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Hughes J, Winkler A. New Insight Into Phytochromes: Connecting Structure to Function. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 75:153-183. [PMID: 39038250 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-070623-110636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Red and far-red light-sensing phytochromes are widespread in nature, occurring in plants, algae, fungi, and prokaryotes. Despite at least a billion years of evolution, their photosensory modules remain structurally and functionally similar. Conversely, nature has found remarkably different ways of transmitting light signals from the photosensor to diverse physiological responses. We summarize key features of phytochrome structure and function and discuss how these are correlated, from how the bilin environment affects the chromophore to how light induces cellular signals. Recent advances in the structural characterization of bacterial and plant phytochromes have resulted in paradigm changes in phytochrome research that we discuss in the context of present-day knowledge. Finally, we highlight questions that remain to be answered and suggest some of the benefits of understanding phytochrome structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Hughes
- Department of Plant Physiology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany;
- Department of Physics, Free University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Winkler
- Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria;
- BioTechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
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2
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Elkurdi A, Guigas G, Hourani-Alsharafat L, Scheerer P, Nienhaus GU, Krauß N, Lamparter T. Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy with Atto 488-labeled phytochrome Agp1 from Agrobacterium fabrum. Photochem Photobiol 2024; 100:561-572. [PMID: 37675785 DOI: 10.1111/php.13851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Phytochromes are photoreceptor proteins with a bilin chromophore that undergo photoconversion between two spectrally different forms, Pr and Pfr. Three domains, termed PAS, GAF, and PHY domains, constitute the N-terminal photosensory chromophore module (PCM); the C-terminus is often a histidine kinase module. In the Agrobacterium fabrum phytochrome Agp1, the autophosphorylation activity of the histidine kinase is high in the Pr and low in the Pfr form. Crystal structure analyses of PCMs suggest flexibility around position 308 in the Pr but not in the Pfr form. Here, we performed time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy measurements with different Agp1 mutants, each with a single cysteine residue at various positions. The fluorophore label Atto-488 was attached to each mutant, and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy was measured in the Pr and Pfr forms. Fluorescence anisotropy curves were fitted with biexponential functions. Differences in the amplitude A2 of the second component between the PCM and the full-length variant indicate a mechanical coupling between position 362 and the histidine kinase. Pr-to-Pfr photoconversion induced no significant changes in the time constant t2 at any position. An intermediate t2 value at position 295, which is located in a compact environment, suggests flexibility around the nearby position 308 in Pr and in Pfr.
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Affiliation(s)
- Afaf Elkurdi
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Gernot Guigas
- Institute of Applied Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | | | - Patrick Scheerer
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Structural Biology of Cellular Signaling, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerd Ulrich Nienhaus
- Institute of Applied Physics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Norbert Krauß
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tilman Lamparter
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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Kaeser G, Krauß N, Roughan C, Sauthof L, Scheerer P, Lamparter T. Phytochrome-Interacting Proteins. Biomolecules 2023; 14:9. [PMID: 38275750 PMCID: PMC10813442 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Phytochromes are photoreceptors of plants, fungi, slime molds bacteria and heterokonts. These biliproteins sense red and far-red light and undergo light-induced changes between the two spectral forms, Pr and Pfr. Photoconversion triggered by light induces conformational changes in the bilin chromophore around the ring C-D-connecting methine bridge and is followed by conformational changes in the protein. For plant phytochromes, multiple phytochrome interacting proteins that mediate signal transduction, nuclear translocation or protein degradation have been identified. Few interacting proteins are known as bacterial or fungal phytochromes. Here, we describe how the interacting partners were identified, what is known about the different interactions and in which context of signal transduction these interactions are to be seen. The three-dimensional arrangement of these interacting partners is not known. Using an artificial intelligence system-based modeling software, a few predicted and modulated examples of interactions of bacterial phytochromes with their interaction partners are interpreted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gero Kaeser
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften (JKIP), Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (G.K.); (N.K.); (C.R.)
| | - Norbert Krauß
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften (JKIP), Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (G.K.); (N.K.); (C.R.)
| | - Clare Roughan
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften (JKIP), Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (G.K.); (N.K.); (C.R.)
| | - Luisa Sauthof
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Structural Biology of Cellular Signaling, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany; (L.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Patrick Scheerer
- Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Group Structural Biology of Cellular Signaling, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany; (L.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Tilman Lamparter
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften (JKIP), Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany; (G.K.); (N.K.); (C.R.)
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Du Y, Zou J, Yin Z, Chen T. Pan-Chromosome and Comparative Analysis of Agrobacterium fabrum Reveal Important Traits Concerning the Genetic Diversity, Evolutionary Dynamics, and Niche Adaptation of the Species. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0292422. [PMID: 36853054 PMCID: PMC10100860 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02924-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Agrobacterium fabrum has been critical for the development of plant genetic engineering and agricultural biotechnology due to its ability to transform eukaryotic cells. However, the gene composition, evolutionary dynamics, and niche adaptation of this species is still unknown. Therefore, we established a comparative genomic analysis based on a pan-chromosome data set to evaluate the genetic diversity of A. fabrum. Here, 25 A. fabrum genomes were selected for analysis by core genome phylogeny combined with the average nucleotide identity (ANI), amino acid identity (AAI), and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) values. An open pan-genome of A. fabrum exhibits genetic diversity with variable accessorial genes as evidenced by a consensus pan-genome of 12 representative genomes. The genomic plasticity of A. fabrum is apparent in its putative sequences for mobile genetic elements (MGEs), limited horizontal gene transfer barriers, and potentially horizontally transferred genes. The evolutionary constraints and functional enrichment in the pan-chromosome were measured by the Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) categories using eggNOG-mapper software, and the nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratio (dN/dS) was determined using HYPHY software. Comparative analysis revealed significant differences in the functional enrichment and the degree of purifying selection between the core genome and non-core genome. We demonstrate that the core gene families undergo stronger purifying selection but have a significant bias to contain one or more positively selected sites. Furthermore, although they shared similar genetic diversity, we observed significant differences between chromosome 1 (Chr I) and the chromid in their functional features and evolutionary constraints. We demonstrate that putative genetic elements responsible for plant infection, ecological adaptation, and speciation represent the core genome, highlighting their importance in the adaptation of A. fabrum to plant-related niches. Our pan-chromosome analysis of A. fabrum provides comprehensive insights into the genetic properties, evolutionary patterns, and niche adaptation of the species. IMPORTANCE Agrobacterium spp. live in diverse plant-associated niches such as soil, the rhizosphere, and vegetation, which are challenged by multiple stressors such as diverse energy sources, plant defenses, and microbial competition. They have evolved the ability to utilize diverse resources, escape plant defenses, and defeat competitors. However, the underlying genetic diversity and evolutionary dynamics of Agrobacterium spp. remain unexplored. We examined the phylogeny and pan-genome of A. fabrum to define intraspecies evolutionary relationships. Our results indicate an open pan-genome and numerous MGEs and horizontally transferred genes among A. fabrum genomes, reflecting the flexibility of the chromosomes and the potential for genetic exchange. Furthermore, we observed significant differences in the functional features and evolutionary constraints between the core and accessory genomes and between Chr I and the chromid, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhui Du
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinrong Zou
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiu Yin
- Clinical Laboratory Department, Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- National Engineering Research Center for Efficient Utilization of Soil and Fertilizer Resources, College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai’an, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tingjian Chen
- MOE International Joint Research Laboratory on Synthetic Biology and Medicines, School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Gabriel E, Krauß N, Lamparter T. Evidence for evolutionary relationship between archaeplastidal and cyanobacterial phytochromes based on their chromophore pockets. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2022; 21:1961-1974. [PMID: 35906526 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-022-00271-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Phytochromes are photoreceptor proteins with a bilin chromophore that undergo photoconversion between two spectrally different forms, Pr and Pfr. In plants, phytochromes play a central role in growth and differentiation during the entire life cycle. Phytochromes of plants and other groups of archaeplastida have a common evolutionary origin in prokaryotes, but the exact prokaryotic origin is as yet uncertain. Two possibilities are presently discussed: either, archaeplastidal phytochromes arose from the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) or they arose from the cyanobacterial endosymbiont that gave rise to plastids. We first constructed standard phylogenetic trees based on N-terminal protein sequences of the chromophore module. As usual, variation of algorithms and parameters led to different trees. A relationship between cyanobacteria and archaeplastida was observed in 7 out of 36 trees. The lack of consistency between results obtained from variation of parameters of tree constructions reflects the uncertainty of archaeplastidal origin. To gain more information about a possible cyanobacterial and archaeplastidal relationship, we performed phylogenetic studies based on the amino acids that line the chromophore pockets. These amino acids are highly conserved and could provide more accurate information about long evolutionary time scales, but the reduction of traits could also lead to insignificant results. From 30 selected chromophore-binding amino acids, 6 were invariant. The subsequent studies were thus based on the information dependent on 24 or fewer amino acid positions. Again, multiple trees were constructed to get information about the robustness of relationships. The very low number of information-containing traits resulted in low bootstrap values and many indistinguishable leaves. However, the major groups fungi, bacteria, cyanobacteria, and plants remained united. Without exception, cyanobacteria and archaeplastida were always closely linked. In this respect, the results were more robust than those of the classic approach, based on long contiguous sequences. We therefore consider cyanobacteria as the most likely origin of archaeplastidal phytochromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Gabriel
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Botanical Institute, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Norbert Krauß
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Botanical Institute, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tilman Lamparter
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Botanical Institute, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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6
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Aliu E, Lee K, Wang K. CRISPR RNA-guided integrase enables high-efficiency targeted genome engineering in Agrobacterium tumefaciens. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2022; 20:1916-1927. [PMID: 35690588 PMCID: PMC9491456 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Agrobacterium tumefaciens, the causal agent of plant crown gall disease, has been widely used to genetically transform many plant species. The inter-kingdom gene transfer capability made Agrobacterium an essential tool and model system to study the mechanism of exporting and integrating a segment of bacterial DNA into the plant genome. However, many biological processes such as Agrobacterium-host recognition and interaction are still elusive. To accelerate the understanding of this important plant pathogen and further improve its capacity in plant genetic engineering, we adopted a CRISPR RNA-guided integrase system for Agrobacterium genome engineering. In this work, we demonstrate that INsertion of Transposable Elements by Guide RNA-Assisted TargEting (INTEGRATE) can efficiently generate DNA insertions to enable targeted gene knockouts. In addition, in conjunction with Cre-loxP recombination system, we achieved precise deletions of large DNA fragments. This work provides new genetic engineering strategies for Agrobacterium species and their gene functional analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ephraim Aliu
- Department of AgronomyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
- Crop Bioengineering CenterIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
- Interdepartmental Plant Biology MajorIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Keunsub Lee
- Department of AgronomyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
- Crop Bioengineering CenterIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Kan Wang
- Department of AgronomyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
- Crop Bioengineering CenterIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
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7
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Lee SJ, Kim TW, Kim JG, Yang C, Yun SR, Kim C, Ren Z, Kumarapperuma I, Kuk J, Moffat K, Yang X, Ihee H. Light-induced protein structural dynamics in bacteriophytochrome revealed by time-resolved x-ray solution scattering. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm6278. [PMID: 35622911 PMCID: PMC9140987 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm6278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Bacteriophytochromes (BphPs) are photoreceptors that regulate a wide range of biological mechanisms via red light-absorbing (Pr)-to-far-red light-absorbing (Pfr) reversible photoconversion. The structural dynamics underlying Pfr-to-Pr photoconversion in a liquid solution phase are not well understood. We used time-resolved x-ray solution scattering (TRXSS) to capture light-induced structural transitions in the bathy BphP photosensory module of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Kinetic analysis of the TRXSS data identifies three distinct structural species, which are attributed to lumi-F, meta-F, and Pr, connected by time constants of 95 μs and 21 ms. Structural analysis based on molecular dynamics simulations shows that the light activation of PaBphP accompanies quaternary structural rearrangements from an "II"-framed close form of the Pfr state to an "O"-framed open form of the Pr state in terms of the helical backbones. This study provides mechanistic insights into how modular signaling proteins such as BphPs transmit structural signals over long distances and regulate their downstream biological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Jin Lee
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Wu Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Mokpo National University, Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, 58554, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Goo Kim
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheolhee Yang
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - So Ri Yun
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Changin Kim
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhong Ren
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Indika Kumarapperuma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Jane Kuk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Keith Moffat
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Hyotcherl Ihee
- Department of Chemistry and KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
- Center for Advanced Reaction Dynamics, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
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