Distinct classes of red/far-red photochemistry within the phytochrome superfamily

162

299

Phytochrome photoreceptors mediate light responses in plants and in many microorganisms. Here we report studies using 1 H-13 C magic-angle spinning NMR spectroscopy of the sensor module of cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1. Two isoforms of the red-light absorbing Pr ground state are identified. Conclusive evidence that photoisomerization occurs at the C15-methine bridge leading to a β-facial disposition of the ring D is presented. In the far-red-light absorbing Pfr state, strong hydrogen-bonding interactions of the D-ring carbonyl group to Tyr-263 and of N24 to Asp-207 hold the chromophore in a tensed conformation. Signaling is triggered when Asp-207 is released from its salt bridge to Arg-472, probably inducing conformational changes in the tongue region. A second signal route is initiated by partner swapping of the B-ring propionate between Arg-254 and Arg-222.chromophore-protein interaction | signal transduction | solid-state NMR | photomorphogenesis P hytochrome was first demonstrated in plants as a red-lightdependent photoreceptor regulating numerous photomorphogenic processes (1, 2). Phytochromes are, however, also now known in photosynthetic prokaryotes including cyanobacteria (3, 4), nonphotosynthetic bacteria (5), and fungi (6). Generally, the phytochrome apoprotein binds an open-chain tetrapyrrole as a chromophore (7,8) to form the red-light absorbing Pr ground state (λ max ≈ 658 nm in case of cyanobacterial phytchrome Cph1 from Synechocystis 6803). Red light absorption photoactivates the molecule to form the photoactivated far-red-light absorbing Pfr state (λ max ≈ 702 nm for Cph1) via a series of intermediates (8-10). Photoactivation is thought to be initiated by a double bond isomerization of the chromophore (10, 11). Early NMR spectroscopic studies on proteolytic phytochrome fragments (12, 13) indicated that this isomerization occurs at the C15═C16 double bond (for numbering, see Fig. 1A), a geometrical change in line with vibrational spectroscopic investigations (14-16) and results from recent 13 C solid-state NMR (17, 18) in which the most significant changes during the light-triggered conversions are confined to rings C and D. Exact geometries of the chromophore in the Pr state have been resolved as periplanar ZZZssa configurations in bacteriophytochromes from Deinococcus radiodurans (19) and Rhodopseudomonas palustris (20) as well as in the more plant-phytochrome-like Cph1 from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 (21). On the other hand, the crystal structure of the unusual bacteriophytochrome PaBphP Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22) whose ground state is Pfr shows a ZZEssa conformation, consistent with the expected primary photochemistry at the C15═C16 double bond (Fig. 1 B vs. C). Very recently, however, Ulijasz et al. presented structural simulations based on liquid NMR data of a 20-kDa GAF (cGMP phosphodiesterase/ adenylyl cyclase/FhlA) domain fragment of "SyB-Cph1" phytochrome from the thermotolerant cyanobacterium Synechococcus OSB′ (23). Surprisingly, they concluded that photoisomerization occ...

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

Two ground state isoforms and a chromophore D -ring photoflip triggering extensive intramolecular changes in a canonical phytochrome

Song

Psakis

Lang

et al. 2011

162

299

“…Both 15Z P g and 15E P r exhibited negative CD on the long-wavelength band (Fig. 1C), indicative of the α-facial bilin D-ring in both 15Z and 15E states (25,42) seen in many CBCRs (19,23,24). These features of RcaE are very similar to those previously described for CcaS (16,40), implicating a conserved green/red photocycle in known CCA photoreceptors.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 77%

“…Absorption spectra were acquired at 25°C using a Cary 50 spectrophotometer modified as described (42). Band-pass filters used for triggering saturating photochemistry were 535 nm center/ 70 nm width and 670 nm center/40 nm width.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green/red cyanobacteriochromes regulate complementary chromatic acclimation via a protochromic photocycle

Hirose

Rockwell

Nishiyama

et al. 2013

Self Cite

149

265

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are cyanobacterial members of the phytochrome superfamily of photosensors. Like phytochromes, CBCRs convert between two photostates by photoisomerization of a covalently bound linear tetrapyrrole (bilin) chromophore. Although phytochromes are red/far-red sensors, CBCRs exhibit diverse photocycles spanning the visible spectrum and the near-UV (330-680 nm). Two CBCR subfamilies detect near-UV to blue light (330-450 nm) via a "two-Cys photocycle" that couples bilin 15Z/15E photoisomerization with formation or elimination of a second bilincysteine adduct. On the other hand, mechanisms for tuning the absorption between the green and red regions of the spectrum have not been elucidated as of yet. CcaS and RcaE are members of a CBCR subfamily that regulates complementary chromatic acclimation, in which cyanobacteria optimize light-harvesting antennae in response to green or red ambient light. CcaS has been shown to undergo a green/red photocycle: reversible photoconversion between a green-absorbing 15Z state ( 15Z P g ) and a red-absorbing 15E state ( 15E P r ). We demonstrate that RcaE from Fremyella diplosiphon undergoes the same photocycle and exhibits light-regulated kinase activity. In both RcaE and CcaS, the bilin chromophore is deprotonated as 15Z P g but protonated as 15E P r . This change of bilin protonation state is modulated by three key residues that are conserved in green/red CBCRs. We therefore designate the photocycle of green/red CBCRs a "protochromic photocycle," in which the dramatic change from green to red absorption is not induced by initial bilin photoisomerization but by a subsequent change in bilin protonation state.light sensing | phycobiliprotein | signal transduction | spectral tuning | two-component signaling P hytochrome photosensors initially were discovered in plants and later found in cyanobacteria, nonoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria, nonphotosynthetic bacteria, fungi, and algae (1, 2). These photoreceptors bind linear tetrapyrrole (bilin) chromophores within a conserved GAF (cGMP phosphodiesterase/adenylyl cyclase/FhlA) domain via a covalent thioether linkage to a conserved Cys residue (Fig. S1A)(3-6). Upon illumination, phytochromes reversibly convert between a red-absorbing dark state and a far-red-absorbing photoproduct. This red/far-red photocycle is triggered by photoisomerization of the bilin 15,16-double bond between the 15Z and 15E configurations (7,8), with 15Z giving red absorption and 15E far-red absorption (4, 6, 9). In phytochromes, the conjugated π system of the bilin is protonated in both photostates, and this protonation is necessary to maintain the red and far-red absorption (10-12). Conserved GAF residues supply a hydrogen bond network to tune the chemical and spectral properties of the bilin (Fig. S1B).* Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are widespread cyanobacterial photosensors with phytochrome-related GAF domains (1,2,13,14). Although CBCRs also convert between two photostates via bilin photoisomerization at C15, they exhibit much more spe...

“…Nevertheless, existing gene models allow us to examine the photosensory properties of the truncated PCM region (Fig. S1) using heterologous expression in Escherichia coli cells engineered to coproduce various bilin chromophores (30)(31)(32)(33). These algal phytochromes exhibit diverse photocycles ranging from blue to far-red, revealing algal phytochromes as an unexpectedly diverse group of photoreceptors.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Eukaryotic algal phytochromes span the visible spectrum

Rockwell

Duanmu

Martin

et al. 2014

Self Cite

162

180

Plant phytochromes are photoswitchable red/far-red photoreceptors that allow competition with neighboring plants for photosynthetically active red light. In aquatic environments, red and far-red light are rapidly attenuated with depth; therefore, photosynthetic species must use shorter wavelengths of light. Nevertheless, phytochrome-related proteins are found in recently sequenced genomes of many eukaryotic algae from aquatic environments. We examined the photosensory properties of seven phytochromes from diverse algae: four prasinophyte (green algal) species, the heterokont (brown algal) Ectocarpus siliculosus, and two glaucophyte species. We demonstrate that algal phytochromes are not limited to red and far-red responses. Instead, different algal phytochromes can sense orange, green, and even blue light. Characterization of these previously undescribed photosensors using CD spectroscopy supports a structurally heterogeneous chromophore in the far-red–absorbing photostate. Our study thus demonstrates that extensive spectral tuning of phytochromes has evolved in phylogenetically distinct lineages of aquatic photosynthetic eukaryotes.