Article
Plant Sciences
Martina Beckova, Roman Sobotka, Josef Komenda
Summary: The repair of photosystem II is crucial for the functionality of oxygenic photosynthesis. The study shows that the existence of a stable no reaction centre complex (NRC) is not supported, as each unassembled module remains separate and does not form a mutual complex.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Parisa Rahimzadeh-Karvansara, Guillem Pascual-Aznar, Martina Beckova, Josef Komenda
Summary: Assembly of photosystem II (PSII) requires numerous auxiliary proteins, and this study demonstrates the role of a PSII-associated protein Psb34 in the final conversion of assembly intermediates into functional PSII complexes.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthias Ostermeier, Steffen Heinz, Julia Hamm, Jure Zabret, Anna Rast, Andreas Klingl, Marc M. Nowaczyk, Joerg Nickelsen
Summary: Thylakoids are specialized internal membrane systems that house photosynthetic electron transport machinery in cyanobacteria and chloroplasts. The proteins AncM and CurT have antagonistic roles in shaping thylakoid ultrastructure.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christopher J. Gisriel, Jimin Wang, Jinchan Liu, David A. Flesher, Krystle M. Reiss, Hao-Li Huang, Ke R. Yang, William H. Armstrong, M. R. Gunner, Victor S. Batista, Richard J. Debus, Gary W. Brudvig
Summary: The cryo-electron microscopy structure of PSII from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has been determined at high resolution, revealing differences from thermophilic cyanobacterial PSII structures that significantly impact the understanding of PSII structure and the mechanism of water oxidation.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rui Miao, Michael Jahn, Kiyan Shabestary, Gilles Peltier, Elton P. Hudson
Summary: Barcoded mutant libraries are a powerful tool for studying gene function in microbes. In this study, a CRISPR interference library of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was screened in 11 different growth conditions, revealing condition-specific gene fitness. The data set provides new insights into gene regulation and identifies potential functions for previously unannotated genes and central metabolic enzymes. Machine learning was used to predict the potency of sgRNA sequences, showing the importance of specific nucleotide patterns. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of microbial gene function and regulation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shoko Kusama, Seiji Kojima, Ken Kimura, Ginga Shimakawa, Chikahiro Miyake, Kenya Tanaka, Yasuaki Okumura, Shuji Nakanishi
Summary: This study reports a significant enhancement in the photocurrent generation of cyanobacteria by depriving them of their outer cell membrane. These findings are important for overcoming the limitations of cyanobacteria in biophotovoltaic applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kateryna Kukil, Elias Englund, Nick Crang, Elton P. Hudson, Pia Lindberg
Summary: In this study, phenylalanine resistant mutant strains of the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 were generated by laboratory evolution. The mutant strains were able to secrete phenylalanine and showed potential for production of trans-cinnamic acid and para-coumaric acid. The PRM8 strain demonstrated the highest specific production of these compounds.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shoko Kusama, Chikahiro Miyake, Shuji Nakanishi, Ginga Shimakawa
Summary: Cyclic electron transport (CET) is a hypothesis for regulating photosynthetic electron transport and producing additional ATP, with its activity in cyanobacteria being evaluated through P700 redox state and chlorophyll fluorescence. In cyanobacteria, distinguishing between in vivo electron transport rates in respiratory electron transport (RET) and CET can be complex due to shared intersystem chains.
JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jana Knoppova, Jianfeng Yu, Jan Janouskovec, Petr Halada, Peter J. Nixon, Julian P. Whitelegge, Josef Komenda
Summary: Photochemical energy conversion in oxygenic photosynthesis relies on membrane-embedded chlorophyll-binding protein complexes, which are regulated by lipoproteins such as Ycf48. Ycf48, a lipoprotein assembly factor in cyanobacteria, plays a crucial role in the biogenesis and function of the photosystem II complex. The unique lipobox sequence in Ycf48 distinguishes it from canonical lipobox sequences and highlights its importance in cyanobacterial PSII assembly.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Chen Xu, Bing Wang, Lin Yang, Lucas Zhongming Hu, Lanxing Yi, Yaxuan Wang, Shenglan Chen, Andrew Emili, Cuihong Wan
Summary: In this study, using co-fractionation coupled with LC-MS/MS, the researchers identified 291 multi-protein complexes and 24,092 protein-protein interactions in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. These interactions reveal the roles of photosynthesis in various physiological processes and highlight the differences in protein functions between bacteria and higher plants.
GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ian Sofian Yunus, Zhixuan Wang, Pachara Sattayawat, Jonathan Muller, Fessehaye W. Zemichael, Klaus Hellgardt, Patrik R. Jones
Summary: The study focused on improving the productivity of 1-octanol by enhancing enzyme efficiency and optimizing environmental conditions. By adjusting the inducer concentration and light intensity, the researchers were able to increase the 1-octanol productivity significantly, reaching a carbon partitioning rate of 35% and a titer of 526 mg/L within 12 days.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Henna Mustila, Dorota Muth-Pawlak, Eva-Mari Aro, Yagut Allahverdiyeva
Summary: In this study, the global proteome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 under fluctuating light conditions was compared with constant light conditions. It was found that cell metabolism was clearly reprogrammed, and there were correlations between mRNA and protein levels to some extent. The data suggest that higher nitrogen assimilation is maintained for long-term acclimation to fluctuating light upon CO2 step-down in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Pornpan Napaumpaiporn, Takako Ogawa, Kintake Sonoike, Yoshitaka Nishiyama
Summary: This study demonstrates that overexpression of superoxide dismutase and catalase in cyanobacteria can reduce ROS accumulation and enhance the repair of photosystem II (PSII), enabling photosynthesis and cell proliferation to adapt to strong light conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Jin Ding, Nils Schuergers, Heike Baehre, Annegret Wilde
Summary: This study discovered functional CARF-domain effector and ring nuclease proteins in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The Csx1 homolog, SyCsx1, is a strict cytosine-specific RNase that depends on cyclic tetraadenylate (cA4). Another CARF-domain protein similar to Csm6 effectors, SyCsm6, does not have RNase activity but can degrade cOAs and attenuate SyCsx1 RNase activity. This research suggests that the CRISPR systems in Synechocystis have a multi-layered cA4-mediated defense mechanism.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena A. Protasova, Taras K. Antal, Dmitry Zlenko, Irina Elanskaya, Evgeny P. Lukashev, Thomas Friedrich, Kirill S. Mironov, Nikolai N. Sluchanko, Baosheng Ge, Song Qin, Eugene G. Maksimov
Summary: The quenching of excess excitation energy is crucial for photoprotection of light-harvesting complexes, especially in cyanobacteria where the Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) induces quenching of phycobilisome (PBS) excitation energy. OCP-dependent quenching affects approximately half of the PBSs coupled to PS II, suggesting that the concentration of OCP may not be sufficient for quenching all PBSs under normal conditions.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jana Knoppova, Jianfeng Yu, Jan Janouskovec, Petr Halada, Peter J. Nixon, Julian P. Whitelegge, Josef Komenda
Summary: Photochemical energy conversion in oxygenic photosynthesis relies on membrane-embedded chlorophyll-binding protein complexes, which are regulated by lipoproteins such as Ycf48. Ycf48, a lipoprotein assembly factor in cyanobacteria, plays a crucial role in the biogenesis and function of the photosystem II complex. The unique lipobox sequence in Ycf48 distinguishes it from canonical lipobox sequences and highlights its importance in cyanobacterial PSII assembly.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yi-Fang Chiu, Han-Yi Fu, Petra Skotnicova, Keng-Min Lin, Josef Komenda, Hsiu-An Chu
Summary: Mutations in the cytochrome (Cyt) b(559) of cyanobacteria lead to PSII deficiency and inability to grow photoautotrophically, but transformants with tandem gene amplification can restore PSII accumulation and achieve photoautotrophic growth.
Article
Plant Sciences
Martina Beckova, Roman Sobotka, Josef Komenda
Summary: The repair of photosystem II is crucial for the functionality of oxygenic photosynthesis. The study shows that the existence of a stable no reaction centre complex (NRC) is not supported, as each unassembled module remains separate and does not form a mutual complex.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Andrew Hitchcock, Christopher Neil Hunter, Roman Sobotka, Josef Komenda, Marcel Dann, Dario Leister
Summary: The Perspective article discusses the plans of the PhotoRedesign consortium funded by the European Research Council to enhance photosynthesis by redesigning the light reactions. The goal is to improve the efficiency and resilience of photosynthesis by combining synthetic biology approaches and adaptive laboratory evolution to create a mechanism that can better utilize solar energy.
Article
Microbiology
Marketa Linhartova, Petra Skotnicova, Kaisa Hakkila, Martin Tichy, Josef Komenda, Jana Knoppova, Joan F. Gilabert, Victor Guallar, Taina Tyystjaervi, Roman Sobotka
Summary: This study identified that a cyanobacterium mutant lacking PilD protease is unable to grow photoautotrophically, and isolated suppressor strains with secondary mutations in various genes. Further characterization revealed that the presence of non-glycosylated PilA1 prepilin specifically harms the cell by accumulating in translocon-rich membrane domains.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Parisa Rahimzadeh-Karvansara, Guillem Pascual-Aznar, Martina Beckova, Josef Komenda
Summary: Assembly of photosystem II (PSII) requires numerous auxiliary proteins, and this study demonstrates the role of a PSII-associated protein Psb34 in the final conversion of assembly intermediates into functional PSII complexes.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jana Knoppova, Roman Sobotka, Jianfeng Yu, Martina Beckova, Jan Pilny, Joko P. Trinugroho, Ladislav Csefalvay, David Bina, Peter J. Nixon, Josef Komenda
Summary: Analysis of isolated assembly complexes provides new insights into the early stages of photosystem II biogenesis. These complexes contain information about the PSII subunits and proteins and assembly factors associated with its assembly process.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peipei Zhang, Xiaohui Zhao, Yawen Wang, Ke Du, Zhihao Wang, Jianfeng Yu, Gang Chang, Steve Matthews, Hongliang Wang, Bing Liu
Summary: The HU protein is crucial for bacterial cell viability and serves as an antibiotic target. This study reveals that Gp46 from bacteriophage SPO1 can inhibit HU, leading to growth defects in bacteria. Through structural analysis, it is found that Gp46 occupies the DNA binding site of HU, thus preventing DNA binding. This discovery provides valuable insights into developing antibacterial and anti-malaria drugs.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jiri Masojidek, Karolina Ranglova, Martina Beckova, Giuseppe Torzillo, Jana Knoppova, Ana Margarita Silva Benavides, Filip Charvat, Josef Komenda
Summary: The photosynthetic performance and electron transport rate of Chlorella cultures with reduced antenna size were studied during outdoor trials. The results showed that the strain with reduced antenna size had lower oxygen production and electron transport rate, but higher non-photochemical quenching and respiration compared to the strain with full antenna size. These findings suggest that the use of microalgae strains with reduced antenna size for outdoor mass cultivation may not be as effective as expected.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biology
Elisabet Romero
Summary: Two species of photosynthetic cyanobacteria can survive in far-red light, but they either become less resilient to photodamage or less energy efficient.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariano Curti, Valentin Maffeis, Luis Gustavo Teixeira Alves Duarte, Saeed Shareef, Luisa Xiomara Hallado, Carles Curutchet, Elisabet Romero
Summary: Pigment-protein complexes in photosynthesis achieve efficient charge separation through the delocalization of excited states and charge-transfer processes. Bioinspired artificial systems based on de novo designed proteins provide a versatile toolbox for manipulating chromophores, but maintaining closely spaced chromophores is a challenge. Through molecular dynamics simulations, we optimized an artificial protein to enhance its binding capacity for a chlorophyll derivative, resulting in complexes with closely spaced and strongly interacting dimers. Spectroscopic analysis and computational modeling confirmed the excitonic coupling and charge-transfer state mixing. This study may lead to the rational design of chromophore-protein complexes with advanced functionalities.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Takako Masuda, Keisuke Inomura, Meng Gao, Gabrielle Armin, Eva Kotabova, Gabor Bernat, Evelyn Lawrenz-Kendrick, Martin Lukes, Martina Beckova, Gabor Steinbach, Josef Komenda, Ondrej Prasil
Summary: Crocosphaera and Cyanothece are two unicellular cyanobacteria with nitrogen-fixing abilities that thrive in different environments. Crocosphaera is found mainly in nutrient-depleted open oceans, while Cyanothece is more common in nutrient-rich coastal regions. The differences in their photosynthetic capacities and rates of carbon consumption can sufficiently explain their distinct niches.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vendula Krynicka, Petra Skotnicova, Philip J. Jackson, Samuel Barnett, Jianfeng Yu, Anna Wysocka, Radek Kana, Mark J. Dickman, Peter J. Nixon, C. Neil Hunter, Josef Komenda
Summary: FtsH proteases are important membrane-embedded proteolytic complexes involved in protein quality control and physiological regulation in bacteria, mitochondria, and chloroplasts. The FtsH homologs in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, including FtsH1-FtsH4, play different roles in acclimation to nutrient deficiency and photosystem II quality control. FtsH4 is specifically involved in the biogenesis of photosystem II by regulating the expression and removal of high light-inducible proteins (Hlips).
PLANT COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ziyu Zhao, Irene Vercellino, Jana Knoppova, Roman Sobotka, James W. Murray, Peter J. Nixon, Leonid A. Sazanov, Josef Komenda
Summary: A suite of accessory factors is required for robust assembly and repair of the oxygen-evolving photosystem two (PSII) complex in oxygenic photosynthesis. The Ycf48 assembly factor, which binds to the D1 reaction center polypeptide, plays a crucial role in PSII assembly. In this study, cryo-electron microscopy is used to determine the structure of a cyanobacterial PSII D1/D2 assembly complex with Ycf48 attached, providing insights into the early stages of PSII assembly and the protective role of Ycf48 in preventing premature binding and damage to the Mn4CaO5 cluster.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)