Structural stability and properties of three isoforms of the major light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b complexes of photosystem II

Three isoforms of the major light-harvesting chlorophyll (Chl) a/b complexs of photosystem II (LHCIIb) in the pea, namely, Lhcb1, Lhcb2, and Lhcb3, were obtained by overexpression of apoprotein in Escherichia coli and by successfully refolding these isoforms with thylakoid pigments in vitro. The sequences of the protein, pigment stoichiometries, spectroscopic characteristics, thermo- and photostabilities of different isoforms were analysed. Comparison of their spectroscopic properties and structural stabilities revealed that Lhcb3 differed strongly from Lhcb1 and Lhcb2 in both respects. It showed the lowest Qy transition energy, with its reddest absorption about 2 nm red-shifted, and the highest photostability under strong illuminations. Among the three isoforms, Lhcb 2 showed lowest thermal stability regarding energy transfer from Chl b to Chl a in the complexes, which implies that the main function of Lhcb 2 under high temperature stress is not the energy transfer.     

Pigmented basidiomycetous yeasts are a promising source of carotenoids and ubiquinone Q<Subscript>10</Subscript>

Strains of basidiomycetous yeasts isolated from different sources were studied in order to determine the content of carotenoid pigments and ubiquinone Q₁₀ for subsequent selection work to obtain producers of these substances. The high specific productivity of carotenoids (600–700 mg/g) was revealed in the representatives of the following species: Cystofilobasidium capitatum, Rhodosporidium diobovatum, R. sphaerocarpum, Rhodotorula glutinis, Rh. minuta, and Sporobolomyces roseus. The ratio of the major pigments (torulene, torularhodine, and β-carotene) in the representatives of different species was studied. Certain specific features of pigment formation in relation to the taxonomic position of the yeasts were determined. Eurybiont species with substantial ecological lability are the most active producers of carotenoids and ubiquinone Q₁₀ among the epiphytes. It is the first time a comparative analysis of the coenzyme Q₁₀ content in different taxa has been performed using several strains of the same species. The maximal coenzyme Q₁₀ production (1.84 mg/g of dry biomass) was found in the yeast species R. sphaerocarpum.     

The present model for chlororespiration

The present model of chlororespiration deals with the dark reduction and oxidation of plastoquinone. Both stages are reviewed here for algae and higher plants. Recent data confirm the presence of a plastoquinone:oxygen oxidoreductase with features different from those of the mitochondrial oxidases. The possible involvement of the chloroplast oxidase in the pathway of carotenoid biosynthesis is discussed in view of various experimental data and on energetics considerations. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF BENTHIC ALGAL COMMUNITIES IN AN EXTREMELY ACID RIVER1

The composition of algal species and pigments and the structural and functional characteristics of the algal community were investigated in an acid stream of southwestern Spain, the Río Tinto. The algal community had low diversity and showed few seasonal differences. It was mainly made up of Klebsormidium flaccidum Kütz. (Silva, Mattox & Blackwell) that produced long greenish or purplish filaments, Pinnularia acoricola Hust. (producing brown patches) and Euglena mutabilis Schmitz. The algal filaments made up a consistent biofilm that also included fungal hyphae, iron bacterial sheaths, diatoms, and mineral particles. HPLC analyses on Río Tinto samples showed that undegraded chl accounted for 67% of the total chl in the filamentous patches but were a minority in the brown patch (2.6%). The brown patch had a concentration of carotenoids eight times lower than that observed in the green patch. When chl concentrations were weighted for the proportion of the different patches on the streambed, undegraded chl a accounted for 89.2 mg chl a·m ^{? 2} of stream surface area (5.4 g C·m ^{? 2}). This high algal biomass was supported by relatively high nutrient concentrations and by a high phosphatase activity (V_max = 137.7 nmol methylumbelliferyl substrate·cm ^{? 2}·h ^{? 1} 1 Received 15 July 2002. Accepted 17 February 2003. , K_m = 0.0045 μM). The remarkable algal biomass in Río Tinto potentially contributed to the bacterial–fungal community and to the macroinvertebrate community and emphasizes the role that the algae may have in the organic matter cycling and energy flow in extreme systems dominated by heterotrophic microorganisms.     

Chlorobium Tepidum: Insights into the Structure,Physiology, and Metabolism of a Green Sulfur Bacterium Derived from the Complete Genome Sequence

Green sulfur bacteria are obligate, anaerobic photolithoautotrophs that synthesize unique bacteriochlorophylls (BChls) and a unique light-harvesting antenna structure, the chlorosome. One organism, Chlorobium tepidum, has emerged as a model for this group of bacteria primarily due to its relative ease of cultivation and natural transformability. This review focuses on insights into the physiology and biochemistry of the green sulfur bacteria that have been derived from the recently completed analysis of the 2.15-Mb genome of Chl. tepidum. About 40 mutants of Chl. tepidum have been generated within the last 3 years, most of which have been made based on analyses of the genome. This has allowed a nearly complete elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways for the carotenoids and BChls in Chl. tepidum, which include several novel enzymes specific for BChl c biosynthesis. Facilitating these analyses, both BChl c and carotenoid biosynthesis can be completely eliminated in Chl. tepidum. Based particularly on analyses of mutants lacking chlorosome proteins and BChl c, progress has also been made in understanding the structure and biogenesis of chlorosomes. In silico analyses of the presence and absence of genes encoding components involved in electron transfer reactions and carbon assimilation have additionally revealed some of the potential physiological capabilities, limitations, and peculiarities of Chl. tepidum. Surprisingly, some structural components and biosynthetic pathways associated with photosynthesis and energy metabolism in Chl. tepidum are more similar to those in cyanobacteria and plants than to those in other groups of photosynthetic bacteria.     

Codon usage in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (formerly Phaffia rhodozyma)

By sequence analysis of 96 randomly selected clones in a cDNA library of Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, ten novel, full-length clones encoding cytoplasmic ribosomal proteins (rp) were found. The deduced amino acid sequences showed significant homology to their counterparts from eukaryotic origin including mammals, fungi and plants. Some ribosmal protein encoding cDNAs appeared several times, but by Southern blot analysis it was shown they are encoded by a single copy gene. The nucleotide sequences of ten full length cDNAs were used to investigate the codon usage in X. dendrorhous.     

Characterization of a second carotenoid β-hydroxylase gene from Arabidopsis and its relationship to the LUT1 locus

Xanthophylls are oxygenated carotenoids that perform critical roles in plants. -carotene hydroxylases (-hydroxylases) add hydroxyl groups to the -rings of carotenes and have been cloned from several bacteria and plants, including Arabidopsis. The lut1 mutation of Arabidopsis disrupts -ring hydroxylation and has been suggested to identify a related carotene hydroxylase that functions specifically on -ring structures. We have used library screening and genomics-based approaches to isolate a second -hydroxylase genomic clone and its corresponding cDNA from Arabidopsis. The encoded protein is 70% identical to the previously reported Arabidopsis -hydroxylase 1. Phylogenetic analysis indicates a common origin for the two proteins, however, their different chromosomal locations, intron positions and intron sizes suggest their duplication is not recent. Although both hydroxylases are expressed in all Arabidopsis tissues analyzed, -hydroxylase 1 mRNA is always present at higher levels. Both cDNAs encode proteins that efficiently hydroxylate the C-3 position of -ring containing carotenes and are only weakly active towards -ring containing carotenes. Neither -hydroxylase cDNA maps to the LUT1 locus, and the genomic region encompassing the LUT1 locus does not contain a third related hydroxylase. These data indicate that the LUT1 locus encodes a protein necessary for -ring hydroxylation but unrelated to -hydroxylases at the level of amino acid sequence.     

Structure and Function of the Water-Soluble Carotenoid-Binding Proteins of Cyanobacteria

The orange carotenoid protein (OCP) and its derivative, the red carotenoid protein (RCP), appear to play important photoprotective roles in cyanobacteria. Structural and functional characterization is gradually elucidating the specific details of how carotenoid-protein interactions, including the role of six methionine residues oriented toward the pigment, contribute to the spectral and functional properties of these proteins.     

Spermine and putrescine enhance oxidative stress tolerance in maize leaves

The protective effects of spermine (SPM) and putrescine (PUT) against paraquat (PQ), a herbicide in agriculture and oxidative stress inducer, were investigated in the leaves of maize. Maize leaves were pretreated to SPM and PUT at concentrations of 0.2 and 1 mM and treated with PQ afterwards. Pretreatment with 1 mM of SPM and PUT significantly prevented the losses in chlorophyll and carotenoid levels induced by PQ. Ascorbic acid content in the leaves pretreated with both polyamines was found to be higher than those of the leaves pretreated with water. Also, pretreatment with SPM and PUT was determined to have some effects on the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD). 1 mM of SPM increased SOD activity, but PUT has no significant effect on SOD activity. On the other hand, POD activity was recorded to increase slightly in response to both concentrations of SPM and 1 mM of PUT. The results showed that such polyamine pretreated plants may become more tolerant to oxidative stress due to increases in the antioxidative enzymes and antioxidants.