Spectral properties of bacteriophytochrome AM1_5894 in the chlorophyll d-containing cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina

Sci Rep. 2016 Jun 10:6:27547. doi: 10.1038/srep27547.

Abstract

Acaryochloris marina, a unicellular oxygenic photosynthetic cyanobacterium, has uniquely adapted to far-red light-enriched environments using red-shifted chlorophyll d. To understand red-light use in Acaryochloris, the genome of this cyanobacterium was searched for red/far-red light photoreceptors from the phytochrome family, resulting in identification of a putative bacteriophytochrome AM1_5894. AM1_5894 contains three standard domains of photosensory components as well as a putative C-terminal signal transduction component consisting of a histidine kinase and receiver domain. The photosensory domains of AM1_5894 autocatalytically assemble with biliverdin in a covalent fashion. This assembled AM1_5894 shows the typical photoreversible conversion of bacterial phytochromes with a ground-state red-light absorbing (Pr) form with λBV max[Pr] 705 nm, and a red-light inducible far-red light absorbing (Pfr) form with λBV max[Pfr] 758 nm. Surprisingly, AM1_5894 also autocatalytically assembles with phycocyanobilin, involving photoreversible conversion of λPCB max[Pr] 682 nm and λPCB max[Pfr] 734 nm, respectively. Our results suggest phycocyanobilin is also covalently bound to AM1_5894, while mutation of a cysteine residue (Cys11Ser) abolishes this covalent binding. The physiological function of AM1_5894 in cyanobacteria containing red-shifted chlorophylls is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chlorophyll / chemistry
  • Chlorophyll / genetics*
  • Cyanobacteria / chemistry
  • Cyanobacteria / genetics*
  • Cysteine / chemistry
  • Cysteine / genetics
  • Genome, Bacterial / genetics
  • Histidine Kinase / genetics
  • Histidine Kinase / metabolism
  • Light
  • Photoreceptors, Microbial / genetics
  • Photosynthesis / genetics*
  • Photosynthesis / radiation effects
  • Phytochrome / chemistry
  • Phytochrome / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / radiation effects

Substances

  • Photoreceptors, Microbial
  • Phytochrome
  • Chlorophyll
  • chlorophyll d
  • Histidine Kinase
  • Cysteine