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The FEBS Journal Jan 2020Substrate channeling is a widespread mechanism in metabolic pathways to avoid decomposition of unstable intermediates, competing reactions, and to accelerate catalytic...
Substrate channeling is a widespread mechanism in metabolic pathways to avoid decomposition of unstable intermediates, competing reactions, and to accelerate catalytic turnover. During the biosynthesis of light-harvesting phycobilins in cyanobacteria, two members of the ferredoxin-dependent bilin reductases are involved in the reduction of the open-chain tetrapyrrole biliverdin IXα to the pink pigment phycoerythrobilin. The first reaction is catalyzed by 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase and produces the unstable intermediate 15,16-dihydrobiliverdin (DHBV). This intermediate is subsequently converted by phycoerythrobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase to the final product phycoerythrobilin. Although substrate channeling has been postulated already a decade ago, detailed experimental evidence was missing. Using a new on-column assay employing immobilized enzyme in combination with UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that both enzymes transiently interact and that transfer of the intermediate is facilitated by a significantly higher binding affinity of DHBV toward phycoerythrobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase. Concluding from the presented data, the intermediate DHBV is transferred via proximity channeling.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Biliverdine; Cyanobacteria; Enzymes, Immobilized; Oxidoreductases; Phycobilins; Phycoerythrin
PubMed: 31319014
DOI: 10.1111/febs.15003 -
Journal of Biosciences 2021Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative condition provoking the loss of cognitive and memory performances. Despite huge efforts to develop effective... (Review)
Review
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative condition provoking the loss of cognitive and memory performances. Despite huge efforts to develop effective AD therapies, there is still no cure for this neurological condition. Here, we review the main biological properties of Phycocyanobilin (PCB), accounting for its potential uses against AD. PCB, given individually or released in vivo from C-Phycocyanin (C-PC), acts as a bioactive-molecule-mediating antioxidant, is anti-inflammatory and has immunomodulatory activities. PCB/C-PC are able to scavenge reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, to counteract lipid peroxidation and to inhibit enzymes such as NADPH oxidase and COX-2. In animal models of multiple sclerosis and ischemic stroke, these compounds induce remyelination as demonstrated by electron microscopy and the expression of genes such as up-regulation of and down-regulation. These treatments also reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines levels and induce immune suppressive genes. PCB/C-PC protects isolated rat brain mitochondria and inactivate microglia, astrocytes and neuronal apoptosis mediators. Such processes are all involved in the pathogenic cascade of AD, and thus PCB may effectively mitigate the injury in this condition. Furthermore, PCB can be administered safely by oral or parenteral routes and therefore, could be commercially offered as a nutraceutical supplement or as a pharmaceutical drug.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antioxidants; Dietary Supplements; Disease Models, Animal; Gene Expression Regulation; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Microglia; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Oxidative Stress; Phycobilins; Phycocyanin; Rats; Reactive Nitrogen Species; Reactive Oxygen Species; Remyelination
PubMed: 34047285
DOI: No ID Found -
Plant Science : An International... Nov 2023The phycobilisome antennas, which contain phycobilin pigments instead of chlorophyll, are crucial for the photosynthetic activity of Cyanidioschyzon merolae cells, which... (Review)
Review
The phycobilisome antennas, which contain phycobilin pigments instead of chlorophyll, are crucial for the photosynthetic activity of Cyanidioschyzon merolae cells, which thrive in an acidic and hot water environment. The accessible light intensity and quality, temperature, acidity, and other factors in this environment are quite different from those in the air available for terrestrial plants. Under these conditions, adaptation to the intensity and quality of light, as well as temperature, which are key factors in photosynthesis of higher plants, also affects this process in Cyanidioschyzon merolae cells. Adaptation to varying light conditions requires fast remodeling and re-tuning of their light-harvesting antennas (phycobilisomes) at multiple levels, from regulation of gene expression to structural reorganization of protein-pigment complexes. This review presents selected data on the structure of phycobilisomes, the genetic engineering of the constituent proteins, and the latest results and opinions on the adaptation of phycobilisomes to light intensity and quality, and temperature to photosynthetic activities. We pay special attention to the latest results of the C. merolae research.
PubMed: 37659734
DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111854 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2023The phycobilisome (PBS) is the major light-harvesting apparatus in cyanobacteria and red algae. It is a large multi-subunit protein complex of several megadaltons that... (Review)
Review
The phycobilisome (PBS) is the major light-harvesting apparatus in cyanobacteria and red algae. It is a large multi-subunit protein complex of several megadaltons that is found on the stromal side of thylakoid membranes in orderly arrays. Chromophore lyases catalyse the thioether bond between apoproteins and phycobilins of PBSs. Depending on the species, composition, spatial assembly, and, especially, the functional tuning of different phycobiliproteins mediated by linker proteins, PBSs can absorb light between 450 and 650 nm, making them efficient and versatile light-harvesting systems. However, basic research and technological innovations are needed, not only to understand their role in photosynthesis but also to realise the potential applications of PBSs. Crucial components including phycobiliproteins, phycobilins, and lyases together make the PBS an efficient light-harvesting system, and these provide a scheme to explore the heterologous synthesis of PBS. Focusing on these topics, this review describes the essential components needed for PBS assembly, the functional basis of PBS photosynthesis, and the applications of phycobiliproteins. Moreover, key technical challenges for heterologous biosynthesis of phycobiliproteins in chassis cells are discussed.
Topics: Phycobilisomes; Phycobilins; Phycobiliproteins; Photosynthesis; Rhodophyta
PubMed: 37298688
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24119733 -
The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B May 2023Aquatic photosynthetic organisms evolved to use a variety of light frequencies to perform photosynthesis. Phycobiliprotein phycocyanin 645 (PC645) is a light-harvesting...
Aquatic photosynthetic organisms evolved to use a variety of light frequencies to perform photosynthesis. Phycobiliprotein phycocyanin 645 (PC645) is a light-harvesting complex in cryptophyte algae able to transfer the absorbed green solar light to other antennas with over 99% efficiency. The infrared signatures of the phycobilin pigments embedded in PC645 are difficult to access and could provide useful information to understand the mechanism behind the high efficiency of energy transfer in PC645. We use visible-pump IR-probe and two-dimensional electronic vibrational spectroscopy to study the dynamical evolution and assign the fingerprint mid-infrared signatures to each pigment in PC645. Here, we report the pigment-specific vibrational markers that enable us to track the spatial flow of excitation energy between the phycobilin pigment pairs. We speculate that two high-frequency modes (1588 and 1596 cm) are involved in the vibronic coupling leading to fast (
Topics: Phycobilins; Phycocyanin; Phycobiliproteins; Photosynthesis
PubMed: 37192324
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c01352 -
Biochemistry. Biokhimiia Apr 2014Spectral and kinetic parameters and quantum yield of IR phosphorescence accompanying radiative deactivation of the chlorophyll a (Chl a) triplet state were compared in... (Review)
Review
Spectral and kinetic parameters and quantum yield of IR phosphorescence accompanying radiative deactivation of the chlorophyll a (Chl a) triplet state were compared in pigment solutions, greening and mature plant leaves, isolated chloroplasts, and thalluses of macrophytic marine algae. On the early stages of greening just after the Shibata shift, phosphorescence is determined by the bulk Chl a molecules. According to phosphorescence measurement, the quantum yield of triplet state formation is not less than 25%. Further greening leads to a strong decrease in the phosphorescence yield. In mature leaves developing under normal irradiation conditions, the phosphorescence yield declined 1000-fold. This parameter is stable in leaves of different plant species. Three spectral forms of phosphorescence-emitting chlorophyll were revealed in the mature photosynthetic apparatus with the main emission maxima at 955, 975, and 995 nm and lifetimes ~1.9, ~1.5, and 1.1-1.3 ms. In the excitation spectra of chlorophyll phosphorescence measured in thalluses of macrophytic green and red algae, the absorption bands of Chl a and accessory pigments - carotenoids, Chl b, and phycobilins - were observed. These data suggest that phosphorescence is emitted by triplet chlorophyll molecules that are not quenched by carotenoids and correspond to short wavelength forms of Chl a coupled to the normal light harvesting pigment complex. The concentration of the phosphorescence-emitting chlorophyll molecules in chloroplasts and the contribution of these molecules to chlorophyll fluorescence were estimated. Spectral and kinetic parameters of the phosphorescence corresponding to the long wavelength fluorescence band at 737 nm were evaluated. The data indicate that phosphorescence provides unique information on the photophysics of pigment molecules, molecular organization of the photosynthetic apparatus, and mechanisms and efficiency of photodynamic stress in plants.
Topics: Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Fluorescence; Kinetics; Photosynthesis; Plants; Spectrometry, Fluorescence
PubMed: 24910208
DOI: 10.1134/S000629791404004X -
Biochemistry. Biokhimiia Apr 2014To honor Academician Alexander Abramovitch Krasnovsky, we present here an educational review on the relation of chlorophyll a fluorescence transient to various processes... (Review)
Review
To honor Academician Alexander Abramovitch Krasnovsky, we present here an educational review on the relation of chlorophyll a fluorescence transient to various processes in photosynthesis. The initial event in oxygenic photosynthesis is light absorption by chlorophylls (Chls), carotenoids, and, in some cases, phycobilins; these pigments form the antenna. Most of the energy is transferred to reaction centers where it is used for charge separation. The small part of energy that is not used in photochemistry is dissipated as heat or re-emitted as fluorescence. When a photosynthetic sample is transferred from dark to light, Chl a fluorescence (ChlF) intensity shows characteristic changes in time called fluorescence transient, the OJIPSMT transient, where O (the origin) is for the first measured minimum fluorescence level; J and I for intermediate inflections; P for peak; S for semi-steady state level; M for maximum; and T for terminal steady state level. This transient is a real signature of photosynthesis, since diverse events can be related to it, such as: changes in redox states of components of the linear electron transport flow, involvement of alternative electron routes, the build-up of a transmembrane pH gradient and membrane potential, activation of different nonphotochemical quenching processes, activation of the Calvin-Benson cycle, and other processes. In this review, we present our views on how different segments of the OJIPSMT transient are influenced by various photosynthetic processes, and discuss a number of studies involving mathematical modeling and simulation of the ChlF transient. A special emphasis is given to the slower PSMT phase, for which many studies have been recently published, but they are less known than on the faster OJIP phase.
Topics: Chlorophyll; Chlorophyll A; Fluorescence; Humans; Models, Biological; Photosynthesis
PubMed: 24910205
DOI: 10.1134/S0006297914040014 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2021In the 21st century, we have witnessed three coronavirus outbreaks: SARS in 2003, MERS in 2012, and the ongoing pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The search...
In the 21st century, we have witnessed three coronavirus outbreaks: SARS in 2003, MERS in 2012, and the ongoing pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The search for efficient vaccines and development and repurposing of therapeutic drugs are the major approaches in the COVID-19 pandemic research area. There are concerns about the evolution of mutant strains (e.g., VUI - 202012/01, a mutant coronavirus in the United Kingdom), which can potentially reduce the impact of the current vaccine and therapeutic drug development trials. One promising approach to counter the mutant strains is the "development of effective broad-spectrum antiviral drugs" against coronaviruses. This study scientifically investigates potent food bioactive broad-spectrum antiviral compounds by targeting main protease (M) and papain-like protease (PL) proteases of coronaviruses (CoVs) using and approaches. The results reveal that phycocyanobilin (PCB) shows potential inhibitor activity against both proteases. PCB had the best binding affinity to Mpro and PLpro with IC values of 71 and 62 μm, respectively. Also, studies with M and PL enzymes of other human and animal CoVs indicate broad-spectrum inhibitor activity of the PCB. As with PCB, other phycobilins, such as phycourobilin (PUB), phycoerythrobilin (PEB), and phycoviolobilin (PVB) show similar binding affinity to SARS-CoV-2 M and PL.
PubMed: 34177827
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.645713 -
Biological Research May 2017Acaryochloris marina is an oxygenic cyanobacterium that utilizes far-red light for photosynthesis. It has an expanded genome, which helps in its adaptability to the... (Review)
Review
Acaryochloris marina is an oxygenic cyanobacterium that utilizes far-red light for photosynthesis. It has an expanded genome, which helps in its adaptability to the environment, where it can survive on low energy photons. Its major light absorbing pigment is chlorophyll d and it has α-carotene as a major carotenoid. Light harvesting antenna includes the external phycobilin binding proteins, which are hexameric rods made of phycocyanin and allophycocyanins, while the small integral membrane bound chlorophyll binding proteins are also present. There is specific chlorophyll a molecule in both the reaction center of Photosystem I (PSI) and PSII, but majority of the reaction center consists of chlorophyll d. The composition of the PSII reaction center is debatable especially the role and position of chlorophyll a in it. Here we discuss the photosystems of this bacterium and its related biology.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Chlorophyll; Cyanobacteria; Genome, Bacterial; Photosynthesis
PubMed: 28526061
DOI: 10.1186/s40659-017-0120-0 -
AIMS Microbiology 2023Microalgae biomasses are excellent sources of diverse bioactive compounds such as lipids, polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamins, phenolics and phycobiliproteins.... (Review)
Review
Microalgae biomasses are excellent sources of diverse bioactive compounds such as lipids, polysaccharides, carotenoids, vitamins, phenolics and phycobiliproteins. Large-scale production of these bioactive substances would require microalgae cultivation either in open-culture systems or closed-culture systems. Some of these bioactive compounds (such as polysaccharides, phycobiliproteins and lipids) are produced during their active growth phase. They appear to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidative, anticancer, neuroprotective and chemo-preventive activities. These properties confer on microalgae the potential for use in the treatment and/or management of several neurologic and cell dysfunction-related disease conditions, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), AIDS and COVID-19, as shown in this review. Although several health benefits have been highlighted, there appears to be a consensus in the literature that the field of microalgae is still fledgling, and more research needs to be carried out to ascertain the mechanisms of action that underpin the effectiveness of microalgal compounds. In this review, two biosynthetic pathways were modeled to help elucidate the mode of action of the bioactive compounds from microalgae and their products. These are carotenoid and phycobilin proteins biosynthetic pathways. The education of the public on the importance of microalgae backed with empirical scientific evidence will go a long way to ensure that the benefits from research investigations are quickly rolled out. The potential application of these microalgae to some human disease conditions was highlighted.
PubMed: 36891530
DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2023004