Electrostatic forces involved in orienting Anabaena ferredoxin during binding to Anabaena ferredoxin:NADP+ reductase: site-specific mutagenesis, transient kinetic measurements, and electrostatic surface potentials.

Transient absorbance measurements following laser flash photolysis have been used to measure the rate constants for electron transfer (et) from reduced Anabaena ferredoxin (Fd) to wild-type and seven site-specific charge-reversal mutants of Anabaena ferredoxin:NADP+ reductase (FNR). These mutations have been designed to probe the importance of specific positively charged amino acid residues on the surface of the FNR molecule near the exposed edge of the FAD cofactor in the protein-protein interaction during et with Fd. The mutant proteins fall into two groups: overall, the K75E, R16E, and K72E mutants are most severely impaired in et, and the K138E, R264E, K290E, and K294E mutants are impaired to a lesser extent, although the degree of impairment varies with ionic strength. Binding constants for complex formation between the oxidized proteins and for the transient et complexes show that the severity of the alterations in et kinetics for the mutants correlate with decreased stabilities of the protein-protein complexes. Those mutated residues, which show the largest effects, are located in a region of the protein in which positive charge predominates, and charge reversals have large effects on the calculated local surface electrostatic potential. In contrast, K138, R264, K290, and K294 are located within or close to regions of intense negative potential, and therefore the introduction of additional negative charges have considerably smaller effects on the calculated surface potential. We attribute the relative changes in et kinetics and complex binding constants for these mutants to these characteristics of the surface charge distribution in FNR and conclude that the positively charged region of the FNR surface located in the vicinity of K75, R16, and K72 is especially important in the binding and orientation of Fd during electron transfer.     

A ferredoxin Arg-Glu pair important for efficient electron transfer between ferredoxin and ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase

In order to elucidate the importance of a ferredoxin (Fd) Arg-Glu pair involved in dynamic exchange from intra- to intermolecular salt bridges upon complex formation with ferredoxin-NADP(+) oxidoreductase (FNR), Equisetum arvense FdI and FdII were investigated as normal and the pair-lacking Fd, respectively. The FdI mutant lacking this pair was unstable and rapidly lost the [2Fe-2S] cluster. The catalytic constant (k(cat)) of the electron transfer for FdI is 5.5 times that for FdII and the introduction of this pair into FdII resulted in the increase of k(cat) to a level comparable to that for FdI, demonstrating directly that the Arg-Glu pair is important for efficient electron transfer between Fd and FNR.     

Structure of the electron transfer complex between ferredoxin and ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase

All oxygenic photosynthetically derived reducing equivalents are utilized by combinations of a single multifuctional electron carrier protein, ferredoxin (Fd), and several Fd-dependent oxidoreductases. We report the first crystal structure of the complex between maize leaf Fd and Fd-NADP(+) oxidoreductase (FNR). The redox centers in the complex--the 2Fe-2S cluster of Fd and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) of FNR--are in close proximity; the shortest distance is 6.0 A. The intermolecular interactions in the complex are mainly electrostatic, occurring through salt bridges, and the interface near the prosthetic groups is hydrophobic. NMR experiments on the complex in solution confirmed the FNR recognition sites on Fd that are identified in the crystal structure. Interestingly, the structures of Fd and FNR in the complex and in the free state differ in several ways. For example, in the active site of FNR, Fd binding induces the formation of a new hydrogen bond between side chains of Glu 312 and Ser 96 of FNR. We propose that this type of molecular communication not only determines the optimal orientation of the two proteins for electron transfer, but also contributes to the modulation of the enzymatic properties of FNR.     

Structural investigations of the CuA centre of nitrous oxide reductase from Pseudomonas stutzeri by site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

Nitrous oxide reductase is the terminal component of a respiratory chain that utilizes N2O in lieu of oxygen. It is a homodimer carrying in each subunit the electron transfer site, CuA, and the substrate-reducing catalytic centre, CuZ. Spectroscopic data have provided robust evidence for CuA as a binuclear, mixed-valence metal site. To provide further structural information on the CuA centre of N2O reductase, site directed mutagenesis and Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopic investigation have been undertaken. Candidate amino acids as ligands for the CuA centre of the enzyme from Pseudomonas stutzeri ATCC14405 were substituted by evolutionary conserved residues or amino acids similar to the wild-type residues. The mutations identified the amino acids His583, Cys618, Cys622 and Met629 as ligands of Cu1, and Cys618, Cys622 and His626 as the minimal set of ligands for Cu2 of the CuA centre. Other amino acid substitutions indicated His494 as a likely ligand of CuZ, and an indirect role for Asp580, compatible with a docking function for the electron donor. Cu binding and spectroscopic properties of recombinant N2O reductase proteins point at intersubunit or interdomain interaction of CuA and CuZ. Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectra have been recorded to investigate the local environment of the Cu centres in N2O reductase. Cu K-edge Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) for binuclear Cu chemical systems show clear evidence for Cu backscattering at approximately 2.5 A. The Cu K-edge EXAFS of the CuA centre of N2O reductase is very similar to that of the CuA centre of cytochrome c oxidase and the optimum simulation of the experimental data involves backscattering from a histidine group with Cu-N of 1.92 A, two sulfur atoms at 2.24 A and a Cu atom at 2. 43 A, and allows for the presence of a further light atom (oxygen or nitrogen) at 2.05 A. The interpretation of the CuA EXAFS is in line with ligands assigned by site-directed mutagenesis. By a difference spectrum approach, using the Cu K-edge EXAFS of the holoenzyme and that of the CuA-only form, histidine was identified as a major contributor to the backscattering. A structural model for the CuA centre of N2O reductase has been generated on the basis of the atomic coordinates for the homologous domain of cytochrome c oxidase and incorporating our current results and previous spectroscopic data.     

Localization and function of ferredoxin:NADP(+) reductase bound to the phycobilisomes of Synechocystis.

Each phycobilisome complex of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 binds approximately 2.4 copies of ferredoxin:NADP(+) reductase (FNR). A mutant of this strain that carries an N-terminally truncated version of the petH gene, lacking the 9 kDa domain of FNR that is homologous to the phycocyanin-associated linker polypeptide CpcD, assembles phycobilisome complexes that do not contain FNR. Phycobilisome complexes, consisting of the allophycocyanin core and only the core-proximal phycocyanin hexamers from mutant R20, do contain a full complement of FNR. Therefore, the binding site of FNR in the phycobilisomes is not the core-distal binding site that is occupied by CpcD, but in the core-proximal phycocyanin hexamer. Phycobilisome complexes of a mutant expressing a fusion protein of the N-terminal domain of FNR and green fluorescent protein (GFP) contain this fusion protein in tightly bound form. Calculations of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) characteristics between GFP and acceptors in the phycobilisome complex indicate that their donor-acceptor distance is between 3 and 7 nm. Fluorescence spectroscopy at 77K and measurements in intact cells of accumulated levels of P700(+) indicate that the presence of FNR in the phycobilisome complexes does not influence the distribution of excitation energy of phycobilisome-absorbed light between photosystem II and photosystem I, and also does not affect the occurrence of 'light-state transitions'.     

Highly nonproductive complexes with Anabaena ferredoxin at low ionic strength are induced by nonconservative amino acid substitutions at Glu139 in Anabaena ferredoxin:NADP+ reductase

Ferredoxin (Fd) and ferredoxin:NADP(+) reductase (FNR) from Anabaena function in photosynthetic electron transfer (et). The et interaction between the FNR charge-reversal mutant E139K and Fd at 12 mM ionic strength (mu) is extremely impaired relative to the reaction with wt FNR, and the dependency of k(obs) on E139K concentration shows strong upward curvature at protein concentrations > or = 10 microM. However, at values of mu > or = 200 mM, reaction rates approach those of wild-type FNR, and normal saturation kinetics are observed. For the E139Q mutant, which is also significantly impaired in its et interaction with Fd at low FNR concentrations and low mu values, the dependency of k(obs) on E139Q concentration shows a smaller degree of upward curvature at mu = 12 and 100 mM and shows saturation kinetics at higher values of mu. wt FNR and the E139D mutant both show a slight amount of upward curvature at FNR concentrations >30 microM at mu = 12 mM but show the expected saturation kinetics at higher values of mu. These results are explained by a mechanism in which the mutual orientation of the proteins in the complex formed at low ionic strength with the E139K mutant is so far from optimal that it is almost unreactive. At increased E139K concentrations, the added mutant FNR reacts via a collisional interaction with the reduced Fd present in the unreactive complex. The et reactivity of the low ionic strength complexes depends on the particular amino acid substitution, which via electrostatic interactions alters the specific geometry of the interface between the two proteins. The presence of a negative charge at position 139 of FNR allows the most optimal orientations for et at ionic strengths below 200 mM.     

Arginyl groups involved in the binding of Anabaena ferredoxin--NADP+ reductase to NADP+ and to ferredoxin

Chemical modification of ferredoxin--NADP+ reductase from the cyanobacteria Anabaena has been performed using the alpha-dicarbonyl reagent phenylglyoxal. Inactivation of both the diaphorase and cytochrome-c reductase activities, characteristic of the enzyme, indicates the involvement of one or more arginyl residues in the catalytic process of the enzyme. The determination of the rate constants for the inactivation process under different conditions, including those in which substrates, NADP+ and ferredoxin, as well as other NADP+ analogs were present, indicates the involvement of two different groups in the inactivation process, one that reacts very rapidly with the reagent (kobs = 8.3 M-1 min-1) and is responsible for the binding of NADP+, and a second less reactive group (kobs = 0.9 M-1 min-1), that is involved in the binding of ferredoxin. Radioactive labeling of the enzyme with [14C]phenylglyoxal confirms that two groups are modified while amino acid analysis of the modified protein indicates that the modified groups are arginine residues. The identification of the amino acid residues involved in binding and catalysis of the substrates of ferredoxin--NADP+ reductase will help to elucidate the mechanism of the reaction catalyzed by this important enzyme.     

Ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase. Kinetics of electron transfer, transient intermediates, and catalytic activities studied by flash-absorption spectroscopy with isolated photosystem I and ferredoxin

The electron transfer cascade from photosystem I to NADP+ was studied at physiological pH by flash-absorption spectroscopy in a Synechocystis PCC6803 reconstituted system comprised of purified photosystem I, ferredoxin, and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase. Experiments were conducted with a 34-kDa ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase homologous to the chloroplast enzyme and a 38-kDa N-terminal extended form. Small differences in kinetic and catalytic properties were found for these two forms, although the largest one has a 3-fold decreased affinity for ferredoxin. The dissociation rate of reduced ferredoxin from photosystem I (800 s(-1)) and the redox potential of the first reduction of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (-380 mV) were determined. In the absence of NADP+, differential absorption spectra support the existence of a high affinity complex between oxidized ferredoxin and semireduced ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase. An effective rate of 140-170 s(-1) was also measured for the second reduction of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase, this process having a rate constant similar to that of the first reduction. In the presence of NADP+, the second-order rate constant for the first reduction of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase was 20% slower than in its absence, in line with the existence of ternary complexes (ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase)-NADP+-ferredoxin. A single catalytic turnover was monitored, with 50% NADP+ being reduced in 8-10 ms using 1.6 microM photosystem I. In conditions of multiple turnover, we determined initial rates of 360-410 electrons per s and per ferredox-in-NADP+ reductase for the reoxidation of 3.5 microM photoreduced ferredoxin. Identical rates were found with photosystem I lacking the PsaE subunit and wild type photosystem I. This suggests that, in contrast with previous proposals, the PsaE subunit is not involved in NADP+ photoreduction.     

X-ray crystallographic and solution state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic investigations of NADP+ binding to ferredoxin NADP reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The ferredoxin nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reductase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( pa-FPR) in complex with NADP (+) has been characterized by X-ray crystallography and in solution by NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the complex revealed that pa-FPR harbors a preformed NADP (+) binding pocket where the cofactor binds with minimal structural perturbation of the enzyme. These findings were complemented by obtaining sequential backbone resonance assignments of this 29518 kDa enzyme, which enabled the study of the pa-FPR-NADP complex by monitoring chemical shift perturbations induced by addition of NADP (+) or the inhibitor adenine dinucleotide phosphate (ADP) to pa-FPR. The results are consistent with a preformed NADP (+) binding site and also demonstrate that the pa-FPR-NADP complex is largely stabilized by interactions between the protein and the 2'-P AMP portion of the cofactor. Analysis of the crystal structure also shows a vast network of interactions between the two cofactors, FAD and NADP (+), and the characteristic AFVEK (258) C'-terminal extension that is typical of bacterial FPRs but is absent in their plastidic ferredoxin NADP (+) reductase (FNR) counterparts. The conformations of NADP (+) and FAD in pa-FPR place their respective nicotinamide and isoalloxazine rings 15 A apart and separated by residues in the C'-terminal extension. The network of interactions among NADP (+), FAD, and residues in the C'-terminal extension indicate that the gross conformational rearrangement that would be necessary to place the nicotinamide and isoalloxazine rings parallel and adjacent to one another for direct hydride transfer between NADPH and FAD in pa-FPR is highly unlikely. This conclusion is supported by observations made in the NMR spectra of pa-FPR and the pa-FPR-NADP complex, which strongly suggest that residues in the C'-terminal sequence do not undergo conformational exchange in the presence or absence of NADP (+). These findings are discussed in the context of a possible stepwise electron-proton-electron transfer of hydride in the oxidation of NADPH by FPR enzymes.     

Structure-function relationships in human epidermal growth factor studied by site-directed mutagenesis and 1H NMR

In order to elucidate the mechanism of interaction between human epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor, selected variants of EGF, differing by single amino acid substitutions, have been made by site-directed mutagenesis. The receptor affinity of these mutants was determined by a receptor binding competition assay, and the effects of the substitution on the structure of the protein were assessed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Various substitutions of Arg-41 resulted in substantial reduction in receptor affinity of EGF whereas change of Tyr-13 did not affect binding to the receptor. The 1H resonances of all nonexchangeable protons of the Tyr-13----Leu, Arg-41----His, and Leu-47----Glu variants were assigned and compared in order to assess the structural integrity of these mutants, which possess very different spectral and biological properties. In the case of the Leu-47----Glu mutant, only minor localized spectral changes were observed, confirming that the tertiary structure of the protein is preserved upon mutation. In contrast, for both the Arg-41----His and Tyr-13----Leu variants, significant and strikingly similar spectra changes were observed for many residues located far away from the mutated residues. This implies that similar structural alterations have taken place in both proteins, an idea further supported by hydrogen-exchange experiments where the exchange rates of hydrogen-bonded amide protons for both the Tyr-13----Leu and the Arg-41----His mutants were found to be about 4 times faster than in the wild-type protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Access to the active site of periplasmic nitrate reductase: insights from site-directed mutagenesis and zinc inhibition studies

The periplasmic nitrate reductase (NapAB), a member of the DMSO reductase superfamily, catalyzes the first step of the denitrification process in bacteria. In this heterodimer, a di-heme NapB subunit is associated to the catalytic NapA subunit that binds a [4Fe-4S] cluster and a bis(molybdopterin guanine dinucleotide) cofactor. Here, we report the kinetic characterization of purified mutated heterodimers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. By combining site-directed mutagenesis, redox potentiometry, EPR spectroscopy, and enzymatic characterization, we investigate the catalytic role of two conserved residues (M153 and R392) located in the vicinity of the molybdenum active site. We demonstrate that M153 and R392 are involved in nitrate binding: the Vm measured on the M153A and R392A mutants are similar to that measured on the wild-type enzyme, whereas the Km for nitrate is increased 10-fold and 200-fold, respectively. The use of an alternative enzymatic assay led us to discover that NapAB is uncompetitively inhibited by Zn2+ ions (Ki' = 1 microM). We used this property to further probe the active site access in the mutant enzymes. It is proposed that R392 acts as a filter by preventing a direct reduction of the Mo atom by small reducing molecules and partially protecting the active site against zinc inhibition. In addition, we show that M153 is a key residue mediating this inhibition likely by coordinating Zn2+ ions via its sulfur atom. This residue is not conserved in the DMSO reductase superfamily while it is conserved in the periplasmic nitrate reductase family. Zinc inhibition is therefore likely to be specific and restricted to periplasmic nitrate reductases.     

Study of the Cys-His bridge electron transfer pathway in a copper-containing nitrite reductase by site-directed mutagenesis,spectroscopic, and computational methods

The Cys-His bridge as electron transfer conduit in the enzymatic catalysis of nitrite to nitric oxide by nitrite reductase from Sinorhizobium meliloti 2011 (SmNir) was evaluated by site-directed mutagenesis, steady state kinetic studies, UV–vis and EPR spectroscopic measurements as well as computational calculations. The kinetic, structural and spectroscopic properties of the His171Asp (H171D) and Cys172Asp (C172D) SmNir variants were compared with the wild type enzyme. Molecular properties of H171D and C172D indicate that these point mutations have not visible effects on the quaternary structure of SmNir. Both variants are catalytically incompetent using the physiological electron donor pseudoazurin, though C172D presents catalytic activity with the artificial electron donor methyl viologen (k_cat = 3.9(4) s^? 1) lower than that of wt SmNir (k_cat = 240(50) s^? 1). QM/MM calculations indicate that the lack of activity of H171D may be ascribed to the N^δ1H…OC hydrogen bond that partially shortcuts the T1–T2 bridging Cys-His covalent pathway. The role of the N^δ1H…OC hydrogen bond in the pH-dependent catalytic activity of wt SmNir is also analyzed by monitoring the T1 and T2 oxidation states at the end of the catalytic reaction of wt SmNir at pH 6 and 10 by UV–vis and EPR spectroscopies. These data provide insight into how changes in Cys-His bridge interrupts the electron transfer between T1 and T2 and how the pH-dependent catalytic activity of the enzyme are related to pH-dependent structural modifications of the T1–T2 bridging chemical pathway.     

Probing the mechanism of GSH activation in Schistosoma haematobium glutathione-S-transferase by site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray crystallography

During turnover, the catalytic tyrosine residue (Tyr10) of the sigma class Schistosoma haematobium wild-type glutathione-S-transferase is expected to switch alternately in and out of the reduced glutathione-binding site (G-site). The Tyrout10 conformer forms a pi-cation interaction with the guanidinium group of Arg21. As in other similar glutathione-S-transferases, the catalytic Tyr has a low pKa of 7.2. In order to investigate the catalytic role of Tyr10, and the structural and functional roles of Arg21, we carried out structural studies on two Arg21 mutants (R21L and R21Q) and a Tyr10 mutant, Y10F. Our crystallographic data for the two Arg21 mutants indicate that only the Tyrout10 conformation is populated, thereby excluding a role of Arg21 in the stabilisation of the out conformation. However, Arg21 was confirmed to be catalytically important and essential for the low pKa of Tyr10. Upon comparison with structural data generated for reduced glutathione-bound and inhibitor-bound wild-type enzymes, it was observed that the orientations of Tyr10 and Arg35 are concerted and that, upon ligand binding, minor rearrangements occur within conserved residues in the active site loop. These rearrangements are coupled to quaternary rigid-body movements at the dimer interface and alterations in the localisation and structural order of the C-terminal domain.     

Catalytic mechanism of hydride transfer between NADP+/H and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase from Anabaena PCC 7119

The mechanism of hydride transfer between Anabaena FNR and NADP+/H was analysed using for the first time stopped-flow photodiode array detection and global analysis deconvolution. The results indicated that the initial spectral changes, occurring within the instrumental dead time upon reaction of FNR with NADP+/H, included not only the initial interaction and complex formation, but also the first subsequent steps of the sequential reactions that involve hydride transfer. Two different charge-transfer complexes formed prior and upon hydride transfer, FNRox-NADPH and FNRrd-NADP+. Detectable amounts of FNRox-NADPH were found at equilibrium, but FNRrd-NADP+ accumulated to a small extent and quickly evolved. The spectral properties of both charge-transfer complexes, for the first time in Anabaena FNR, as well as the corresponding inter-conversion hydride transfer rates were obtained. The need of an adequate initial interaction between NADP+/H and FNR, and subsequent conformational changes, was also established by studying the reactions of two FNR mutants.     

Salt shock-inducible photosystem I cyclic electron transfer in Synechocystis PCC6803 relies on binding of ferredoxin:NADP(+) reductase to the thylakoid membranes via its CpcD phycobilisome-linker homologous N-terminal domain

Relative to ferredoxin:NADP(+) reductase (FNR) from chloroplasts, the comparable enzyme in cyanobacteria contains an additional 9 kDa domain at its amino-terminus. The domain is homologous to the phycocyanin associated linker polypeptide CpcD of the light harvesting phycobilisome antennae. The phenotypic consequences of the genetic removal of this domain from the petH gene, which encodes FNR, have been studied in Synechocystis PCC 6803. The in frame deletion of 75 residues at the amino-terminus, rendered chloroplast length FNR enzyme with normal functionality in linear photosynthetic electron transfer. Salt shock correlated with increased abundance of petH mRNA in the wild-type and mutant alike. The truncation stopped salt stress-inducible increase of Photosystem I-dependent cyclic electron flow. Both photoacoustic determination of the storage of energy from Photosystem I specific far-red light, and the re-reduction kinetics of P700(+), suggest lack of function of the truncated FNR in the plastoquinone-cytochrome b(6)f complex reductase step of the PS I-dependent cyclic electron transfer chain. Independent gold-immunodecoration studies and analysis of FNR distribution through activity staining after native polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis showed that association of FNR with the thylakoid membranes of Synechocystis PCC 6803 requires the presence of the extended amino-terminal domain of the enzyme. The truncated DeltapetH gene was also transformed into a NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH1) deficient mutant of Synechocystis PCC 6803 (strain M55) (T. Ogawa, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88 (1991) 4275-4279). Phenotypic characterisation of the double mutant supported our conclusion that both the NAD(P)H dehydrogenase complex and FNR contribute independently to the quinone cytochrome b(6)f reductase step in PS I-dependent cyclic electron transfer. The distribution, binding properties and function of FNR in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 will be discussed.     

The mechanism of aubstrate eecognition of pyroglutamyl-peptidase I from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens as determined by X-ray crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis

Pyroglutamyl-peptidase is able to specifically remove the amino-terminal pyroglutamyl residue protecting proteins or peptides from aminopeptidases. To clarify the mechanism of substrate recognition for the unique structure of the pyrrolidone ring, x-ray crystallography and site-directed mutagenesis were applied. The crystal structure of pyroglutamyl-peptidase bound to a transition state analog inhibitor (Inh), pyroglutaminal, was determined. Two hydrogen bonds were located between the main chain of the enzyme and the inhibitor (71:O.H-N:Inh and Gln71:N-H.OE:Inh), and the pyrrolidone ring of the inhibitor was inserted into the hydrophobic pocket composed of Phe-10, Phe-13, Thr-45, Ile-92, Phe-142, and Val-143. To study in detail the hydrophobic pocket, Phe-10, Phe-13, and Phe-142 were selected for mutation experiments. The k(cat) value of the F10Y mutant decreased, but the two phenylalanine mutants F13Y and F142Y did not exhibit significant changes in kinetic parameters compared with the wild-type enzyme. The catalytic efficiencies (k(cat)/K(m)) for the F13A and F142A mutants were less than 1000-fold that of the wild-type enzyme. The x-ray crystallographic study of the F142A mutant showed no significant change except for a minor one in the hydrophobic pocket compared with the wild type. These findings indicate that the molecular recognition of pyroglutamic acid is achieved through two hydrogen bonds and an insertion in the hydrophobic pocket. In the pocket, Phe-10 is more important to the hydrophobic interaction than is Phe-142, and furthermore Phe-13 serves as an "induced fit" mechanism.     

Chloroplast site-directed mutagenesis of photosystem I in Chlamydomonas: electron transfer reactions and light sensitivity

The photosystem I (PSI) complex is a multisubunit protein-pigment complex embedded in the thylakoid membrane which acts as a light-driven plastocyanin/cytochrome c(6)-ferredoxin oxido-reductase. The use of chloroplast transformation and site-directed mutagenesis coupled with the biochemical and biophysical analysis of mutants of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with specific amino acid changes in several subunits of PSI has provided new insights into the structure-function relationship of this important photosynthetic complex. In particular, this molecular-genetic analysis has identified key residues of the reaction center polypeptides of PSI which are the ligands of some of the redox cofactors and it has also provided important insights into the orientation of the terminal electron acceptors of this complex. Finally this analysis has also shown that mutations affecting the donor side of PSI are limiting for overall electron transfer under high light and that electron trapping within the terminal electron acceptors of PSI is highly deleterious to the cells.     

Altered photosynthetic electron channelling into cyclic electron flow and nitrite assimilation in a mutant of ferredoxin:NADP(H) reductase

The mechanism by which plants regulate channelling of photosynthetically derived electrons into different areas of chloroplast metabolism remains obscure. Possible fates of such electrons include use in carbon assimilation, nitrogen assimilation and redox signalling pathways, or return to the plastoquinone pool through cyclic electron flow. In higher plants, these electrons are made accessible to stromal enzymes, or for cyclic electron flow, as reduced ferredoxin (Fd), or NADPH. We investigated how knockout of an Arabidopsis ( Arabidopsis thaliana ) ferredoxin:NADPH reductase (FNR) isoprotein and the loss of strong thylakoid binding by the remaining FNR in this mutant affected the channelling of photosynthetic electrons into NADPH- and Fd-dependent metabolism. Chlorophyll fluorescence data show that these mutants have complex variation in cyclic electron flow, dependent on light conditions. Measurements of electron transport in isolated thylakoid and chloroplast systems demonstrated perturbed channelling to NADPH-dependent carbon and Fd-dependent nitrogen assimilating metabolism, with greater competition in the mutant. Moreover, mutants accumulate greater biomass than the wild type under low nitrate growth conditions, indicating that such altered chloroplast electron channelling has profound physiological effects. Taken together, our results demonstrate the integral role played by FNR isoform and location in the partitioning of photosynthetic reducing power.     

Kinetic evidence for the PsaE-dependent transient ternary complex photosystem I/Ferredoxin/Ferredoxin:NADP(+) reductase in a cyanobacterium.

A mutant of Synechocystis PCC 6803, deficient in psaE, assembles photosystem I reaction centers without the PsaE subunit. Under conditions of acceptor-side rate-limited photoreduction assays in vitro (with 15 microM plastocyanin included), using 100 nM ferredoxin:NADP(+) reductase (FNR) and either Synechocystis flavodoxin or spinach ferredoxin, lower rates of NADP(+) photoreduction were measured when PsaE-deficient membranes were used, as compared to the wild type. This effect of the psaE mutation proved to be due to a decrease of the apparent affinity of the photoreduction assay system for the reductase. In the psaE mutant, the relative petH (encoding FNR) expression level was found to be significantly increased, providing a possible explanation for the lack of a phenotype (i.e., a decrease in growth rate) that was expected from the lower rate of linear electron transport in the mutant. A kinetic model was constructed in order to simulate the electron transfer from reduced plastocyanin to NADP(+), and test for possible causes for the observed change in affinity for FNR. The numerical simulations predict that the altered reduction kinetics of ferredoxin, determined for the psaE mutant [Barth, P., et al., (1998) Biochemistry 37, 16233-16241], do not significantly influence the rate of linear electron transport to NADP(+). Rather, a change in the dissociation constant of ferredoxin for FNR does affect the saturation profile for FNR. We therefore propose that the PsaE-dependent transient ternary complex PSI/ferredoxin/FNR is formed during linear electron transport. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, however, no direct interaction could be demonstrated in vivo between FNR and PsaE fusion proteins.