Canonical signal recognition particle components can be bypassed for posttranslational protein targeting in chloroplasts

Loss of CpFTSY Reduces Photosynthetic Performance and Affects Insertion of PsaC of PSI in Diatoms

The chloroplast signal recognition particle (CpSRP) receptor (CpFTSY) is a component of the CpSRP pathway that post-translationally targets light-harvesting complex proteins (LHCPs) to the thylakoid membranes in plants and green algae containing chloroplasts derived from primary endosymbiosis. In plants, CpFTSY also plays a major role in the co-translational incorporation of chloroplast-encoded subunits of photosynthetic complexes into the thylakoids. This role has not been demonstrated in green algae. So far, its function in organisms with chloroplasts derived from secondary endosymbiotic events has not been elucidated. Here, we report the generation and characterization of mutants lacking CpFTSY in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. We found that this protein is not involved in inserting LHCPs into thylakoid membranes, indicating that the post-translational part of the CpSRP pathway is not active in this group of microalgae. The lack of CpFTSY caused an increased level of photoprotection, low electron transport rates, inefficient repair of photosystem II (PSII), reduced growth, a strong decline in the PSI subunit PsaC and upregulation of proteins that might compensate for a non-functional co-translational CpSRP pathway during light stress conditions. The phenotype was highly similar to the one described for diatoms lacking another component of the co-translational CpSRP pathway, the CpSRP54 protein. However, in contrast to cpsrp54 mutants, only one thylakoid membrane protein, PetD of the Cytb6f complex, was downregulated in cpftsy. Our results point to a minor role for CpFTSY in the co-translational CpSRP pathway, suggesting that other mechanisms may partially compensate for the effect of a disrupted CpSRP pathway.

Photosynthesis in rice is increased by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transformation of two truncated light-harvesting antenna

Plants compete for light partly by over-producing chlorophyll in leaves. The resulting high light absorption is an effective strategy for out competing neighbors in mixed communities, but it prevents light transmission to lower leaves and limits photosynthesis in dense agricultural canopies. We used a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated approach to engineer rice plants with truncated light-harvesting antenna (TLA) via knockout mutations to individual antenna assembly component genes CpSRP43, CpSRP54a, and its paralog, CpSRP54b. We compared the photosynthetic contributions of these components in rice by studying the growth rates of whole plants, quantum yield of photosynthesis, chlorophyll density and distribution, and phenotypic abnormalities. Additionally, we investigated a Poales-specific duplication of CpSRP54. The Poales are an important family that includes staple crops such as rice, wheat, corn, millet, and sorghum. Mutations in any of these three genes involved in antenna assembly decreased chlorophyll content and light absorption and increased photosynthesis per photon absorbed (quantum yield). These results have significant implications for the improvement of high leaf-area-index crop monocultures.

Fine mapping of CscpFtsY, a gene conferring the yellow leaf phenotype in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

BACKGROUND

Leaf color mutants are ideal materials to study pigment metabolism and photosynthesis. Leaf color variations are mainly affected by chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoid contents and chloroplast development in higher plants. However, the regulation of chlorophyll metabolism remains poorly understood in many plant species. The chloroplast signal-recognition particle system is responsible for the insertion of the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b proteins (LHCPs) to thylakoid membranes, which controls the chloroplast development as well as the regulation of Chls biosynthesis post-translationally in higher plants.

RESULTS

In this study, the yellow leaf cucumber mutant, named yl, was found in an EMS-induced mutant library, which exhibited a significantly reduced chlorophyll content, abnormal chloroplast ultrastructure and decreased photosynthetic capacity. Genetic analysis demonstrated that the phenotype of yl was controlled by a recessive nuclear gene. Using BSA-seq technology combined with the map-based cloning method, we narrowed the locus to a 100 kb interval in chromosome 3. Linkage analysis and allelism test validated the candidate SNP residing in CsaV3_3G009150 encoding one homolog of chloroplast signal-recognition particle (cpSRP) receptor in Arabidopsis, cpFtsY, could be responsible for the yellow leaf phenotype of yl. The relative expression of CscpFtsY was significantly down-regulated in different organs except for the stem, of yl compared with that in the wild type (WT). Subcellular localization result showed that CscpFtsY located in the chloroplasts of mesophyll cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The yl mutant displayed Chls-deficient, impaired chloroplast ultrastructure with intermittent grana stacks and significantly decreased photosynthetic capacity. The isolation of CscpFtsY in cucumber could accelerate the progress on chloroplast development by cpSRP-dependant LHCP delivery system and regulation of Chls biosynthesis in a post-translational way.

Protein Targeting Into the Thylakoid Membrane Through Different Pathways

In higher plants, chloroplasts are essential semi-autonomous organelles with complex compartments. As part of these sub-organellar compartments, the sheet-like thylakoid membranes contain abundant light-absorbing chlorophylls bound to the light-harvesting proteins and to some of the reaction center proteins. About half of the thylakoid membrane proteins are encoded by nuclear genes and synthesized in the cytosol as precursors before being imported into the chloroplast. After translocation across the chloroplast envelope by the Toc/Tic system, these proteins are subsequently inserted into or translocated across the thylakoid membranes through distinct pathways. The other half of thylakoid proteins are encoded by the chloroplast genome, synthesized in the stroma and integrated into the thylakoid through a cotranslational process. Much progress has been made in identification and functional characterization of new factors involved in protein targeting into the thylakoids, and new insights into this process have been gained. In this review, we introduce the distinct transport systems mediating the translocation of substrate proteins from chloroplast stroma to the thylakoid membrane, and present the recent advances in the identification of novel components mediating these pathways. Finally, we raise some unanswered questions involved in the targeting of chloroplast proteins into the thylakoid membrane, along with perspectives for future research.

Protein Sorting within Chloroplasts

Chloroplasts have multiple suborganellar membranes. Correct and efficient translocation of chloroplast proteins from their site of synthesis into or across membranes to their functional compartments are fundamental processes. In recent years, several new components and regulatory mechanisms involved in chloroplast protein import and sorting have been explored. Moreover, the formation of liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) has been recently reported as a novel mechanism for regulating chloroplast protein sorting. Here, we overview the recent advances of both nuclear- and chloroplast-encoded protein trafficking to their final destination within chloroplasts, and discuss the novel components and regulatory mechanisms of intrachloroplast sorting. Furthermore, we propose that LLPT may be a universal and conserved mechanism for driving organelle protein trafficking and organelle biogenesis.

Chloroplast SRP54s are Essential for Chloroplast Development in Rice

BACKGROUND

The chloroplast signal recognition particle 54 (cpSRP54) is known for targeting the light-harvesting complex proteins to thylakoids and plays a critical role for chloroplast development in Arabidopsis, but little is known in rice. Here, we reported two homologous cpSRP54s that affect chloroplast development and plant survival in rice.

RESULTS

Two rice cpSRP54 homologues, OscpSRP54a and OscpSRP54b, were identified in present study. The defective OscpSRP54a (LOC_Os11g05552) was responsible for the pale green leaf phenotype of the viable pale green leaf 14 (pgl14) mutant. A single nucleotide substitution from G to A at the position 278, the first intron splicing site, was detected in LOC_Os11g05552 in pgl14. The wild type allele could rescue the mutant phenotype. Knockout lines of OscpSRP54b (LOC_Os11g05556) exhibited similar pale green phenotype to pgl14 with reduced chlorophyll contents and impaired chloroplast development, but showed apparently arrested-growth and died within 3 weeks. Both OscpSRP54a and OscpSRP54b were constitutively expressed mainly in shoots and leaves at the vegetative growth stage. Subcellular location indicated that both OscpSRP54a and OscpSRP54b were chloroplast-localized. Both OscpSRP54a and OscpSRP54b were able to interact with OscpSRP43, respectively. The transcript level of OscpSRP43 was significantly reduced while the transcript level of OscpSRP54b was apparently increased in pgl14. In contrast, the transcript levels of OscpSRP54a, OscpSRP43 and OscpSRP54b were all significantly decreased in OscpSRP54b knockout lines.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that both OscpSRP54a and OscpSRP54b were essential for normal chloroplast development by interacting with OscpSRP43 in rice. OscpSRP54a and OscpSRP54b might play distinct roles in transporting different chloroplast proteins into thylakoids through cpSRP-mediated pathway.

Phenotype and TMT-based quantitative proteomics analysis of Brassica napus reveals new insight into chlorophyll synthesis and chloroplast structure

The conversion of light energy into chemical energy in leaves is very important for plant growth and development. During this process, chlorophylls and their derivatives are indispensable as their fundamental role in the energy absorption and transduction activities. Chlorophyll variation mutants are important materials for studying chlorophyll metabolism, chloroplast biogenesis, photosynthesis and related physiological processes. Here, a chlorophyll-reduced mutant (crm1) was isolated from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenized Brassica napus. Compared to wild type, crm1 showed yellow leaves, reduced chlorophyll content, fewer thylakoid stacks and retarded growth. Quantitative mass spectrometry analysis with Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) isobaric labeling showed that totally 4575 proteins were identified from the chloroplast of Brassica napus leaves, and 466 of which displayed differential accumulations between wild type and crm1. The differential abundance proteins were found to be involved in chlorophyll metabolism, photosynthesis, phagosome and proteasome. Our results suggest that the decreased abundance of chlorophyll biosynthetic enzymes, proteins involved in photosynthesis might account for the reduced chlorophyll content, impaired thylakoid structure, and reduction of plant productivity. The increased abundance of proteins involved in phagosome and proteasome pathways might allow plants to adapt the proteome to environmental conditions to ensure growth and survival due to chlorophyll reduction. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Photosynthesis, which consists of light and dark reactions, is fundamental to biomass production. Chloroplast is regarded as the main site for photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, the pigment chlorophyll is essential for light harvesting and energy transfer. This work provides new insights into protein expression patterns, and enables the identification of many attractive candidates for investigation of chlorophyll biosynthesis, chloroplast structure and photosynthesis in Brassica napus. These findings may be applied to improve the photosynthetic efficiency by genetic engineering in crops.

Ribosome-Associated Chloroplast SRP54 Enables Efficient Cotranslational Membrane Insertion of Key Photosynthetic Proteins

Key proteins of the photosynthetic complexes are encoded in the chloroplast genome and cotranslationally inserted into the thylakoid membrane. However, the molecular details of this process are largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate by ribosome profiling that the conserved chloroplast signal recognition particle subunit (cpSRP54) is required for efficient cotranslational targeting of several central photosynthetic proteins, such as the PSII PsbA (D1) subunit, in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). High-resolution analysis of membrane-associated and soluble ribosome footprints revealed that the SRP-dependent membrane targeting of PsbA is already initiated at an early translation step before exposure of the nascent chain from the ribosome. In contrast to cytosolic SRP, which contacts the ribosome close to the peptide tunnel exit site, analysis of the cpSRP54/ribosome binding interface revealed a direct interaction of cpSRP54 and the ribosomal subunit uL4, which is not located at the tunnel exit site but forms a part of the internal peptide tunnel wall by a loop domain. The plastid-specific C-terminal tail region of cpSRP54 plays a crucial role in uL4 binding. Our data indicate a novel mechanism of SRP-dependent membrane protein transport with the cpSRP54/uL4 interaction as a central element in early initiation of cotranslational membrane targeting.

Unraveling Hidden Components of the Chloroplast Envelope Proteome: Opportunities and Limits of Better MS Sensitivity

The chloroplast is a major plant cell organelle that fulfills essential metabolic and biosynthetic functions. Located at the interface between the chloroplast and other cell compartments, the chloroplast envelope system is a strategic barrier controlling the exchange of ions, metabolites and proteins, thus regulating essential metabolic functions (synthesis of hormones precursors, amino acids, pigments, sugars, vitamins, lipids, nucleotides etc.) of the plant cell. However, unraveling the contents of the chloroplast envelope proteome remains a difficult challenge; many proteins constituting this functional double membrane system remain to be identified. Indeed, the envelope contains only 1% of the chloroplast proteins (i.e. 0.4% of the whole cell proteome). In other words, most envelope proteins are so rare at the cell, chloroplast, or even envelope level, that they remained undetectable using targeted MS studies. Cross-contamination of chloroplast subcompartments by each other and by other cell compartments during cell fractionation, impedes accurate localization of many envelope proteins. The aim of the present study was to take advantage of technologically improved MS sensitivity to better define the proteome of the chloroplast envelope (differentiate genuine envelope proteins from contaminants). This MS-based analysis relied on an enrichment factor that was calculated for each protein identified in purified envelope fractions as compared with the value obtained for the same protein in crude cell extracts. Using this approach, a total of 1269 proteins were detected in purified envelope fractions, of which, 462 could be assigned an envelope localization by combining MS-based spectral count analyses with manual annotation using data from the literature and prediction tools. Many of such proteins being previously unknown envelope components, these data constitute a new resource of significant value to the broader plant science community aiming to define principles and molecular mechanisms controlling fundamental aspects of plastid biogenesis and functions.

Cas9-guide RNA ribonucleoprotein-induced genome editing in the industrial green alga Coccomyxa sp. strain KJ

BACKGROUND

Oxygen-evolving photosynthetic microorganisms, collectively termed as microalgae, are gaining attention as alternative fuel sources. The unicellular alga Coccomyxa sp. strain KJ that belongs to the class Trebouxiophyceae can grow rapidly in minimal mineral media and accumulate triacylglycerols at levels > 60% (w/w) of its dry weight under nitrogen depletion conditions. Thus, the strain can be a good candidate for biofuel production. Still, substantial improvements in lipid productivity and other traits of this strain are needed to meet commercial production requirements. Consequently, the development of new genetic tools including genome editing that are applicable to this strain is highly desired.

RESULTS

In this paper, we report successful genome editing of strain KJ by intracellular delivery of a ribonucleoprotein complex comprising recombinant Cas9 protein and guide RNA. For introduction of Cas9-guide RNA ribonucleoprotein into strain KJ cells, we used an electroporator with a short (2.5 ms) electric pulse at a high field strength (7500 V cm^-1) followed by multiple 50-ms electric pulses at low field strength (250 V cm^-1). Under these conditions, we successfully isolated several knockout lines of the FTSY gene of strain KJ, encoding a signal recognition particle-docking protein at a frequency of 0.01%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows applicability of DNA-free genome editing in Coccomyxa, which may be applicable in other Trebouxiophyceae species.

Molecular mechanism of SRP-dependent light-harvesting protein transport to the thylakoid membrane in plants

The light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding proteins (LHCP) belong to a large family of membrane proteins. They form the antenna complexes of photosystem I and II and function in light absorption and transfer of the excitation energy to the photosystems. As nuclear-encoded proteins, the LHCPs are imported into the chloroplast and further targeted to their final destination-the thylakoid membrane. Due to their hydrophobicity, the formation of the so-called 'transit complex' in the stroma is important to prevent their aggregation in this aqueous environment. The posttranslational LHCP targeting mechanism is well regulated through the interaction of various soluble and membrane-associated protein components and includes several steps: the binding of the LHCP to the heterodimeric cpSRP43/cpSRP54 complex to form the soluble transit complex; the docking of the transit complex to the SRP receptor cpFtsY and the Alb3 translocase at the membrane followed by the release and integration of the LHCP into the thylakoid membrane in a GTP-dependent manner. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms and dynamics behind the posttranslational LHCP targeting to the thylakoid membrane of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Chloroplast Translation: Structural and Functional Organization, Operational Control, and Regulation

Chloroplast translation is essential for cellular viability and plant development. Its positioning at the intersection of organellar RNA and protein metabolism makes it a unique point for the regulation of gene expression in response to internal and external cues. Recently obtained high-resolution structures of plastid ribosomes, the development of approaches allowing genome-wide analyses of chloroplast translation (i.e., ribosome profiling), and the discovery of RNA binding proteins involved in the control of translational activity have greatly increased our understanding of the chloroplast translation process and its regulation. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of the chloroplast translation machinery, its structure, organization, and function. In addition, we summarize the techniques that are currently available to study chloroplast translation and describe how translational activity is controlled and which cis-elements and trans-factors are involved. Finally, we discuss how translational control contributes to the regulation of chloroplast gene expression in response to developmental, environmental, and physiological cues. We also illustrate the commonalities and the differences between the chloroplast and bacterial translation machineries and the mechanisms of protein biosynthesis in these two prokaryotic systems.

Chloroplast SRP43 acts as a chaperone for glutamyl-tRNA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis

Assembly of light-harvesting complexes requires synchronization of chlorophyll (Chl) biosynthesis with biogenesis of light-harvesting Chl a/b-binding proteins (LHCPs). The chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) pathway is responsible for transport of nucleus-encoded LHCPs in the stroma of the plastid and their integration into the thylakoid membranes. Correct folding and assembly of LHCPs require the incorporation of Chls, whose biosynthesis must therefore be precisely coordinated with membrane insertion of LHCPs. How the spatiotemporal coordination between the cpSRP machinery and Chl biosynthesis is achieved is poorly understood. In this work, we demonstrate a direct interaction between cpSRP43, the chaperone that mediates LHCP targeting and insertion, and glutamyl-tRNA reductase (GluTR), a rate-limiting enzyme in tetrapyrrole biosynthesis. Concurrent deficiency for cpSRP43 and the GluTR-binding protein (GBP) additively reduces GluTR levels, indicating that cpSRP43 and GBP act nonredundantly to stabilize GluTR. The substrate-binding domain of cpSRP43 binds to the N-terminal region of GluTR, which harbors aggregation-prone motifs, and the chaperone activity of cpSRP43 efficiently prevents aggregation of these regions. Our work thus reveals a function of cpSRP43 in Chl biosynthesis and suggests a striking mechanism for posttranslational coordination of LHCP insertion with Chl biosynthesis.

Deletion of the chloroplast LTD protein impedes LHCI import and PSI-LHCI assembly in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Nuclear-encoded light-harvesting chlorophyll- and carotenoid-binding proteins (LHCPs) are imported into the chloroplast and transported across the stroma to thylakoid membrane assembly sites by the chloroplast signal recognition particle (CpSRP) pathway. The LHCP translocation defect (LTD) protein is essential for the delivery of imported LHCPs to the CpSRP pathway in Arabidopsis. However, the function of the LTD protein in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has not been investigated. Here, we generated a C. reinhardtii ltd (Crltd) knockout mutant by using CRISPR-Cas9, a new target-specific knockout technology. The Crltd1 mutant showed a low chlorophyll content per cell with an unusual increase in appressed thylakoid membranes and enlarged cytosolic vacuoles. Profiling of thylakoid membrane proteins in the Crltd1 mutant showed a more severe reduction in the levels of photosystem I (PSI) core proteins and absence of functional LHCI compared with those of photosystem II, resulting in a much smaller PSI pool size and diminished chlorophyll antenna size. The lack of CrLTD did not prevent photoautotrophic growth of the cells. These results are substantially different from those for Arabidopsis ltd null mutant, indicating LTD function in LHCP delivery and PSI assembly may not be as stringent in C. reinhardtii as it is in higher plants.

Chloroplast PetD protein: evidence for SRP/Alb3-dependent insertion into the thylakoid membrane

BACKGROUND

In thylakoid membrane, each monomer of the dimeric complex of cytochrome b 6 f is comprised of eight subunits that are both nucleus- and plastid-encoded. Proper cytochrome b 6 f complex integration into the thylakoid membrane requires numerous regulatory factors for coordinated transport, insertion and assembly of the subunits. Although, the chloroplast-encoded cytochrome b 6 f subunit IV (PetD) consists of three transmembrane helices, the signal and the mechanism of protein integration into the thylakoid membrane have not been identified.

RESULTS

Here, we demonstrate that the native PetD subunit cannot incorporate into the thylakoid membranes spontaneously, but that proper integration occurs through the post-translational signal recognition particle (SRP) pathway. Furthermore, we show that PetD insertion into thylakoid membrane involves the coordinated action of cpFTSY, cpSRP54 and ALB3 insertase.

CONCLUSIONS

PetD subunit integration into the thylakoid membrane is a post-translational and an SRP-dependent process that requires the formation of the cpSRP-cpFtsY-ALB3-PetD complex. This data provides a new insight into the molecular mechanisms by which membrane proteins integration into the thylakoid membrane is accomplished and is not limited to PetD.

From bacteria to chloroplasts: evolution of the chloroplast SRP system

Chloroplasts derive from a prokaryotic symbiont that lost most of its genes during evolution. As a result, the great majority of chloroplast proteins are encoded in the nucleus and are posttranslationally imported into the organelle. The chloroplast genome encodes only a few proteins. These include several multispan thylakoid membrane proteins which are synthesized on thylakoid-bound ribosomes and cotranslationally inserted into the membrane. During evolution, ancient prokaryotic targeting machineries were adapted and combined with novel targeting mechanisms to facilitate post- and cotranslational protein transport in chloroplasts. This review focusses on the chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) protein transport system, which has been intensively studied in higher plants. The cpSRP system derived from the prokaryotic SRP pathway, which mediates the cotranslational protein transport to the bacterial plasma membrane. Chloroplasts contain homologs of several components of the bacterial SRP system. The function of these conserved components in post- and/or cotranslational protein transport and chloroplast-specific modifications of these transport mechanisms are described. Furthermore, recent studies of cpSRP systems in algae and lower plants are summarized and their impact on understanding the evolution of the cpSRP system are discussed.

Suppressors of the Chloroplast Protein Import Mutant tic40 Reveal a Genetic Link between Protein Import and Thylakoid Biogenesis

To extend our understanding of chloroplast protein import and the role played by the import machinery component Tic40, we performed a genetic screen for suppressors of chlorotic tic40 knockout mutant Arabidopsis thaliana plants. As a result, two suppressor of tic40 loci, stic1 and stic2, were identified and characterized. The stic1 locus corresponds to the gene ALBINO4 (ALB4), which encodes a paralog of the well-known thylakoid protein targeting factor ALB3. The stic2 locus identified a previously unknown stromal protein that interacts physically with both ALB4 and ALB3. Genetic studies showed that ALB4 and STIC2 act together in a common pathway that also involves cpSRP54 and cpFtsY. Thus, we conclude that ALB4 and STIC2 both participate in thylakoid protein targeting, potentially for a specific subset of thylakoidal proteins, and that this targeting pathway becomes disadvantageous to the plant in the absence of Tic40. As the stic1 and stic2 mutants both suppressed tic40 specifically (other TIC-related mutants were not suppressed), we hypothesize that Tic40 is a multifunctional protein that, in addition to its originally described role in protein import, is able to influence downstream processes leading to thylakoid biogenesis.

The Chloroplast SRP Systems of Chaetosphaeridium globosum and Physcomitrella patens as Intermediates in the Evolution of SRP-Dependent Protein Transport in Higher Plants

The bacterial signal recognition particle (SRP) mediates the cotranslational targeting of membrane proteins and is a high affinity complex consisting of a SRP54 protein subunit (Ffh) and an SRP RNA. The chloroplast SRP (cpSRP) pathway has adapted throughout evolution to enable the posttranslational targeting of the light harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding proteins (LHCPs) to the thylakoid membrane. In spermatophytes (seed plants), the cpSRP lacks the SRP RNA and is instead formed by a high affinity interaction of the conserved 54-kD subunit (cpSRP54) with the chloroplast-specific cpSRP43 protein. This heterodimeric cpSRP recognizes LHCP and delivers it to the thylakoid membrane. However, in contrast to spermatophytes, plastid SRP RNAs were identified within all streptophyte lineages and in all chlorophyte branches. Furthermore, it was shown that cpSRP43 does not interact with cpSRP54 in chlorophytes (e.g., Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). In this study, we biochemically characterized the cpSRP system of the charophyte Chaetosphaeridium globosum and the bryophyte Physcomitrella patens. Interaction studies demonstrate low affinity binding of cpSRP54 to cpSRP43 (Kd ~10 μM) in Chaetosphaeridium globosum and Physcomitrella patens as well as relatively low affinity binding of cpSRP54 to cpSRP RNA (Kd ~1 μM) in Physcomitrella patens. CpSRP54/cpSRP43 complex formation in charophytes is supported by the finding that specific alterations in the second chromodomain of cpSRP43, that are conserved within charophytes and absent in land plants, do not interfere with cpSRP54 binding. Furthermore, our data show that the elongated apical loop structure of the Physcomitrella patens cpSRP RNA contributes to the low binding affinity between cpSRP54 and the cpSRP RNA.

Comparative Analysis of Light-Harvesting Antennae and State Transition in chlorina and cpSRP Mutants

State transitions in photosynthesis provide for the dynamic allocation of a mobile fraction of light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) to photosystem II (PSII) in state I and to photosystem I (PSI) in state II. In the state I-to-state II transition, LHCII is phosphorylated by STN7 and associates with PSI to favor absorption cross-section of PSI. Here, we used Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mutants with defects in chlorophyll (Chl) b biosynthesis or in the chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) machinery to study the flexible formation of PS-LHC supercomplexes. Intriguingly, we found that impaired Chl b biosynthesis in chlorina1-2 (ch1-2) led to preferentially stabilized LHCI rather than LHCII, while the contents of both LHCI and LHCII were equally depressed in the cpSRP43-deficient mutant (chaos). In view of recent findings on the modified state transitions in LHCI-deficient mutants (Benson et al., 2015), the ch1-2 and chaos mutants were used to assess the influence of varying LHCI/LHCII antenna size on state transitions. Under state II conditions, LHCII-PSI supercomplexes were not formed in both ch1-2 and chaos plants. LHCII phosphorylation was drastically reduced in ch1-2, and the inactivation of STN7 correlates with the lack of state transitions. In contrast, phosphorylated LHCII in chaos was observed to be exclusively associated with PSII complexes, indicating a lack of mobile LHCII in chaos Thus, the comparative analysis of ch1-2 and chaos mutants provides new evidence for the flexible organization of LHCs and enhances our understanding of the reversible allocation of LHCII to the two photosystems.

Fine Mapping and Candidate Gene Analysis of the Leaf-Color Gene ygl-1 in Maize

A novel yellow-green leaf mutant yellow-green leaf-1 (ygl-1) was isolated in self-pollinated progenies from the cross of maize inbred lines Ye478 and Yuanwu02. The mutant spontaneously showed yellow-green character throughout the lifespan. Meanwhile, the mutant reduced contents of chlorophyll and Car, arrested chloroplast development and lowered the capacity of photosynthesis compared with the wild-type Lx7226. Genetic analysis revealed that the mutant phenotype was controlled by a recessive nuclear gene. The ygl-1 locus was initially mapped to an interval of about 0.86 Mb in bin 1.01 on the short arm of chromosome 1 using 231 yellow-green leaf individuals of an F₂ segregating population from ygl-1/Lx7226. Utilizing four new polymorphic SSR markers, the ygl-1 locus was narrowed down to a region of about 48 kb using 2930 and 2247 individuals of F₂ and F₃ mapping populations, respectively. Among the three predicted genes annotated within this 48 kb region, GRMZM2G007441, which was predicted to encode a cpSRP43 protein, had a 1-bp nucleotide deletion in the coding region of ygl-1 resulting in a frame shift mutation. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that YGL-1 was constitutively expressed in all tested tissues and its expression level was not significantly affected in the ygl-1 mutant from early to mature stages, while light intensity regulated its expression both in the ygl-1 mutant and wild type seedlings. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of some genes involved in chloroplast development were affected in the six-week old ygl-1 plants. These findings suggested that YGL-1 plays an important role in chloroplast development of maize.

Conformational dynamics of a membrane protein chaperone enables spatially regulated substrate capture and release

Membrane protein biogenesis poses enormous challenges to cellular protein homeostasis and requires effective molecular chaperones. Compared with chaperones that promote soluble protein folding, membrane protein chaperones require tight spatiotemporal coordination of their substrate binding and release cycles. Here we define the chaperone cycle for cpSRP43, which protects the largest family of membrane proteins, the light harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins (LHCPs), during their delivery. Biochemical and NMR analyses demonstrate that cpSRP43 samples three distinct conformations. The stromal factor cpSRP54 drives cpSRP43 to the active state, allowing it to tightly bind substrate in the aqueous compartment. Bidentate interactions with the Alb3 translocase drive cpSRP43 to a partially inactive state, triggering selective release of LHCP's transmembrane domains in a productive unloading complex at the membrane. Our work demonstrates how the intrinsic conformational dynamics of a chaperone enables spatially coordinated substrate capture and release, which may be general to other ATP-independent chaperone systems.

Regulation of Carotenoid Biosynthesis in Photosynthetic Organs

A substantial proportion of the dazzling diversity of colors displayed by living organisms throughout the tree of life is determined by the presence of carotenoids, which most often provide distinctive yellow, orange and red hues. These metabolites play fundamental roles in nature that extend far beyond their importance as pigments. In photosynthetic lineages, carotenoids are essential to sustain life, since they have been exploited to maximize light harvesting and protect the photosynthetic machinery from photooxidative stress. Consequently, photosynthetic organisms have evolved several mechanisms that adjust the carotenoid metabolism to efficiently cope with constantly fluctuating light environments. This chapter will focus on the current knowledge concerning the regulation of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway in leaves, which are the primary photosynthetic organs of most land plants.

The intriguing realm of protein biogenesis: Facing the green co-translational protein maturation networks

The ribosome is the cell's protein-making factory, a huge protein-RNA complex, that is essential to life. Determining the high-resolution structures of the stable "core" of this factory was among the major breakthroughs of the past decades, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2009. Now that the mysteries of the ribosome appear to be more traceable, detailed understanding of the mechanisms that regulate protein synthesis includes not only the well-known steps of initiation, elongation, and termination but also the less comprehended features of the co-translational events associated with the maturation of the nascent chains. The ribosome is a platform for co-translational events affecting the nascent polypeptide, including protein modifications, folding, targeting to various cellular compartments for integration into membrane or translocation, and proteolysis. These events are orchestrated by ribosome-associated protein biogenesis factors (RPBs), a group of a dozen or more factors that act as the "welcoming committee" for the nascent chain as it emerges from the ribosome. In plants these factors have evolved to fit the specificity of different cellular compartments: cytoplasm, mitochondria and chloroplast. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge of these factors and their interaction around the exit tunnel of dedicated ribosomes. Particular attention has been accorded to the plant system, highlighting the similarities and differences with other organisms.

In vitro reconstitution of co-translational D1 insertion reveals a role of the cpSec-Alb3 translocase and Vipp1 in photosystem II biogenesis

Photosystem II (PS II) is a multi-subunit complex localized in the thylakoid membrane that performs the light-dependent photosynthetic charge separation. The PS II reaction centre comprises, among others, the D1 protein. De novo synthesis and repair of PS II require efficient mechanisms for transport and insertion of plastid encoded D1 into the thylakoid membrane. To elucidate the process of D1 insertion, we used an in vitro translation system derived from pea chloroplasts to reconstitute the D1 insertion. Thereby, truncated D1 encoding psbA mRNAs lacking a stop codon were translated in the presence of thylakoid membranes and the translation was stalled by addition of chloramphenicol. The generated ribosome nascent chain complexes (RNCs) were tightly associated with the thylakoids. Subsequently, these D1 insertion intermediates were enriched from solubilized thylakoids by sucrose cushion centrifugation. Immunological analyses demonstrated the presence of the cpSec translocase, Alb3, cpFtsY, cpSRP54 and Vipp1 (vesicle-inducing protein in plastids 1) in the enriched D1 insertion intermediates. A complex formation between cpSecY, Alb3, cpFtsY and Vipp1 in thylakoid membranes was shown by gel filtration chromatography, BN (Blue Native)/SDS-PAGE and co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Furthermore, a stimulating effect of recombinant Vipp1 on the formation of a D1 insertion intermediate was observed in vitro. These results suggest a co-operative function of these proteins in D1 insertion.

Regulation of Structural Dynamics within a Signal Recognition Particle Promotes Binding of Protein Targeting Substrates

Protein targeting is critical in all living organisms and involves a signal recognition particle (SRP), an SRP receptor, and a translocase. In co-translational targeting, interactions among these proteins are mediated by the ribosome. In chloroplasts, the light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding protein (LHCP) in the thylakoid membrane is targeted post-translationally without a ribosome. A multidomain chloroplast-specific subunit of the SRP, cpSRP43, is proposed to take on the role of coordinating the sequence of targeting events. Here, we demonstrate that cpSRP43 exhibits significant interdomain dynamics that are reduced upon binding its SRP binding partner, cpSRP54. We showed that the affinity of cpSRP43 for the binding motif of LHCP (L18) increases when cpSRP43 is complexed to the binding motif of cpSRP54 (cpSRP54pep). These results support the conclusion that substrate binding to the chloroplast SRP is modulated by protein structural dynamics in which a major role of cpSRP54 is to improve substrate binding efficiency to the cpSRP.

Arabidopsis thaliana mutants lacking cpFtsY or cpSRP54 exhibit different defects in photosystem II repair

Photosystem II (PS II) is a multi subunit protein complex embedded in the thylakoid membrane of cyanobacteria and chloroplasts. As the PS II reaction center protein D1 is prone to a light induced damage that inhibits PS II function especially at elevated light intensities, a highly ordered repair process including synthesis, targeting and insertion of D1 has evolved. To elucidate the function of the chloroplast signal recognition particle subunits, cpSRP43 and cpSRP54, and the cpSRP-receptor cpFtsY in D1 biogenesis we investigated the efficiency of the PS II repair cycle in the corresponding mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana. Immunological analyses, PAM measurements and in vivo labeling experiments demonstrate an impaired replacement of damaged D1 in the cpftsy mutant, while the chaos and the ffc mutant lacking cpSRP43 and cpSRP54, respectively, were not or hardly affected. The defect in cpftsy was neither caused by an impaired psbA transcript accumulation, D1 translation initiation nor by an enhanced D1 degradation. Further experiments revealed a decreased amount of salt stable, thylakoid membrane-associated translating ribosomes in the cpftsy mutant, while the amount of membrane-associated translating ribosomes is unaltered in the chaos and the ffc mutants. Therefore, our data indicate that the lack of cpFtsY leads to an inefficient PS II repair cycle caused by an impaired binding of translating ribosomes to the thylakoid membrane.

Chloroplast SRP54 Was Recruited for Posttranslational Protein Transport via Complex Formation with Chloroplast SRP43 during Land Plant Evolution

In bacteria, membrane proteins are targeted cotranslationally via a signal recognition particle (SRP). During the evolution of higher plant chloroplasts from cyanobacteria, the SRP pathway underwent striking adaptations that enable the posttranslational transport of the abundant light-harvesting chlorophyll-a/b-binding proteins (LHCPs). The conserved 54-kDa SRP subunit in higher plant chloroplasts (cpSRP54) is not bound to an SRP RNA, an essential SRP component in bacteria, but forms a stable heterodimer with the chloroplast-specific cpSRP43. This heterodimeric cpSRP recognizes LHCP and delivers it to the thylakoid membrane whereby cpSRP43 plays a central role. This study shows that the cpSRP system in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii differs significantly from that of higher plants as cpSRP43 is not complexed to cpSRP54 in Chlamydomonas and cpSRP54 is not involved in LHCP recognition. This divergence is attributed to altered residues within the cpSRP54 tail and the second chromodomain of cpSRP43 that are crucial for the formation of the binding interface in Arabidopsis. These changes are highly conserved among chlorophytes, whereas all land plants contain cpSRP proteins with typical interaction motifs. These data demonstrate that the coevolution of LHCPs and cpSRP43 occurred independently of complex formation with cpSRP54 and that the interaction between cpSRP54 and cpSRP43 evolved later during the transition from chlorophytes to land plants. Furthermore, our data show that in higher plants a heterodimeric form of cpSRP is required for the formation of a low molecular weight transit complex with LHCP.

Genome-wide analysis of thylakoid-bound ribosomes in maize reveals principles of cotranslational targeting to the thylakoid membrane

Chloroplast genomes encode ∼ 37 proteins that integrate into the thylakoid membrane. The mechanisms that target these proteins to the membrane are largely unexplored. We used ribosome profiling to provide a comprehensive, high-resolution map of ribosome positions on chloroplast mRNAs in separated membrane and soluble fractions in maize seedlings. The results show that translation invariably initiates off the thylakoid membrane and that ribosomes synthesizing a subset of membrane proteins subsequently become attached to the membrane in a nuclease-resistant fashion. The transition from soluble to membrane-attached ribosomes occurs shortly after the first transmembrane segment in the nascent peptide has emerged from the ribosome. Membrane proteins whose translation terminates before emergence of a transmembrane segment are translated in the stroma and targeted to the membrane posttranslationally. These results indicate that the first transmembrane segment generally comprises the signal that links ribosomes to thylakoid membranes for cotranslational integration. The sole exception is cytochrome f, whose cleavable N-terminal cpSecA-dependent signal sequence engages the thylakoid membrane cotranslationally. The distinct behavior of ribosomes synthesizing the inner envelope protein CemA indicates that sorting signals for the thylakoid and envelope membranes are distinguished cotranslationally. In addition, the fractionation behavior of ribosomes in polycistronic transcription units encoding both membrane and soluble proteins adds to the evidence that the removal of upstream ORFs by RNA processing is not typically required for the translation of internal genes in polycistronic chloroplast mRNAs.

Carotenoid metabolism in plants

Carotenoids are mostly C40 terpenoids, a class of hydrocarbons that participate in various biological processes in plants, such as photosynthesis, photomorphogenesis, photoprotection, and development. Carotenoids also serve as precursors for two plant hormones and a diverse set of apocarotenoids. They are colorants and critical components of the human diet as antioxidants and provitamin A. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the genes and enzymes involved in carotenoid metabolism and describe recent progress in understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying carotenoid accumulation. The importance of the specific location of carotenoid enzyme metabolons and plastid types as well as of carotenoid-derived signals is discussed.

The rice faded green leaf locus encodes protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase B and is essential for chlorophyll synthesis under high light conditions

NADPH:protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (POR) catalyzes photoreduction of protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) to chlorophyllide in chlorophyll (Chl) synthesis, and is required for prolamellar body (PLB) formation in etioplasts. Rice faded green leaf (fgl) mutants develop yellow/white leaf variegation and necrotic lesions during leaf elongation in field-grown plants. Map-based cloning revealed that FGL encodes OsPORB, one of two rice POR isoforms. In fgl, etiolated seedlings contained smaller PLBs in etioplasts, and lower levels of total and photoactive Pchlide. Under constant or high light (HL) conditions, newly emerging green leaves rapidly turned yellow and formed lesions. Increased levels of non-photoactive Pchlide, which acts as a photosensitizer, may cause reactive oxygen accumulation and lesion formation. OsPORA expression is repressed by light and OsPORB expression is regulated in a circadian rhythm in short-day conditions. OsPORA was expressed at high levels in developing leaves and decreased dramatically in fully mature leaves, whereas OsPORB expression was relatively constant throughout leaf development, similar to expression patterns of AtPORA and AtPORB in Arabidopsis. However, OsPORB expression is rapidly upregulated by HL treatment, similar to the fluence rate-dependent regulation of AtPORC. This suggests that OsPORB function is equivalent to both AtPORB and AtPORC functions. Our results demonstrate that OsPORB is essential for maintaining light-dependent Chl synthesis throughout leaf development, especially under HL conditions, whereas OsPORA mainly functions in the early stages of leaf development. Developmentally and physiologically distinct roles of monocot OsPORs are discussed by comparing with those of dicot AtPORs.

Evolution from the prokaryotic to the higher plant chloroplast signal recognition particle: the signal recognition particle RNA is conserved in plastids of a wide range of photosynthetic organisms

The protein targeting signal recognition particle (SRP) pathway in chloroplasts of higher plants has undergone dramatic evolutionary changes. It disposed of its RNA, which is an essential SRP component in bacteria, and uses a unique chloroplast-specific protein cpSRP43. Nevertheless, homologs of the conserved SRP54 and the SRP receptor, FtsY, are present in higher plant chloroplasts. In this study, we analyzed the phylogenetic distribution of SRP components in photosynthetic organisms to elucidate the evolution of the SRP system. We identified conserved plastid SRP RNAs within all nonspermatophyte land plant lineages and in all chlorophyte branches. Furthermore, we show the simultaneous presence of cpSRP43 in these organisms. The function of this novel SRP system was biochemically and structurally characterized in the moss Physcomitrella patens. We show that P. patens chloroplast SRP (cpSRP) RNA binds cpSRP54 but has lost the ability to significantly stimulate the GTPase cycle of SRP54 and FtsY. Furthermore, the crystal structure at 1.8-Å resolution and the nucleotide specificity of P. patens cpFtsY was determined and compared with bacterial FtsY and higher plant chloroplast FtsY. Our data lead to the view that the P. patens cpSRP system occupies an intermediate position in the evolution from bacterial-type SRP to higher plant-type cpSRP system.

Truncated photosystem chlorophyll antenna size in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii upon deletion of the TLA3-CpSRP43 gene

The truncated light-harvesting antenna size3 (tla3) DNA insertional transformant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a chlorophyll-deficient mutant with a lighter green phenotype, a lower chlorophyll (Chl) per cell content, and higher Chl a/b ratio than corresponding wild-type strains. Functional analyses revealed a higher intensity for the saturation of photosynthesis and greater light-saturated photosynthetic activity in the tla3 mutant than in the wild type and a Chl antenna size of the photosystems that was only about 40% of that in the wild type. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western-blot analyses showed that the tla3 strain was deficient in the Chl a/b light-harvesting complex. Molecular and genetic analyses revealed a single plasmid insertion in chromosome 4 of the tla3 nuclear genome, causing deletion of predicted gene g5047 and plasmid insertion within the fourth intron of downstream-predicted gene g5046. Complementation studies defined that gene g5047 alone was necessary and sufficient to rescue the tla3 mutation. Gene g5047 encodes a C. reinhardtii homolog of the chloroplast-localized SRP43 signal recognition particle, whose occurrence and function in green microalgae has not hitherto been investigated. Biochemical analysis showed that the nucleus-encoded and chloroplast-localized CrCpSRP43 protein specifically operates in the assembly of the peripheral components of the Chl a/b light-harvesting antenna. This work demonstrates that cpsrp43 deletion in green microalgae can be employed to generate tla mutants with a substantially diminished Chl antenna size. The latter exhibit improved solar energy conversion efficiency and photosynthetic productivity under mass culture and bright sunlight conditions.

Arabidopsis cpSRP54 regulates carotenoid accumulation in Arabidopsis and Brassica napus

An Arabidopsis thaliana mutant, cbd (carotenoid biosynthesis deficient), was recovered from a mutant population based on its yellow cotyledons, yellow-first true leaves, and stunted growth. Seven-day-old seedlings and mature seeds of this mutant had lower chlorophyll and total carotenoids than the wild type (WT). Genetic and molecular characterization revealed that cbd was a recessive mutant caused by a T-DNA insertion in the gene cpSRP54 encoding the 54 kDa subunit of the chloroplast signal recognition particle. Transcript levels of most of the main carotenoid biosynthetic genes in cbd were unchanged relative to WT, but expression increased in carotenoid and abscisic acid catabolic genes. The chloroplasts of cbd also had developmental defects that contributed to decreased carotenoid and chlorophyll contents. Transcription of AtGLK1 (Golden 2-like 1), AtGLK2, and GUN4 appeared to be disrupted in the cbd mutant suggesting that the plastid-to-nucleus retrograde signal may be affected, regulating the changes in chloroplast functional and developmental states and carotenoid content flux. Transformation of A. thaliana and Brassica napus with a gDNA encoding the Arabidopsis cpSRP54 showed the utility of this gene in enhancing levels of seed carotenoids without affecting growth or seed yield.

Intra-plastid protein trafficking: how plant cells adapted prokaryotic mechanisms to the eukaryotic condition

Protein trafficking and localization in plastids involve a complex interplay between ancient (prokaryotic) and novel (eukaryotic) translocases and targeting machineries. During evolution, ancient systems acquired new functions and novel translocation machineries were developed to facilitate the correct localization of nuclear encoded proteins targeted to the chloroplast. Because of its post-translational nature, targeting and integration of membrane proteins posed the biggest challenge to the organelle to avoid aggregation in the aqueous compartments. Soluble proteins faced a different kind of problem since some had to be transported across three membranes to reach their destination. Early studies suggested that chloroplasts addressed these issues by adapting ancient-prokaryotic machineries and integrating them with novel-eukaryotic systems, a process called 'conservative sorting'. In the last decade, detailed biochemical, genetic, and structural studies have unraveled the mechanisms of protein targeting and localization in chloroplasts, suggesting a highly integrated scheme where ancient and novel systems collaborate at different stages of the process. In this review we focus on the differences and similarities between chloroplast ancestral translocases and their prokaryotic relatives to highlight known modifications that adapted them to the eukaryotic situation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Import and Quality Control in Mitochondria and Plastids.

The ethylene signaling pathway has a negative impact on sucrose-induced anthocyanin accumulation in Arabidopsis

In an attempt to understand the complex regulatory mechanisms underlying sucrose-induced flavonoid biosynthesis, we examined several Arabidopsis mutants with altered anthocyanin accumulation. We determined that disruption of ethylene signaling results in a dramatic increase in sucrose-induced anthocyanin accumulation. Furthermore, we investigated why the ein2-1 (ethylene insensitive) Arabidopsis mutant accumulates higher levels of anthocyanin in response to sucrose than wild-type Arabidopsis. An increased level of PAP1 transcript in the ein2-1 mutant appears to be the main factor responsible for the increased accumulation of anthocyanin in response to sucrose. Therefore, our results indicate that the ethylene signaling pathway plays a negative role in sucrose-induced anthocyanin accumulation. We believe that the explanation for this observation may be related to the initiation of the senescence program in plants.

A dynamic cpSRP43-Albino3 interaction mediates translocase regulation of chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP)-targeting components

The chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) and its receptor, chloroplast FtsY (cpFtsY), form an essential complex with the translocase Albino3 (Alb3) during post-translational targeting of light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding proteins (LHCPs). Here, we describe a combination of studies that explore the binding interface and functional role of a previously identified cpSRP43-Alb3 interaction. Using recombinant proteins corresponding to the C terminus of Alb3 (Alb3-Cterm) and various domains of cpSRP43, we identify the ankyrin repeat region of cpSRP43 as the domain primarily responsible for the interaction with Alb3-Cterm. Furthermore, we show Alb3-Cterm dissociates a cpSRP·LHCP targeting complex in vitro and stimulates GTP hydrolysis by cpSRP54 and cpFtsY in a strictly cpSRP43-dependent manner. These results support a model in which interactions between the ankyrin region of cpSRP43 and the C terminus of Alb3 promote distinct membrane-localized events, including LHCP release from cpSRP and release of targeting components from Alb3.

Interplay between the cpSRP pathway components, the substrate LHCP and the translocase Alb3: an in vivo and in vitro study

The chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) and its receptor, cpFtsY, posttranslationally target the nuclear-encoded light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding proteins (LHCPs) to the translocase Alb3 in the thylakoid membrane. In this study, we analyzed the interplay between the cpSRP pathway components, the substrate protein LHCP and the translocase Alb3 by using in vivo and in vitro techniques. We propose that cpSRP43 is crucial for the binding of LHCP-loaded cpSRP and cpFtsY to Alb3. In addition, our data suggest that a direct interaction between Alb3 and LHCP contributes to the formation of this complex.

Component interactions, regulation and mechanisms of chloroplast signal recognition particle-dependent protein transport

The chloroplast proteome comprises nuclear- and plastome-encoded proteins. In order to function correctly these proteins must be transported, either cotranslationally or posttranslationally, to their final destination in the chloroplast. Here the chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) which is present in two different stromal pools plays an essential role. On the one hand, the conserved 54kDa subunit (cpSRP54) is associated with 70S ribosomes to function in the cotranslational transport of the plastid-encoded thylakoid membrane protein D1. On the other hand, the cpSRP consists of cpSRP54 and a unique 43kDa subunit (cpSRP43) and facilitates the transport of nuclear-encoded light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding proteins (LHCPs), the most abundant membrane proteins of the thylakoids. In addition to cpSRP, the cpSRP receptor cpFtsY and the thylakoid membrane protein Alb3 are required for posttranslational LHCP integration in a GTP-dependent manner. In contrast to the universally conserved cytosolic SRP, the chloroplast SRP of higher plants lacks an SRP-RNA component. Interestingly, cpSRP-RNA genes have been identified in the plastome of lower plants, indicating that their cpSRP structure resembles the cytosolic SRP.

cpSRP43 is a novel chaperone specific for light-harvesting chlorophyll a,b-binding proteins

The biosynthesis of most membrane proteins is directly coupled to membrane insertion, and therefore, molecular chaperones are not required. The light-harvesting chlorophyll a,b-binding proteins (LHCPs) present a prominent exception as they are synthesized in the cytoplasm, and after import into the chloroplast, they are targeted and inserted into the thylakoid membrane. Upon arrival in the stroma, LHCPs form a soluble transit complex with the chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) consisting of an SRP54 homolog and the unique cpSRP43 composed of three chromodomains and four ankyrin repeats. Here we describe that cpSRP43 alone prevents aggregation of LHCP by formation of a complex with nanomolar affinity, whereas cpSRP54 is not required for this chaperone activity. Other stromal chaperones like trigger factor cannot replace cpSRP43, which implies that LHCPs require a specific chaperone. Although cpSRP43 does not have an ATPase activity, it can dissolve aggregates of LHCPs similar to chaperones of the Hsp104/ClpB family. We show that the LHCP-cpSRP43 interaction is predominantly hydrophobic but strictly depends on an intact DPLG motif between the second and third transmembrane region. The cpSRP43 ankyrin repeats that provide the binding site for the DPLG motif are sufficient for the chaperone function, whereas the chromodomains are dispensable. Taken together, we define cpSRP43 as a highly specific chaperone for LHCPs in addition to its established function as a targeting factor for this family of membrane proteins.

The significance of protein maturation by plastidic type I signal peptidase 1 for thylakoid development in Arabidopsis chloroplasts

Thylakoids are the chloroplast internal membrane systems that house light-harvesting and electron transport reactions. Despite the important functions and well-studied constituents of thylakoids, the molecular mechanism of their development remains largely elusive. A recent genetic study has demonstrated that plastidic type I signal peptidase 1 (Plsp1) is vital for proper thylakoid development in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) chloroplasts. Plsp1 was also shown to be necessary for processing of an envelope protein, Toc75, and a thylakoid lumenal protein, OE33; however, the relevance of the protein maturation in both of the two distinct subcompartments for proper chloroplast development remained unknown. Here, we conducted an extensive analysis of the plsp1-null mutant to address the significance of lumenal protein maturation in thylakoid development. Plastids that lack Plsp1 were found to accumulate vesicles of variable sizes in the stroma. Analyses of the mutant plastids revealed that the lack of Plsp1 causes a reduction in accumulation of thylakoid proteins and that Plsp1 is involved in maturation of two additional lumenal proteins, OE23 and plastocyanin. Further immunoblotting and electron microscopy immunolocalization studies showed that OE33 associates with the stromal vesicles of the mutant plastids. Finally, we used a genetic complementation system to demonstrate that accumulation of improperly processed forms of Toc75 in the plastid envelope does not disrupt normal plant development. These results suggest that proper maturation of lumenal proteins may be a key process for correct assembly of thylakoids.

The C terminus of the Alb3 membrane insertase recruits cpSRP43 to the thylakoid membrane

The YidC/Oxa1/Alb3 family of membrane proteins controls the insertion and assembly of membrane proteins in bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. Here we describe the molecular mechanisms underlying the interaction of Alb3 with the chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP). The Alb3 C-terminal domain (A3CT) is intrinsically disordered and recruits cpSRP to the thylakoid membrane by a coupled binding and folding mechanism. Two conserved, positively charged motifs reminiscent of chromodomain interaction motifs in histone tails are identified in A3CT that are essential for the Alb3-cpSRP43 interaction. They are absent in the C-terminal domain of Alb4, which therefore does not interact with cpSRP43. Chromodomain 2 in cpSRP43 appears as a central binding platform that can interact simultaneously with A3CT and cpSRP54. The observed negative cooperativity of the two binding events provides the first insights into cargo release at the thylakoid membrane. Taken together, our data show how Alb3 participates in cpSRP-dependent membrane targeting, and our data provide a molecular explanation why Alb4 cannot compensate for the loss of Alb3. Oxa1 and YidC utilize their positively charged, C-terminal domains for ribosome interaction in co-translational targeting. Alb3 is adapted for the chloroplast-specific Alb3-cpSRP43 interaction in post-translational targeting by extending the spectrum of chromodomain interactions.

The membrane-binding motif of the chloroplast signal recognition particle receptor (cpFtsY) regulates GTPase activity

The chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) and its receptor (cpFtsY) function in thylakoid biogenesis to target integral membrane proteins to thylakoids. Unlike cytosolic SRP receptors in eukaryotes, cpFtsY partitions between thylakoid membranes and the soluble stroma. Based on sequence alignments, a membrane-binding motif identified in Escherichia coli FtsY appears to be conserved in cpFtsY, yet whether the proposed motif is responsible for the membrane-binding function of cpFtsY has yet to be shown experimentally. Our studies show that a small N-terminal region in cpFtsY stabilizes a membrane interaction critical to cpFtsY function in cpSRP-dependent protein targeting. This membrane-binding motif is both necessary and sufficient to direct cpFtsY and fused passenger proteins to thylakoids. Our results demonstrate that the cpFtsY membrane-binding motif may be functionally replaced by the corresponding region from E. coli, confirming that the membrane-binding motif is conserved among organellar and prokaryotic homologs. Furthermore, the capacity of cpFtsY for lipid binding correlates with liposome-induced GTP hydrolysis stimulation. Mutations that debilitate the membrane-binding motif in cpFtsY result in higher rates of GTP hydrolysis, suggesting that negative regulation is provided by the intact membrane-binding region in the absence of a bilayer. Furthermore, NMR and CD structural studies of the N-terminal region and the analogous region in the E. coli SRP receptor revealed a conformational change in secondary structure that takes place upon lipid binding. These studies suggest that the cpFtsY membrane-binding motif plays a critical role in the intramolecular communication that regulates cpSRP receptor functions at the membrane.

Protein transport in organelles: Protein transport into and across the thylakoid membrane

The chloroplast thylakoid is the most abundant membrane system in nature, and is responsible for the critical processes of light capture, electron transport and photophosphorylation. Most of the resident proteins are imported from the cytosol and then transported into or across the thylakoid membrane. This minireview describes the multitude of pathways used for these proteins. We discuss the huge differences in the mechanisms involved in the secretory and twin-arginine translocase pathways used for the transport of proteins into the lumen, with an emphasis on the differing substrate conformations and energy requirements. We also discuss the rationale for the use of two different systems for membrane protein insertion: the signal recognition particle pathway and the so-called spontaneous pathway. The recent crystallization of a key chloroplast signal recognition particle component provides new insights into this rather unique form of signal recognition particle.

Altered expression of cytosolic/nuclear HSC70-1 molecular chaperone affects development and abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana

Molecular chaperones of the heat shock cognate 70 kDa (HSC70) family are highly conserved in all living organisms and assist nascent protein folding in normal physiological conditions as well as in biotic and abiotic stress conditions. In the absence of specific inhibitors or viable knockout mutants, cytosolic/nuclear HSC70-1 overexpression (OE) and mutants in the HSC70 co-chaperone SGT1 (suppressor of G(2)/M allele of skp1) were used as genetic tools to identify HSC70/SGT1 functions in Arabidopsis development and abiotic stress responses. HSC70-1 OE caused a reduction in root and shoot meristem activities, thus explaining the dwarfism of those plants. In addition, HSC70-1 OE did not impair auxin-dependent phenotypes, suggesting that SGT1 functions previously identified in auxin signalling are HSC70 independent. While responses to abiotic stimuli such as UV-C exposure, phosphate starvation, or seedling de-etiolation were not perturbed by HSC70-1 OE, it specifically conferred gamma-ray hypersensitivity and tolerance to salt, cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As). Cd and As perception was not perturbed, but plants overexpressing HSC70-1 accumulated less Cd, thus providing a possible molecular explanation for their tolerance phenotype. In summary, genetic evidence is provided for HSC70-1 involvement in a limited set of physiological processes, illustrating the essential and yet specific functions of this chaperone in development and abiotic stress responses in Arabidopsis.

Non-identical contributions of two membrane-bound cpSRP components, cpFtsY and Alb3, to thylakoid biogenesis

The insertion of light-harvesting chlorophyll proteins (LHCPs) into the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast is cpSRP-dependent, and requires the stromal components cpSRP54 and cpSRP43, the membrane-bound SRP receptor cpFtsY and the integral membrane protein Alb3. Previous studies demonstrated that the Arabidopsis mutant lacking both cpSRP54 and cpSRP43 had pale yellow leaves, but was viable, whereas the mutants lacking Alb3 exhibit an albino phenotype that is more severe and seedling lethality. We previously showed that a maize mutant lacking cpFtsY had a pale yellow-green phenotype and was seedling lethal. To compare the in vivo requirements of cpFtsY and Alb3 in thylakoid biogenesis in greater detail, we isolated Arabidopsis null mutants of cpftsY, and performed biochemical comparisons with the Arabidopsis alb3 mutant. Both cpftsY and alb3 null mutants were seedling lethal on a synthetic medium lacking sucrose, whereas on a medium supplemented with sucrose, they were able to grow to later developmental stages, but were mostly infertile. cpftsY mutant plants had yellow leaves in which the levels of LHCPs were reduced to 10-33% compared with wild type. In contrast, alb3 had yellowish white leaves, and the LHCP levels were less than or equal to 10% of those of wild type. Intriguingly, whereas accumulation of the Sec and Tat machineries were normal in both mutants, the Sec pathway substrate Cyt f was more severely decreased in the cpftsY mutant than in alb3, which may indicate a functional link between cpFtsY and Sec translocation machinery. These results suggest that cpFtsY and Alb3 have essentially similar, but slightly distinct, contributions to thylakoid biogenesis.