Search results for "phytochrome"

Ubiquitous Structural Signaling in Bacterial Phytochromes

2015

The phytochrome family of light-switchable proteins has long been studied by biochemical, spectroscopic and crystallographic means, while a direct probe for global conformational signal propagation has been lacking. Using solution X-ray scattering, we find that the photosensory cores of several bacterial phytochromes undergo similar large-scale structural changes upon red-light excitation. The data establish that phytochromes with ordinary and inverted photocycles share a structural signaling mechanism and that a particular conserved histidine, previously proposed to be involved in signal propagation, in fact tunes photoresponse.

The structural effect between the output module and chromophore-binding domain is a two-way street via the hairpin extension.

2022

AbstractSignal transduction typically starts with either ligand binding or cofactor activation, eventually affecting biological activities in the cell. In red light-sensing phytochromes, isomerization of the bilin chromophore results in regulation of the activity of diverse output modules. During this process, several structural elements and chemical events influence signal propagation. In our study, we have studied the full-length bacteriophytochrome from Deinococcus radiodurans as well as a previously generated optogenetic tool where the native histidine kinase output module has been replaced with an adenylate cyclase. We show that the composition of the output module influences the stabi…

Partial purification and initial characterization of phytochrome from the mossAtrichum undulatum P. Beauv. grown in the light.

1988

The extraction and partial purification of phytochrome from light-grownAtrichum undulatum P. Beauv., a chlorophyllous moss, is described. Polyethyleneimine and salt fractionation followed by hydroxyapatite and Affi-gel-blue chromatography were used to separate phytochrome from chlorophyll, and to purify the pigment. All steps were performed in the presence of Triton X-100 which improved the yield by a factor of about three. The protein has a molecular weight some-what larger than that ofAvena phytochrome (124 kDa), as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis. It cross-reacts with a monoclonal antibody against phytochrome from etiolated …

Protonation of the Biliverdin IXα Chromophore in the Red and Far-Red Photoactive States of a Bacteriophytochrome

2019

The tetrapyrrole chromophore biliverdin IXα (BV) in the bacteriophytochrome from Deinococcus radiodurans (DrBphP) is usually assumed to be fully protonated, but this assumption has not been systematically validated by experiments or extensive computations. Here, we use force field molecular dynamics simulations and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations with density functional theory and XMCQDPT2 methods to investigate the effect of the five most probable protonation forms of BV on structural stability, binding pocket interactions, and absorption spectra in the two photochromic states of DrBphP. While agreement with X-ray structural data and measured UV/vis spectra suggest that …

Red : far-red light ratio and UV-B radiation: their effects on leaf phenolics and growth of silver birch seedlings

2004

The natural variation in quantity and quality of light modifies plant morphology, growth rate and concentration of biochemicals. The aim of two growth-room experiments was to study the combined effects of red (R) and far-red (FR) light and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation on the concentrations of leaf phenolics and growth and morphology of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) seedlings. Analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography showed that the leaves exposed to supplemental FR relative to R contained higher concentrations of total chlorogenic acids and a cinnamic acid derivative than the leaves treated with supplemental R relative to FR. In contrast, concentration of a flavonoid, querc…

2020

Phytochrome proteins control the growth, reproduction, and photosynthesis of plants, fungi, and bacteria. Light is detected by a bilin cofactor, but it remains elusive how this leads to activation of the protein through structural changes. We present serial femtosecond X-ray crystallographic data of the chromophore-binding domains of a bacterial phytochrome at delay times of 1 ps and 10 ps after photoexcitation. The data reveal a twist of the D-ring, which leads to partial detachment of the chromophore from the protein. Unexpectedly, the conserved so-called pyrrole water is photodissociated from the chromophore, concomitant with movement of the A-ring and a key signaling aspartate. The chan…

Comparative analysis of two paradigm bacteriophytochromes reveals opposite functionalities in two-component signaling

2021

Bacterial phytochrome photoreceptors usually belong to two-component signaling systems which transmit environmental stimuli to a response regulator through a histidine kinase domain. Phytochromes switch between red light-absorbing and far-red light-absorbing states. Despite exhibiting extensive structural responses during this transition, the model bacteriophytochrome from Deinococcus radiodurans (DrBphP) lacks detectable kinase activity. Here, we resolve this long-standing conundrum by comparatively analyzing the interactions and output activities of DrBphP and a bacteriophytochrome from Agrobacterium fabrum (Agp1). Whereas Agp1 acts as a conventional histidine kinase, we identify DrBphP a…

The Effect of Light on the Growth of Pea Plants and the Subsequent Influence in Shikimate Oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.25) Activity

1981

Summary Pea plants were cultured in white light, red and far red light, and in the dark during a period of three weeks. At several states of development we investigated the activity of the enzyme shikimate oxidoreductase, the amount of fresh and dry matter, and the contents of protein in stem, leaves, cotyledons, and roots. The enzyme activity was found to be distributed organ-specifically and uninfluenced by the phytochrome system, but it was significantly depressed in plants grown in the dark compared to plants grown in white light. Enzyme activity occurred also in non photosynthetic plants. Regarding the different light conditions the activity of shikimate oxidoreductase was found to cor…

GENETIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE EFFECT OF LIGHT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOSS, PHYSCOMITRELLA PATENS

1978

Abstract The germination of Physcomitrella patens spores only occurs when wet spores are exposed to light. Depending on their ripeness, spores require from 44 to 64 h illumination to bring about maximum germination. There is a lag period of about 15 h between the reception of sufficient light to elicit germination before germination can be observed. Wavelengths in the range 640-680 nm are much more effective in inducing germination than longer or shorter wavelengths, but far-red reversal of red light induction of germination has not been demonstrated. Light also has very marked effects on protonemal and gametophore development. In darkness, only caulonemata are produced, and these grow nega…

The primary structural photoresponse of phytochrome proteins captured by a femtosecond X-ray laser

2019

Phytochrome proteins control the growth, reproduction, and photosynthesis of plants, fungi, and bacteria. Light is detected by a bilin cofactor, but it remains elusive how this leads to activation of the protein through structural changes. We present serial femtosecond X-ray crystallographic data of the chromophore-binding domains of a bacterial phytochrome at delay times of 1 ps and 10 ps after photoexcitation. The data reveal a twist of the D-ring, which leads to partial detachment of the chromophore from the protein. Unexpectedly, the conserved so-called pyrrole water is photodissociated from the chromophore, concomitant with movement of the A-ring and a key signaling aspartate. The chan…