Studies on manganese binding by selective solubilization of Photosystem-II polypeptides

Deoxycholate was used to solubilize the 16 and 24 kDa polypeptides from spinach thylakoids, resulting in the loss of oxygen evolution. Manganese was retained in the membrane. When the deoxycholate-extracted membranes were subjected to a mild heat treatment, the water-soluble 33 kDa protein was selectively released. Less than one manganese per reaction center was lost on heating but this loss was not correlated to the solubilization of protein. Most of the manganese bound to the membrane remained EPR-undetectable and could be released by 2-amino-2-hydroxymethylpropane-1,3-diol (Tris) or hydroxylamine treatments. This indicates that the manganese involved in oxygen evolution remains in its native binding site despite the loss of the 33 kDa protein. These results contradict the hypothesis that the 33 kDa protein is responsible for manganese binding at the photosynthetic oxygen-evolving site.     

Effect of the manganese complex on the binding of the extrinsic proteins (17, 23 and 33 kDa) of Photosystem II

Selective extraction-reconstitution experiments with the extrinsic Photosystem II polypeptides (33 kDa, 23 kDa and 17 kDa) have demonstrated that the manganese complex and the 33 kDa polypeptide are both necessary structural elements for the tight binding of the water soluble 17 and 23 kDa species. When the manganese complex is intact the 33 kDa protein interacts strongly with the rest of the photosynthetic complex. Destruction of the Mn-complex has two dramatic effects: i) The binding of the 33 kDa polypeptide is weaker, since it can be removed by exposure of the PS II system to 2 M NaCl, and ii) the 17 and 23 kDa species do not rebind to Mn-depleted Photosystem II membranes that retain the 33 kDa protein.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - HQ hydroquinone - MES 2(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - PS II Photosystem II - Tris 2-amino-2-hydroxymethylpropane-1,3-diol     

Identification of polypeptides associated with the 23 and 33 kDa proteins of photosynthetic oxygen evolution

An immunological approach was used for nearest-neighbor analyses for the 23 and 33 kDA proteins of the oxygen-evolving complex. Functional Photosystem II particles with a simple polypeptide composition were partly solubilized with detergent and incubated with monospecific antibodies against either the 23 or the 33 kDa protein. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the immunoprecipitates, apart from the antigenic proteins, also contained polypeptides at 24, 22 and 10 kDa. In contrast, polypeptides of the light-harvesting and Photosystem II core complexes showed very poor coprecipitation with the 23 and 33 kDa proteins. The 24, 22 and 10 kDa polypeptides were not precipitated by the antibodies if the 23 and 33 kDa proteins had been removed from the particles prior to solubilization. These observations demonstrate a close association between the 24, 22 and 10 kDa polypeptides and the 23 and 33 kDa proteins of the oxygen-evolving complex. None of these precipitated polypeptides contained any manganese. It is suggested that the 24, 22 and 10 kDa polypeptides are subunits of the oxygen-evolving complex and involved in the binding of the extrinsic 23 and 33 kDa proteins to the inner thylakoid surface.     

The structure and function of the 33 kDa extrinsic protein of Photosystem II: A critical assessment

In this review the structure and function of the 33 kDa protein of Photosystem II is examined. Significant controversies exist concerning the solution secondary structure of the protein, the location of its binding site(s) within Photosystem II, the amino acid residues of the 33 kDa protein required for binding and its stoichiometry within the photosystem. The studies which examine these topics are considered from a critical perspective. A hypothetical model of the folding of the 33 kDa extrinsic protein which is supported by site-specific labeling studies and site-directed mutagenesis experiments is presented. Additionally, the function of the protein within the photosystem is unclear. We present a hypothesis that the 33 kDa protein is involved in maintaining the chloride associated with photosynthetic oxygen evolution in close proximity to the oxygen-evolving site.     

Assocation of the 33 kDa extrinsic polypeptide (water-splitting) with PS II particles: immunochemical quantification of residual polypeptide after membrane extraction

Various washing procedures were tested on Triton-prepared PS II particles for their ability to remove the 33 kDa extrinsic polypeptide (33 kDa EP) associated with the water-splitting complex. Residual 33 kDa EP was evaluated by Coomassie blue staining of SDS gels of washed particles and by Western blotting with an antibody specific for the 33 kDa EP. A wash with 16 mM Tris buffer, pH 8.3, inhibited water-splitting activity but did not remove all the 33 kDa EP. Sequential washes with 30 mM octyl glucoside (pH 8.0 and 6.8), and a single wash with 0.8 M Tris were also ineffective in removing all the 33 kDa EP. Washing with 1 M CaCl₂ was more effective in removing 33 kDa EP; while only a faint trace of protein was detectable by Coomassie-staining, immunoblotting revealed a considerable remainder. The treated particles retained some water-splitting activity. The two step procedure of Miyao and Murata (1984) involving 1 M NaCl and 2.3 M urea was most effective, removing all but a trace of antibody positive protein. Our finding suggests that (1) the degree of depletion of the 33 kDa EP cannot be judged on the basis of Coomassie stain alone, and (2) this extrinsic protein is very tightly associated with the membrane, perhaps via a hydrophilic portion of this otherwise hydrophilic protein. The results also suggest that the presence or absence of the 33 kDa protein per se is not the primary determinant of residual water splitting activity.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - DCPIP dichlorophenolindophenol - DPC diphenolcarbazide - DTT dithiothreitol - HEPES N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-2-ethanesulfonic acid - MES 2(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - Tris Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane     

On the role of the N-terminus of the extrinsic 33 kDa protein of Photosystem II

The role of the N-terminus of the extrinsic 33 kDa protein of Photosystem II has been investigated by means of site-directed mutagenesis and cross-linking. Replacement of Asp-9 resulted in a dramatic increase in proteolytic sensitivity leading to the degradation of the protein forming a 31 kDa fragment with an undefined N-terminus. This fragment was unable to restore oxygen evolution. However, the variants of the 33 kDa protein which remained intact could reconstitute oxygen evolution as effectively as the wild-type protein. Cross-linking experiments with a water-soluble carbodiimide revealed that mutagenesis of residue D9 led to the disruption of an intramolecular salt bridge. Therefore we suggest that the N-terminus of the 33 kDa protein is necessary for maintaining the binding ability of the protein to Photosystem II but might not be involved in binding itself.     

Revised structure of the active form of human deoxyribonuclease IIalpha

Deoxyribonuclease IIalpha (DNase IIalpha) is an acid endonuclease found in lysosomes, nuclei, and various secretions. Murine DNase IIalpha is required for digesting the DNA of apoptotic cells after phagocytosis and for correct development and viability. DNase IIalpha purified from porcine spleen was previously shown to contain three peptides, two of which were thiol crosslinked, all derived by processing of a single polypeptide. Commercial bovine protein is consistent with this structure. However, screening of 18 human cell lines failed to demonstrate this processing, rather a 45 kDa protein was consistently observed. Incubation of cells with the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin resulted in a 37 kDa protein, which is close to the predicted formula weight. The protein also contains at least one thiol crosslink. Similar results were obtained with overexpressed DNase IIalpha. These results suggest that active DNase IIalpha consists of one contiguous polypeptide. We suggest the previous structure reflects proteolysis during protein purification.     

Fluorescence and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic studies on the role of disulfide bond in the calcium binding in the 33 kDa protein of Photosystem II

The 33 kDa protein of Photosystem II has one intrachain disulfide bond. Fluorescence spectroscopy shows that the major groups in the protein that bind to Ca²⁺ should be the carboxylic side groups of glutamic acid and/or aspartic acid. Fluorescence and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic studies indicate that the conformation of the 33 kDa protein is altered upon reduction, while the reduced protein still retains the secondary structure. FTIR spectroscopy also shows that the metal ions induce a relative decrease of unordered structure and -sheet, and a substantial increase of -helix in both the intact and the reduced 33 kDa protein. This indicates that the addition of cations results in a much more compact structure and that both the intact and the reduced 33 kDa proteins have the ability to bind calcium. The above results may suggest that the disulfide bridge is not essential for calcium binding.Abbreviations CD circular dichroism - FTIR Fourier transform infrared - La lanthanum - PS photosystem - Tb terbium     

The effects of mono- and divalent salts on the O2-evolution activity and low temperature multiline EPR spectrum of Photosystem II preparations from spinach

The ability of salts to inhibit the O₂-evolution activity of PS II preparations is shown to parallel closely the Hofmeister series, suggesting that inhibition is related to the solubility of the 16, 24 and 33 kDa proteins in these salt solutions. An examination of the effect of salt inactivation on the low temperature multiline EPR signal indicates that the release of either the 16 and 24 kDa proteins, or additionally the 33 kDa protein blocks or greatly reduces the efficiency of the advancement of the water-splitting complex to the S₂-state; under some conditions, this inhibition is reversible.     

The location of the chloride binding sites in the oxygen-evolving complex of spinach Photosystem II

³⁵Cl-NMR studies are presented here for spinach Photosystem II membranes inhibited by hydroxylamine (to remove Mn), Tris (to remove Mn and 18, 24 and 33 kDa polypeptides), and salt-washing (to remove 18 and 24 kDa; and 33 kDa polypeptides). Removal of Mn affects the ³⁵Cl-NMR binding curve only slightly, indicating that not all of the bound Mn is directly required for Cl-binding. Removal of both Mn and extrinsic polypeptides eliminates almost all of the Cl⁻-specific binding observable by NMR. Removal of the extrinsic 18 and 24 kDa polypeptides drastically changes the ³⁵Cl-NMR binding pattern; this effect is partially restored by the addition of 2 mM CaSO₄, and, to a lesser extent, by the partial rebinding of the polypeptides. Existence of Cl⁻ binding to the intrinsic polypeptides (e.g., D₁/D₂), with a peak at 0.5 mM Cl⁻, is shown in samples lacking 18, 24 and 33 kDa polypeptides. Thus, both intrinsic (i.e., on the D₁/D₂ membrane protein) and extrinsic (i.e., on the 33 kDa protein) binding sites for Cl⁻ are suggested to exist.     

Partial reconstitution of the photosynthetic oxygen evolution system by rebinding of the 33-kDa polypeptide

Treatment with 2.6 M urea of the Photosystem II particles depleted of two polypeptides of 24 kDa and 18 kDa completely released a polypeptide of 33 kDa and eliminated the oxygen-evolution activity. The 33-kDa polypeptide rebound to the urea-treated particles and partially reactivated the oxygen evolution. A quantitative analysis of the rebinding suggests tha there is a specific binding site for the 33-kDa polypeptide on the membrane surface.     

Quantitative analysis of membrane components in a highly active O2-evolving photosystem II preparation from spinach chloroplasts

Stoichiometry of membrane components associated with Photosystem II was determined in a highly active O₂-evolving Photosystem II preparation isolated from spinach chloroplasts by the treatment with digitonin and Triton X-100. From the analysis with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Triton X-114 phase partitioning, the preparation was shown to contain the reaction center protein (43 kDa), the light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complex (the main band, 27 kDa), the herbicide-binding protein (32 kDa) and cytochrome b-559 (10 kDa) as hydrophobic proteins, and three proteins (33, 24 and 18 kDa) which probably constitute the O₂-evolution enzyme complex as hydrophilic proteins. These proteins were associated stoichiometrically with the Photosystem II reaction center: one Photosystem II reaction center, approx. 200 chlorophyll, one high-potential form of cytochrome b-559, one low-potential form of cytochrome b-559, one 33 kDa protein, one (to two) 24 kDa protein and one (to two) 18 kDa protein. Measurement of fluorescence induction showed the presence of three electron equivalents in the electron acceptor pool on the reducing side of Photosystem II in our preparation. Three molecules of plastoquinone A were detected per 200 chlorophyll molecules with high-performance liquid chromatography. The Photosystem II preparation contained four managanese atoms per 200 chlorophyll molecules.     

Refined purification and further characterization of oxygen-evolving and Tris-treated Photosystem II particles from the thermophilic Cyanobacterium synechococcus sp.

Highly active, monomeric and dimeric Photosystem II complexes were purified from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. by two sucrose density gradients, and the size, shape and mass of these complexes have been estimated (Rögner, M., Dekker, J.P., Boekema, E.J. and Witt, H.T. (1987) FEBS Lett. 219, 207–311). (1) Further purification could be obtained by ion-exchange chromatography, by which the 300 kDa monomer could be separated into a highly active, O₂-evolving fraction, and a fraction without O₂-evolving capacity, which has lost its extrinsic 34 kDa protein. Both showed very high reaction center activities as measured by the photoreduction of the primary quinone acceptor, Q_A, at 320 nm, being up to one reaction center per 31 Chl a molecules. (2) Tris-treatment yielded homogeneous 300 kDa particles which had lost their extrinsic 34 kDa polypeptide. Electron microscopy of this complex revealed very similar dimensions compared to the oxygen-evolving 300 kDa particle, except that the smallest dimension was decreased from about 6.5 nm to about 5.8 nm. This difference is attributed to the missing extrinsic 33 kDa protein, and the smallest dimension is attributed to the distance across the membrane. (3) Experiments are presented, allowing an estimation for the contribution of detergent to the other dimensions being about 2 × 1.5 nm for dodecyl β- -maltoside. This leads to dimensions, corrected for detergent size, of 12.3 × 7.5 nm for the monomeric form of PS II and 12 × 15.5 nm for the dimeric form. (4) From some extracts a 35 kDa, chlorophyll-binding complex could be isolated which lacks the characteristic absorbance changes of Q_A and of Chl a_II (P-680) and is therefore supposed to be a light-harvesting complex of cyanobacteria. (5) A model for the in vivo organization of PS II in cyanobacteria is discussed.     

Structural and catalytic properties of the oxygen-evolving complex. Correlation of polypeptide and manganese release with the behavior of Z+ in chloroplasts and a highly resolved preparation of the PS II complex

Treatment of intact thylakoid membranes with Triton X-100 at pH 6 produces a preparation of the PS II complex capable of high rates of O₂ evolution. The preparation contains four managanese, one cytochrome b-559, one Signal II_f and one Signal II_s per 250 chlorophylls. By selective manipulation of the preparation polypeptides of approximate molecular weights of 33, 23 and 17 kDa can be removed from the complex. Release of 23 and 17 kDa polypeptides does not release functional manganese. Under these conditions Z⁺ is not readily and directly accessible to an added donor (benzidine) and it appears as if at least some of the S-state transitions occur. Evidence is presented which indicates that benzidine does have increased access to the oxygen-evolving complex in these polypeptide depleted preparations. Conditions which release the 33 kDa species along with Mn and the 23 and 17 kDa polypeptides generate an alteration in the structure of the oxidizing side of PS II, which becomes freely accessible to benzidine. These findings are examined in relationship to alterations of normal S-state behavior (induced by polypeptide release) and a model is proposed for the organization of functional manganese and polypeptides involved in the oxygen-evolving reaction.     

Purification and properties of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate 3-kinase from rat brain. Susceptibility to calpain

A new, rapid method for purification of inositol(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase in high yield from rat brain is described. Purified enzyme exhibited a polypeptide of Mr = 53,000 on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel and a specific activity of 29 mumol/min/mg at 37 degrees C in the absence of calmodulin. Inclusion of calpain inhibitors was critical for obtaining the 53-kDa protein as the major product and 0.1% of the zwitterionic detergent, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylamino]-2-propanesulfonate, was necessary to stabilize enzyme activity. In the absence of calpain inhibitors, the 53-kDa protein degraded progressively during purification and yielded a mixture containing polypeptides of various sizes. Relative intensity of these degradation products on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel varied from one preparation to another. However, broad band(s) at the 42-45 kDa region and a band at 35 kDa were always weak, while bands of 53, 51, 40 (sometimes doublets), 33, and 32 KDa were usually strong. The fact that all of these polypeptides including the weak bands of 42-45 and 35 kDa were derived from the 53 kDa form was confirmed by their immunocross-reactivity with monoclonal antibodies to the 53 kDa form. When the 51, 40, and a mixture of the 33 and 32 kDa forms were obtained separately and nearly free from other forms, each of them exhibited catalytic activity. Nevertheless, calmodulin binds to polypeptides larger than 35,000 but not to the 33 and 32 kDa forms. Incubation of the purified 53 kDa form with calpain generated a fragmentation pattern nearly identical to that generated during purification in the absence of calpain inhibitors. Incubation with five other endoproteases produced proteolytic fragments slightly different from those by calpain. However, the general fragmentation patterns generated by the proteases were similar, suggesting that inositol(1,4,5)P3 3-kinase contains several motifs susceptible to a variety of proteases.     

Nitrogen ligation to the manganese cluster of Photosystem II in the absence of the extrinsic proteins and as a function of pH

Three extrinsic proteins (PsbO, PsbP and PsbQ), with apparent molecular weights of 33, 23 and 17 kDa, bind to the lumenal side of Photosystem II (PS II) and stabilize the manganese, calcium and chloride cofactors of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC). The effect of these proteins on the structure of the tetramanganese cluster, especially their possible involvement in manganese ligation, is investigated in this study by measuring the reported histidine-manganese coupling [Tang et al. (1994) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 91: 704–708] of PS II membranes depleted of none, two or three of these proteins using ESEEM (electron spin echo envelope modulation) spectroscopy. The results show that neither of the three proteins influence the histidine ligation of manganese. From this, the conserved histidine of the 23 kDa protein can be ruled out as a manganese ligand. Whereas the 33 and 17 kDa proteins lack conserved histidines, the existence of a 33 kDa protein-derived carboxylate ligand has been posited; our results show no evidence for a change of the manganese co-ordination upon removal of this protein. Studies of the pH-dependence of the histidine–manganese coupling show that the histidine ligation is present in PS II centers showing the S₂ multiline EPR signal in the pH-range 4.2–9.5. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Purification and N-terminal amino acid sequences of two polypeptides encoded by the mcrB gene from Escherichia coli K-12.

This report provides a purification method for the two proteins, 51 kDa and 33 kDa, both encoded by the same mcrB gene of the McrBC restriction system in Escherichia coli K-12. The two proteins were produced in large quantity using a T7 expression system and copurified to near homogeneity by DEAE-Sepharose and Affi-Gel blue column chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of these purified McrB proteins were the same as those predicted from the mcrB DNA sequence by Ross et al. [J. Bacteriol. 171 (1989b) 1974-1981]. The 33-kDa protein totally overlaps the C-terminal part of the 51-kDa protein.     

Purification and characterization of phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins from pig thyroid gland

A 32 kDa phospholipase A2 inhibitory protein was isolated from pig thyroid gland after calcium precipitation and fast protein liquid anion-exchange chromatography. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the purity of the protein. The protein activity was assessed by the inhibition of pancreatic phospholipase A2 on [3H]oleic acid-labelled Escherichia coli membranes as substrate and on the prostaglandin E2 production of cultured thyroid cells. The amino acid composition and the isoelectric point were quite similar to those of endonexin previously described in other tissues or cells. The cross-reactivity of a polyclonal antibody against a 32 kDa lipocortin from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with our thyroidal 32 kDa protein confirmed its lipocortin nature. Before the purification by fast protein liquid chromatography, the Ca2+ pellet contained lipocortin I (35 kDa and its core protein 33 kDa) identified by its cross-reactivity with a polyclonal antibody.     

Subunit structure of AMP-deaminase from skeletal muscles

AMP-deaminase was purified from skeletal muscle of rat by the affinity chromatography on phosphocellulose and gel-filtration on Sephadex G-200. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS-PAGE) has shown three protein bands on each step of purification. One of them corresponds to the subunit of tetrameric AMP-deaminase molecule with molecular weight of 76 kDa and two others--to the protein subunit with molecular weight of 42 and 33 kDa. Repeated SDS-PAGE of the main subunit band has revealed again all these protein bands. The data obtained indicate that AMP-deaminase subunit of 76 kDa is able to dissociate on two polypeptide chains with similar values of molecular weights in the presence of SDS.     

The Cl effect on photosynthetic oxygen evolution: interaction of Cl with 18-kDa, 24-kDa and 33-kDa proteins

The interaction of Cl⁻ with the extrinsic proteins of 18 kDa, 24 kDa and 33 kDa in the photosynthetic oxygen-evolution complex was studied by comparing spinach photosystem II particles of different protein compositions. The 33-kDa protein decreased the Cl⁻ concentration optimum for oxygen evolution from 150 to 30 mM, and the 24-kDa protein decreased it from 30 to 10 mM. The 18-kDa protein did not change the optimum Cl⁻ concentration, but sustained oxygen evolution at Cl⁻ concentrations lower than 3 mM. The presence of the 24-kDa and 18-kDa proteins, but not each protein alone, markedly suppressed inactivation of oxygen evolution at a very low Cl⁻ concentration and its restoration by readdition of Cl⁻.