029 Republic of Korea
| | - Liaoyuan Zhang
- 1College of Life Sciences, Gutian Edible Fungi Research Institute, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
- 2Department of Chemical Engineering, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029 Republic of Korea
| | - Yongyu Li
- 3College of Horticulture, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002 People's Republic of China
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10
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DiMario RJ, Cousins AB. A single serine to alanine substitution decreases bicarbonate affinity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase in C4Flaveria trinervia. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:995-1004. [PMID: 30517744 PMCID: PMC6363079 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase (PEPc) catalyzes the first committed step of C4 photosynthesis generating oxaloacetate from bicarbonate (HCO3-) and PEP. It is hypothesized that PEPc affinity for HCO3- has undergone selective pressure for a lower KHCO3 (Km for HCO3-) to increase the carbon flux entering the C4 cycle, particularly during conditions that limit CO2 availability. However, the decrease in KHCO3 has been hypothesized to cause an unavoidable increase in KPEP (Km for PEP). Therefore, the amino acid residue S774 in the C4 enzyme, which has been shown to increase KPEP, should lead to a decrease in KHCO3. Several studies reported the effect S774 has on KPEP; however, the influence of this amino acid substitution on KHCO3 has not been tested. To test these hypotheses, membrane-inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) was used to measure the KHCO3 of the photosynthetic PEPc from the C4Flaveria trinervia and the non-photosynthetic PEPc from the C3F. pringlei. The cDNAs for these enzymes were overexpressed and purified from the PEPc-less PCR1 Escherichia coli strain. Our work in comparison with previous reports suggests that KHCO3 and KPEP are linked by specific amino acids, such as S774; however, these kinetic parameters respond differently to the tested allosteric regulators, malate and glucose-6-phosphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J DiMario
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
- Correspondence:
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11
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Minges A, Janßen D, Offermann S, Groth G. Efficient In Vivo Screening Method for the Identification of C 4 Photosynthesis Inhibitors Based on Cell Suspensions of the Single-Cell C 4 Plant Bienertia sinuspersici. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1350. [PMID: 31736996 PMCID: PMC6831552 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The identification of novel herbicides is of crucial importance to modern agriculture. We developed an efficient in vivo assay based on oxygen evolution measurements using suspensions of chlorenchyma cells isolated from the single-cell C4 plant Bienertia sinuspersici to identify and characterize inhibitors of C4 photosynthesis. This novel approach fills the gap between conventional in vitro assays for inhibitors targeting C4 key enzymes and in vivo experiments on whole plants. The assay addresses inhibition of the target enzymes in a plant context thereby taking care of any reduced target inhibition due to metabolization or inadequate uptake of small molecule inhibitors across plant cell walls and membranes. Known small molecule inhibitors targeting C4 photosynthesis were used to validate the approach. To this end, we tested pyruvate phosphate dikinase inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide IV and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase inhibitor okanin. Both inhibitors show inhibition of plant photosynthesis at half-maximal inhibitory concentrations in the sub-mM range and confirm their potential to act as a new class of C4 selective inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Minges
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Institute of Biochemical Plant Physiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Dominik Janßen
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Institute of Biochemical Plant Physiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Georg Groth
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Institute of Biochemical Plant Physiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- *Correspondence: Georg Groth,
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12
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González-Segura L, Mújica-Jiménez C, Juárez-Díaz JA, Güémez-Toro R, Martinez-Castilla LP, Muñoz-Clares RA. Identification of the allosteric site for neutral amino acids in the maize C 4 isozyme of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase: The critical role of Ser-100. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:9945-9957. [PMID: 29743237 PMCID: PMC6028945 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.002884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The isozymes of photosynthetic phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from C4 plants (PEPC-C4) play a critical role in their atmospheric CO2 assimilation and productivity. They are allosterically activated by phosphorylated trioses or hexoses, such as d-glucose 6-phosphate, and inhibited by l-malate or l-aspartate. Additionally, PEPC-C4 isozymes from grasses are activated by glycine, serine, or alanine, but the allosteric site for these compounds remains unknown. Here, we report a new crystal structure of the isozyme from Zea mays (ZmPEPC-C4) with glycine bound at the monomer-monomer interfaces of the two dimers of the tetramer, making interactions with residues of both monomers. This binding site is close to, but different from, the one proposed to bind glucose 6-phosphate. Docking experiments indicated that d/l-serine or d/l-alanine could also bind to this site, which does not exist in the PEPC-C4 isozyme from the eudicot plant Flaveria, mainly because of a lysyl residue at the equivalent position of Ser-100 in ZmPEPC-C4 Accordingly, the ZmPEPC-C4 S100K mutant is not activated by glycine, serine, or alanine. Amino acid sequence alignments showed that PEPC-C4 isozymes from the monocot family Poaceae have either serine or glycine at this position, whereas those from Cyperaceae and eudicot families have lysine. The size and charge of the residue equivalent to Ser-100 are not only crucial for the activation of PEPC-C4 isozymes by neutral amino acids but also affect their affinity for the substrate phosphoenolpyruvate and their allosteric regulation by glucose 6-phosphate and malate, accounting for the reported kinetic differences between PEPC-C4 isozymes from monocot and eudicot plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Javier Andrés Juárez-Díaz
- Departamento de Biología Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Ciudad de México, México
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13
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Lauterbach M, Schmidt H, Billakurthi K, Hankeln T, Westhoff P, Gowik U, Kadereit G. De novo Transcriptome Assembly and Comparison of C 3, C 3-C 4, and C 4 Species of Tribe Salsoleae (Chenopodiaceae). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1939. [PMID: 29184562 PMCID: PMC5694442 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
C4 photosynthesis is a carbon-concentrating mechanism that evolved independently more than 60 times in a wide range of angiosperm lineages. Among other alterations, the evolution of C4 from ancestral C3 photosynthesis requires changes in the expression of a vast number of genes. Differential gene expression analyses between closely related C3 and C4 species have significantly increased our understanding of C4 functioning and evolution. In Chenopodiaceae, a family that is rich in C4 origins and photosynthetic types, the anatomy, physiology and phylogeny of C4, C2, and C3 species of Salsoleae has been studied in great detail, which facilitated the choice of six samples of five representative species with different photosynthetic types for transcriptome comparisons. mRNA from assimilating organs of each species was sequenced in triplicates, and sequence reads were de novo assembled. These novel genetic resources were then analyzed to provide a better understanding of differential gene expression between C3, C2 and C4 species. All three analyzed C4 species belong to the NADP-ME type as most genes encoding core enzymes of this C4 cycle are highly expressed. The abundance of photorespiratory transcripts is decreased compared to the C3 and C2 species. Like in other C4 lineages of Caryophyllales, our results suggest that PEPC1 is the C4-specific isoform in Salsoleae. Two recently identified transporters from the PHT4 protein family may not only be related to the C4 syndrome, but also active in C2 photosynthesis in Salsoleae. In the two populations of the C2 species S. divaricata transcript abundance of several C4 genes are slightly increased, however, a C4 cycle is not detectable in the carbon isotope values. Most of the core enzymes of photorespiration are highly increased in the C2 species compared to both C3 and C4 species, confirming a successful establishment of the C2 photosynthetic pathway. Furthermore, a function of PEP-CK in C2 photosynthesis appears likely, since PEP-CK gene expression is not only increased in S. divaricata but also in C2 species of other groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Lauterbach
- Institute for Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Hanno Schmidt
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Kumari Billakurthi
- Institute for Developmental and Molecular Biology of Plants, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Hankeln
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Peter Westhoff
- Institute for Developmental and Molecular Biology of Plants, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Udo Gowik
- Institute for Developmental and Molecular Biology of Plants, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute for Biology and Environmental Science (IBU), Plant Evolutionary Genetics, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Gudrun Kadereit
- Institute for Molecular Physiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Institute for Organismic and Molecular Evolutionary Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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14
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Orr DJ, Alcântara A, Kapralov MV, Andralojc PJ, Carmo-Silva E, Parry MAJ. Surveying Rubisco Diversity and Temperature Response to Improve Crop Photosynthetic Efficiency. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 172:707-717. [PMID: 27342312 PMCID: PMC5047088 DOI: 10.1104/pp.16.00750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The threat to global food security of stagnating yields and population growth makes increasing crop productivity a critical goal over the coming decades. One key target for improving crop productivity and yields is increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis. Central to photosynthesis is Rubisco, which is a critical but often rate-limiting component. Here, we present full Rubisco catalytic properties measured at three temperatures for 75 plants species representing both crops and undomesticated plants from diverse climates. Some newly characterized Rubiscos were naturally "better" compared to crop enzymes and have the potential to improve crop photosynthetic efficiency. The temperature response of the various catalytic parameters was largely consistent across the diverse range of species, though absolute values showed significant variation in Rubisco catalysis, even between closely related species. An analysis of residue differences among the species characterized identified a number of candidate amino acid substitutions that will aid in advancing engineering of improved Rubisco in crop systems. This study provides new insights on the range of Rubisco catalysis and temperature response present in nature, and provides new information to include in models from leaf to canopy and ecosystem scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas J Orr
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Rothamsted Research, Plant Biology and Crop Science, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., P.J.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Plant Sciences Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia (M.V.K.); and School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
| | - André Alcântara
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Rothamsted Research, Plant Biology and Crop Science, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., P.J.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Plant Sciences Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia (M.V.K.); and School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
| | - Maxim V Kapralov
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Rothamsted Research, Plant Biology and Crop Science, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., P.J.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Plant Sciences Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia (M.V.K.); and School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
| | - P John Andralojc
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Rothamsted Research, Plant Biology and Crop Science, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., P.J.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Plant Sciences Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia (M.V.K.); and School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
| | - Elizabete Carmo-Silva
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Rothamsted Research, Plant Biology and Crop Science, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., P.J.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Plant Sciences Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia (M.V.K.); and School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
| | - Martin A J Parry
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Rothamsted Research, Plant Biology and Crop Science, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom (D.J.O., A.A., P.J.A., E.C.-S., M.A.J.P.); Plant Sciences Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia (M.V.K.); and School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
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15
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Hermida-Carrera C, Kapralov MV, Galmés J. Rubisco Catalytic Properties and Temperature Response in Crops. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 171:2549-61. [PMID: 27329223 PMCID: PMC4972260 DOI: 10.1104/pp.16.01846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/17/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Rubisco catalytic traits and their thermal dependence are two major factors limiting the CO2 assimilation potential of plants. In this study, we present the profile of Rubisco kinetics for 20 crop species at three different temperatures. The results largely confirmed the existence of significant variation in the Rubisco kinetics among species. Although some of the species tended to present Rubisco with higher thermal sensitivity (e.g. Oryza sativa) than others (e.g. Lactuca sativa), interspecific differences depended on the kinetic parameter. Comparing the temperature response of the different kinetic parameters, the Rubisco Km for CO2 presented higher energy of activation than the maximum carboxylation rate and the CO2 compensation point in the absence of mitochondrial respiration. The analysis of the Rubisco large subunit sequence revealed the existence of some sites under adaptive evolution in branches with specific kinetic traits. Because Rubisco kinetics and their temperature dependency were species specific, they largely affected the assimilation potential of Rubisco from the different crops, especially under those conditions (i.e. low CO2 availability at the site of carboxylation and high temperature) inducing Rubisco-limited photosynthesis. As an example, at 25°C, Rubisco from Hordeum vulgare and Glycine max presented, respectively, the highest and lowest potential for CO2 assimilation at both high and low chloroplastic CO2 concentrations. In our opinion, this information is relevant to improve photosynthesis models and should be considered in future attempts to design more efficient Rubiscos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Hermida-Carrera
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain (C.H.-C., J.G.); andSchool of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
| | - Maxim V Kapralov
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain (C.H.-C., J.G.); andSchool of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
| | - Jeroni Galmés
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07122 Palma, Balearic Islands, Spain (C.H.-C., J.G.); andSchool of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, United Kingdom (M.V.K.)
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