Phycobilisome Structure of Porphyridium cruentum: POLYPEPTIDE COMPOSITION

Purified phycobilisomes of Porphyridium cruentum were solubilized in sodium dodecyl sulfate and resolved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis into nine colored and nine colorless polypeptides. The colored polypeptides accounted for about 84% of the total stainable protein, and the colorless polypeptides accounted for the remaining 16%. Five of the colored polypeptides ranging in molecular weight from 13,300 to 19,500 were identified as the α and β subunits of allophycocyanin, R-phycocyanin, and phycoerythrin. Three others (29,000-30,500) were orange and are probably related to the γ subunit of phycoerythrin. Another colored polypeptide had a molecular weight of 95,000 and the characteristics of long wavelength-emitting allophycocyanin. Sequential dissociation of phycobilisomes, and analysis of the polypeptides in each fraction, revealed the association of a 32,500 molecular weight colorless polypeptide with a phycoerythrin fraction. The remaining eight colorless polypeptides were in the core fraction of the phycobilisome, which also was enriched in allophycocyanin. In addition, the core fraction was enriched in a colored 95,000 dalton polypeptide. Inasmuch as a polypeptide with the same molecular weight is found in thylakoid membranes (free of phycobilisomes), it is suggested that this polypeptide is involved in anchoring phycobilisomes to thylakoid membranes.     

Characteristics of an R-Phycoerythrin with Two γ Subunits Prepared from Red Macroalga Polysiphonia urceolata

An R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) was isolated by gel filtrations on Sepharose CL-4B and Sephadex G-150 from the phycobiliprotein extract of the marine red macroalga Polysiphonia urceolata Grev and further purified by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow. The purified R-PE showed three absorption peaks at 498 nm, 538 nm, 566 nm and one fluorescent emission maximum at 577 nm. Although the R-PE showed a single band on the examination by native PAGE, it exhibited two very close bands at pH about 4.7 in native isoelectric focusing (IEF). Polypeptide analysis of the R-PE demonstrated that it contained four chromophore-carrying subunits, α^18.2, β^20.6, γ^31.6 (γ''), γ^34.6 (γ), and no colorless polypeptide; its subunit composition was 6α^18.2:6β^20.6:1 γ^31.6:2γ^34.6. The α and β subunits were distributed within a acidic pH range from 5.0 to 6.0 in denaturing IEF and the γ subunits were in a basic pH range from 7.6 to 8.1. These results reveal that the prepared R-PE may exist in two hexamers of γ (αβ)₃ γ (αβ)₃γ'' and γ (αβ)₃ γ''(αβ)₃ γ and that the R-PE participate in the rod domain assembly of P. urceolata phycobilisomes by stacking each of its trimer (αβ)₃ face-to-face with the aid of one γ subunit (γ or γ'').     

Dynamic aspects of phycobilisome structure: Modulation of phycocyanin content of Synechococcus phycobilisomes

Phycobilisomes of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6301 contain the phycobiliproteins phycocyanin, allophycocyanin, and allophycocyanin B, and four major non pigmented polypeptides of 75, 33, 30, and 27 kdaltons. The molar ratio of phycocyanin to allophycocyanin in wild type phycobilisomes can be varied over about a two-fold range by alterations in culture conditions with parallel changes in the amounts of the 33 and 30 kdalton polypeptides whereas the levels of the 27 and 75 kdalton polypeptides do not vary. Two nitrosoguanidine-induced mutants, AN112 and AN135, produce abnormally small phycobilisomes, containing only 35 and 50% of the wild type level of phycocyanin. AN135 phycobilisomes contain less 33 kdalton polypeptide than wild type and the 30 kdalton polypeptide is only detected in phycobilisomes from cultures grown under conditions favoring high levels of phycocyanin. AN112 lacks both the 30 and 33 kdalton polypeptides and produces phycobilisomes of constant size and composition, independent of growth conditions. Both mutant phycobilisomes have wild type levels of 27 and 75 kdalton polypeptides relative to allophycocyanin and have normal energy transfer properties. These results indicate that modulation of phycobilisome size involves concurrent regulation of the levels of phycocyanin and of both the 30 and 33 kdalton polypeptides with no change in the composition of the allophycocyanin-containing core.Abbreviations LP cells cells grown under conditions favoring low p phycobiliprotein levels - HP cells cells grown under conditions favoring high phycobiliprotein levels - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate - EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid - NaK-PO₄ NaH₂PO₄ titrated with K₂HPO₄ to a given pH A preliminary report of some of this work was presented at the 81st Annual Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Dallas, Texas, March 1981     

The immunologically conserved phycobilisome-thylakoid linker polypeptide

We have isolated phycobilisomes from two classes of red algae, several subdivisions of the cyanobacteria, and the cyanelles of Cyanophora paradoxa. In addition to the major light harvesting biliproteins, these phycobilisomes also contain several other polypeptides, the largest of which ranges from 75 to 120 kilodaltons in the different species surveyed. This protein, previously isolated and characterized from three species, was shown to be the final emitter of excitation energy in phycobilisomes and is also thought to be involved in the attachment of the phycobilisomes to the thylakoid membrane. We have obtained polyclonal antibodies to the 95 kilodalton polypeptide isolated from phycobilisomes of the cyanobacterium, Nostoc sp. This protein shares no common antigenic determinants with either the α or β subunits of allophycocyanin, or any of the other biliproteins, as determined by the sensitive Western immunoblotting technique. However, this antiserum cross-reacts with the highest molecular weight polypeptide of all the rhodophytan and cyanobacterial phycobilisomes tested. That these proteins are immunologically related, but are unrelated to other biliproteins, is reminiscent of previous immunological studies of biliproteins which showed that while the three major spectroscopically distinct classes of biliproteins (phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, and allophycocyanin) shared no common antigenic determinants, there was a strong antigenic determinant to specific biliprotein classes which crossed taxonomic divisions.     

Characterization of alpha-Amylase-Inhibitor, a Lectin-Like Protein in the Seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris

The common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, contains a glycoprotein that inhibits the activity of mammalian and insect α-amylases, but not of plant α-amylases. It is therefore classified as an antifeedant or seed defense protein. In P. vulgaris cv Greensleeves, α-amylase inhibitor (αAl) is present in embryonic axes and cotyledons, but not in other organs of the plant. The protein is synthesized during the same time period that phaseolin and phytohemagglutinin are made and also accumulates in the protein storage vacuoles (protein bodies). Purified αAl can be resolved by SDS-PAGE into five bands (M_r 15,000-19,000), four of which have covalently attached glycans. These bands represent glycoforms of two different polypeptides. All the glycoforms have complex glycans that are resistant to removal by endoglycosidase H, indicating transport of the protein through the Golgi apparatus. The two different polypeptides correspond to the N-terminal and C-terminal halves of a lectin-like protein encoded by an already identified gene or a gene closely related to it (LM Hoffman [1984] J Mol Appl Genet 2: 447-453; J Moreno, MJ Chrispeels [1989] Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 86:7885-7889). The primary translation product of αAl is a polypeptide of M_r 28,000. Immunologically cross-reacting glycopolypeptides of M_r 30,000 to 35,000 are present in the endoplasmic reticulum, while the smaller polypeptides (M_r 15,000-19,000) accumulate in protein storage vacuoles (protein bodies). Together these data indicate that αAl is a typical bean lectin-type protein that is synthesized on the rough endoplasmlc reticulum, modified in the Golgi, and transported to the protein storage vacuoles.     

Antipeptide Antibodies That Can Distinguish Specific Subunit Polypeptides of Glutamine Synthetase from Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The amino acid sequences of the β and γ subunit polypeptides of glutamine synthetase from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) root nodules are very similar. However, there are small regions within the sequences that are significantly different between the two polypeptides. The sequences between amino acids 2 and 9 and between 264 and 274 are examples. Three peptides (γ_2-9, γ_264-274, and β_264-274) corresponding to these sequences were synthesized. Antibodies against these peptides were raised in rabbits and purified with corresponding peptide-Sepharose affinity chromatography. Western blot analysis of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of bean nodule proteins demonstrated that the anti-β_264-274 antibodies reacted specifically with the β polypeptide and the anti-γ_264-274 and anti-γ_2-9 antibodies reacted specifically with the γ polypeptide of the native and denatured glutamine synthetase. These results showed the feasibility of using synthetic peptides in developing antibodies that are capable of distinguishing proteins with similar primary structures.     

Integration of Apo-α-Phycocyanin into Phycobilisomes and Its Association with FNRL in the Absence of the Phycocyanin α-Subunit Lyase (CpcF) in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Phycocyanin is an important component of the phycobilisome, which is the principal light-harvesting complex in cyanobacteria. The covalent attachment of the phycocyanobilin chromophore to phycocyanin is catalyzed by the enzyme phycocyanin lyase. The photosynthetic properties and phycobilisome assembly state were characterized in wild type and two mutants which lack holo-α-phycocyanin. Insertional inactivation of the phycocyanin α-subunit lyase (ΔcpcF mutant) prevents the ligation of phycocyanobilin to α-phycocyanin (CpcA), while disruption of the cpcB/A/C2/C1 operon in the CK mutant prevents synthesis of both apo-α-phycocyanin (apo-CpcA) and apo-β-phycocyanin (apo-CpcB). Both mutants exhibited similar light saturation curves under white actinic light illumination conditions, indicating the phycobilisomes in the ΔcpcF mutant are not fully functional in excitation energy transfer. Under red actinic light illumination, wild type and both phycocyanin mutant strains exhibited similar light saturation characteristics. This indicates that all three strains contain functional allophycocyanin cores associated with their phycobilisomes. Analysis of the phycobilisome content of these strains indicated that, as expected, wild type exhibited normal phycobilisome assembly and the CK mutant assembled only the allophycocyanin core. However, the ΔcpcF mutant assembled phycobilisomes which, while much larger than the allophycocyanin core observed in the CK mutant, were significantly smaller than phycobilisomes observed in wild type. Interestingly, the phycobilisomes from the ΔcpcF mutant contained holo-CpcB and apo-CpcA. Additionally, we found that the large form of FNR (FNR_L) accumulated to normal levels in wild type and the ΔcpcF mutant. In the CK mutant, however, significantly less FNR_L accumulated. FNR_L has been reported to associate with the phycocyanin rods in phycobilisomes via its N-terminal domain, which shares sequence homology with a phycocyanin linker polypeptide. We suggest that the assembly of apo-CpcA in the phycobilisomes of ΔcpcF can stabilize FNR_L and modulate its function. These phycobilisomes, however, inefficiently transfer excitation energy to Photosystem II.     

Structure and expression of class II defective herpes simplex virus genomes encoding infected cell polypeptide number 8

Defective genomes present in serially passaged virus stocks derived from the tsLB2 mutant of herpes simplex virus type 1 were found to consist of repeat units in which sequences from the U_L region, within map coordinates 0.356 and 0.429 of standard herpes simplex virus DNA, were covalently linked to sequences from the end of the S component. The major defective genome species consisted of repeat units which were 4.9 × 10⁶ in molecular weight and contained a specific deletion within the U_L segment. These tsLB2 defective genomes were stable through more than 35 sequential virus passages. The ratios of defective virus genomes to helper virus genomes present in different passages fluctuated in synchrony with the capacity of the passages to interfere with standard virus replication. Cells infected with passages enriched for defective genomes overproduced the infected cell polypeptide number 8, which had previously been mapped within the U_L sequences present in the tsLB2 defective genomes. In contrast, the synthesis of most other infected cell polypeptides was delayed and reduced. The abundant synthesis of infected cell polypeptide number 8 followed the β regulatory pattern, as evident from kinetic studies and from experiments in which cycloheximide, canavanine, and phosphonoacetate were used. However, in contrast to many β (early) and γ (late) viral polypeptides, the synthesis of infected cell polypeptide number 8 was only minimally reduced when cells infected with serially passaged tsLB2 were incubated at 39°C. The tsLB2 mutation had previously been mapped within the domains of the gene encoding infected cell polypeptide number 4, the function of which was shown to be required for β and γ viral gene expression. It is thus possible that the tsLB2 mutation affects the synthesis of only a subset of the β and γ viral polypeptides. An additional polypeptide, 74.5 × 10³ in molecular weight, was abundantly produced in cells infected with a number of tsLB2 passages. This polypeptide was most likely expressed from truncated gene templates within the most abundant, deleted repeats of tsLB2 defective virus DNA.     

Urea-Elicited Changes in Relative Electrophoretic Mobility of Certain Glycinin and beta-Conglycinin Subunits

Six molar urea in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels altered the relative electrophoretic mobility of several soybean protein subunits. Glycinin acidic polypeptide components A₃ and A₄ could be resolved from the other acidic polypeptides. A variant of the δ′ subunit of β-conglycinin was identified.     

pH responsiveness of fibrous assemblies of repeat-sequence amphipathic α-helix polypeptides

We reported previously that our designed polypeptide α3 (21 residues), which has three repeats of a seven-amino-acid sequence (LETLAKA)₃, forms not only an amphipathic α-helix structure but also long fibrous assemblies in aqueous solution. To address the relationship between the electrical states of the polypeptide and its α-helix and fibrous assembly formation, we characterized mutated polypeptides in which charged amino acid residues of α3 were replaced with Ser. We prepared the following polypeptides: 2Sα3 (LSTLAKA)₃, in which all Glu residues were replaced with Ser residues; 6Sα3 (LETLASA)₃, in which all Lys residues were replaced with Ser; and 2S6Sα3 (LSTLASA)₃; in which all Glu and Lys residues were replaced with Ser. In 0.1M KCl, 2Sα3 formed an α-helix under basic conditions and 6Sα3 formed an α-helix under acid conditions. In 1M KCl, they both formed α-helices under a wide pH range. In addition, 2Sα3 and 6Sα3 formed fibrous assemblies under the same buffer conditions in which they formed α-helices. α-Helix and fibrous assembly formation by these polypeptides was reversible in a pH-dependent manner. In contrast, 2S6Sα3 formed an α-helix under basic conditions in 1M KCl. Taken together, these findings reveal that the charge states of the charged amino acid residues and the charge state of the Leu residue located at the terminus play an important role in α-helix formation.     

Studies on Cyanidium caldarium Phycobiliprotein Pigment Mutants

Phycobiliprotein biosynthesis was investigated in four strains of the unicellular rhodophyte, Cyandium caldarium, with different pigment phenotypes. All strains were incapable of synthesizing phycobiliproteins when grown in the dark. Western blotting experiments showed that dark-grown cells of the wild-type and mutant GGB synthesized the α and β subunit polypeptides of allophyocyanin and phycocyanin after exposure to light for 24 hours, whereas cells of mutant IIIC and GGBY did not. Similarly, light promoted the appearance of allophycocyanin and phycocyanin mRNAs in the wild-type and GGB but not in IIIC and GGBY. However, Southern blots of restricted genomic DNA from the wild type, IIIC, GGBY, and GGB, all hybridized with heterologous phycobiliprotein gene probes and revealed that all four strains contained identical Pst, EcoRI, and Dral restriction fragments containing allophycocyanin and phycocyanin genes. Cells of the wild type and GGB incubated in the dark with the heme precursor. δ-aminolevulinate, synthesized allophycocyanin and phycocyanin apoproteins providing strong evidence for the role of a tetrapyrrole in regulation of phycobiliprotein gene expression. However, cells of IIIC and GGBY incubated in the dark with δ-aminolevulinate did not contain detectable quantities of allophycocyanin or phycocyanin apoproteins. The possible role of a tetrapyrrole in phycobiliprotein gene expression and basis for the genetic lesion in mutants IIIC and GGBY is discussed.     

Expression of Two Different Glutamine Synthetase Polypeptides during Root Development in Phaseolus vulgaris L

Immunoprecipitation and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis of the glutamine synthetase (GS) polypeptides (α and β) during Phaseolus vulgaris root development shows that the α polypeptide is the main component of the enzyme in the embryo and in up to 5 day old roots. From 5 days on, the β polypeptide becomes the root predominant GS monomer. The α/β ratio of the in vitro translated GS polypeptides from the total polysomal RNA isolated at different root ages correlates with the α/β ratio observed in the root extracts. These results suggest that the two root GS polypeptides are encoded by different mRNA species in Phaseolus vulgaris.     

Isolation and Characterization of the Central Component of the Phycobilisome Core of Nostoc sp

Freshly isolated allophycocyanin is recovered from linear sucrose gradients made in 0.75 molar potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) in three sizes: 19s, 10.3s, and 5.5s. The largest aggregate is a complex of a 680 nm fluorescing allophycocyanin I in the form (αβ)₃γ, where γ is the 95 kilodalton (kD) polypeptide, and two 660 nanometer fluorescing allophycocyanin II (αβ)₃ molecules; the complex, stabilized in high phosphate concentrations, fluoresces maximally at 675 nanometers. The 10.3s fraction is a hexamer of allophycocyanin of the 660 nanometer fluorescing type, perhaps attached through two polypeptides of 46 kD and 44 kD. The 5.5s component of the allophycocyanin pool is the usual trimeric form of allophycocyanin (αβ)₃. A similar 19s fraction is the major component of allophycocyanin I isolated under optimum conditions in the presence of the protease inhibitor, phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride. This 19s fraction is apparently a central component of the core of the phycobilisome with its 95 kD polypeptide the attachment point of the phycobilisome and membrane. The 95 kD polypeptide has both long wavelength absorption and fluorescence bands which seem to account for the long wavelength fluorescence properties of allophycocyanin I.     

Synthesis of Oat Globulin Precursors : Analogy to Legume 11S Storage Protein Synthesisa

The oat (Avena sativa L.) seed globulin was found to be synthesized in vitro as 60,000 to 64,000 dalton precursors. In vivo protein labeling yielded polypeptides of 58,000 to 62,000 daltons, suggesting cleavage of signal sequences from the precursors. Further cleavage is apparently required to separate the α and β polypeptide sequences which are known to form disulfide-linked 53,000 to 58,000 dalton species in the (αβ)₆ holoprotein. The data are discussed with respect to analogous synthesis and processing of some legume 11S storage proteins.     

Cold Acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana

The abilities of two races of Arabidopsis thaliana L. (Heyn), Landsberg erecta and Columbia, to cold harden were examined. Landsberg, grown at 22 to 24°C, increased in freezing tolerance from an initial 50% lethal temperature (LT₅₀) of about −3°C to an LT₅₀ of about −6°C after 24 hours at 4°C; LT₅₀ values of −8 to −10°C were achieved after 8 to 9 days at 4°C. Similar increases in freezing tolerance were obtained with Columbia. In vitro translation of poly(A⁺) RNA isolated from control and cold-treated Columbia showed that low temperature induced changes in the population of translatable mRNAs. An mRNA encoding a polypeptide of about 160 kilodaltons (isoelectric point about 4.5) increased markedly after 12 to 24 h at 4°C, as did mRNAs encoding four polypeptides of about 47 kilodaltons (isoelectric points ranging from 5-5.5). Incubation of Columbia callus tissue at 4°C also resulted in increased levels of the mRNAs encoding the 160 kilodalton polypeptide and at least two of the 47 kilodalton polypeptides. In vivo labeling experiments using Columbia plants and callus tissue indicated that the 160 kilodalton polypeptide was synthesized in the cold and suggested that at least two of the 47 kilodalton polypeptides were produced. Other differences in polypeptide composition were also observed in the in vivo labeling experiments, some of which may be the result of posttranslational modifications of the 160 and 47 kilodalton polypeptides.     

Molecular Anatomy of ParA-ParA and ParA-ParB Interactions during Plasmid Partitioning

Firmicutes multidrug resistance inc18 plasmids encode parS sites and two small homodimeric ParA-like (δ₂) and ParB-like (ω₂) proteins to ensure faithful segregation. Protein ω₂ binds to parS DNA, forming a short left-handed helix wrapped around the full parS, and interacts with δ₂. Protein δ₂ interacts with ω₂ and, in the ATP-bound form, binds to nonspecific DNA (nsDNA), forming small clusters. Here, we have mapped the ω₂·δ₂ and δ₂·δ₂ interacting domains in the δ₂ that are adjacent to but distinct from each other. The δ₂ nsDNA binding domain is essential for stimulation of ω₂·parS-mediated ATP hydrolysis. From the data presented here, we propose that δ₂ interacts with ATP, nsDNA, and with ω₂ bound to parS at near equimolar concentrations, facilitating a δ₂ structural transition. This δ₂ “activated” state overcomes its impediment in ATP hydrolysis, with the subsequent release of both of the proteins from nsDNA (plasmid unpairing).     

Domain specific interaction in the XRCC1-DNA polymerase beta complex

XRCC1 (X-ray cross-complementing group 1) is a DNA repair protein that forms complexes with DNA polymerase β (β-Pol), DNA ligase III and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase in the repair of DNA single strand breaks. The domains in XRCC1 have been determined, and characterization of the domain–domain interaction in the XRCC1-β-Pol complex has provided information on the specificity and mechanism of binding. The domain structure of XRCC1, determined using limited proteolysis, was found to include an N-terminal domain (NTD), a central BRCT-I (breast cancer susceptibility protein-1) domain and a C-terminal BRCT-II domain. The BRCT-I–linker–BRCT-II C-terminal fragment and the linker–BRCT-II C-terminal fragment were relatively stable to proteolysis suggestive of a non-random conformation of the linker. A predicted inner domain was found not to be stable to proteolysis. Using cross-linking experiments, XRCC1 was found to bind intact β-Pol and the β-Pol 31 kDa domain. The XRCC1-NTD_1–183 (residues 1–183) was found to bind β-Pol, the β-Pol 31 kDa domain and the β-Pol C-terminal palm-thumb (residues 140–335), and the interaction was further localized to XRCC1-NTD_1–157 (residues 1–157). The XRCC1-NTD_1–183-β-Pol 31 kDa domain complex was stable at high salt (1 M NaCl) indicative of a hydrophobic contribution. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen, polypeptides expressed from two XRCC1 constructs, which included residues 36–355 and residues 1–159, were found to interact with β-Pol, the β-Pol 31 kDa domain, and the β-Pol C-terminal thumb-only domain polypeptides expressed from the respective β-Pol constructs. Neither the XRCC1-NTD_1–159, nor the XRCC1_36–355 polypeptide was found to interact with a β-Pol thumbless polypeptide. A third XRCC1 polypeptide (residues 75–212) showed no interaction with β-Pol. In quantitative gel filtration and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments, the XRCC1-NTD_1–183 was found to bind β-Pol and its 31 kDa domain in a 1:1 complex with high affinity (K_d of 0.4–2.4 µM). The combined results indicate a thumb-domain specific 1:1 interaction between the XRCC1-NTD_1–159 and β-Pol that is of an affinity comparable to other binding interactions involving β-Pol.     

Novel Phycoerythrins in Marine Synechococcus spp. : Characterization and Evolutionary and Ecological Implications

Four clones of the marine, unicellular, cyanobacteria Synechococcus spp., were examined for the spectral and biochemical features of their phycoerythrins (PE) and their photosynthetic characteristics. Two spectral types of PE which are distinct from known PEs were found. One PE type possessed absorption maxima at 500 and 545 nm and a fluorescence emission at 560 nm. Upon denaturation in acid-urea, two chromophore absorption maxima were obtained, one corresponding to phycourobilin (A_max 500 nm) and one at 558 nm, ascribed to a phycoerythrobilin-like chromophore. The ratio of phycoerythrobilin-like to phycourobilin chromophores was 4.9:1.3. This PE possessed two subunits of M_rs of 17.0 and 19.5 kD for the α and β subunits, respectively. The other PE possessed a single symmetrical absorption at 551 nm and a fluorescence emission at 570 nm. This phycobiliprotein showed a single chromophore absorption band (A_max 558 nm) and yielded two polypeptides, an α of 17.5 kD and a β subunit of 20.8 kD. Both PEs showed a (α, β)_n structure. The presence of phycoerythrobilin-like chromophores (A_max 558 nm) appears to be diagnostic of this marine cyanobacterial group. The features of these PEs combined with additional biochemical data, suggest a possible evolutionary link between the PE-containing marine Synechococcus group and the red algal chloroplast. When the Synechococcus clones were grown under low light intensity the PE-containing clones showed higher photosynthetic performance, larger photosynthetic units sizes, reaction center I to II ratios near unity, and steeper initial slopes of photosynthesis versus irradiance curves than a non-PE-containing clone. These findings demonstrate the high photosynthetic efficiency of PE-containing clones in low light environments common to middepth neritic and oceanic habitats.     

Insights into the Biosynthesis and Assembly of Cryptophycean Phycobiliproteins

Phycobiliproteins are employed by cyanobacteria, red algae, glaucophytes, and cryptophytes for light-harvesting and consist of apoproteins covalently associated with open-chain tetrapyrrole chromophores. Although the majority of organisms assemble the individual phycobiliproteins into larger aggregates called phycobilisomes, members of the cryptophytes use a single type of phycobiliprotein that is localized in the thylakoid lumen. The cryptophyte Guillardia theta (Gt) uses phycoerythrin PE545 utilizing the uncommon chromophore 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin (DHBV) in addition to phycoerythrobilin (PEB). Both the biosynthesis and the attachment of chromophores to the apophycobiliprotein have not yet been investigated for cryptophytes. In this study, we identified and characterized enzymes involved in PEB biosynthesis. In addition, we present the first in-depth biochemical characterization of a eukaryotic phycobiliprotein lyase (GtCPES). Plastid-encoded HO (GtHo) was shown to convert heme into biliverdin IXα providing the substrate with a putative nucleus-encoded DHBV:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (GtPEBA). A PEB:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (GtPEBB) was found to convert DHBV to PEB, which is the substrate for the phycobiliprotein lyase GtCPES. The x-ray structure of GtCPES was solved at 2.0 Å revealing a 10-stranded β-barrel with a modified lipocalin fold. GtCPES is an S-type lyase specific for binding of phycobilins with reduced C15=C16 double bonds (DHBV and PEB). Site-directed mutagenesis identified residues Glu-136 and Arg-146 involved in phycobilin binding. Based on the crystal structure, a model for the interaction of GtCPES with the apophycobiliprotein CpeB is proposed and discussed.