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Developmental, circadian and light regulation of wheat ferredoxin gene expression.

A genomic clone encoding the precursor of wheat leaf ferredoxin has been isolated and characterised. The uninterrupted PetF gene encodes a polypeptide of 143 amino acid residues, consisting of an N-terminal presequence of 46 amino acid residues and a mature polypeptide of 97 amino acid residues. Southern blot analysis suggests that six copies of the PetF gene are present in the wheat haploid genome. Northern blot analysis has shown that the genes are both developmentally and light regulated in wheat seedlings and provides evidence that a circadian rhythm regulates the steady-state levels of ferredoxin transcripts. The intact wheat gene and several chimeric constructs, containing portions of the 5'-upstream region fused to the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene, have been introduced into tobacco plants, but levels of beta-glucuronidase activity above background were not detected, suggesting that the 5'-upstream region is unable to function as a promoter in tobacco plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Tissue-specific expression directed by an Arabidopsis thaliana pre-ferredoxin promoter in transgenic tobacco plants.

We have isolated and analyzed a pre-ferredoxin gene from Arabidopsis thaliana. This gene encodes a 148 amino acid precursor protein including a chloroplast transit peptide of 52 residues. Southern analysis shows the presence of a single copy of this ferredoxin (Fd) gene in the A. thaliana genome. Its expression is tissue-specific and positively affected by light. Response times, both to dark and light conditions, are remarkably rapid. A chimeric gene consisting of a 1.2 kb Fd promoter fragment fused to the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene was transferred to tobacco. This fusion gene is expressed in a tissue-specific way; it shows high levels of expression in green leaves, as compared to root tissue.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Rhizobium meliloti fdxN gene encoding a ferredoxin-like protein is necessary for nitrogen fixation and is cotranscribed with nifA and nifB.

Sequencing of the Rhizobium meliloti DNA region downstream of nifA revealed the existence of nifB, fdxN and ORF3. The molecular weight of the fdxN protein (Mr 6830) and the distribution of cysteine residues in its deduced amino acid sequence is typical for low molecular weight bacterial ferredoxins. Interposon insertion and plasmid integration mutagenesis demonstrated that FdxN is essential for nitrogen fixation in R. meliloti, whereas the predicted translation product of ORF3 (Mr 8708) is not necessary for this process. In contrast, ferredoxin-like proteins, which are encoded by nifB-associated genes, are not required for nitrogen fixation in all other organisms analysed so far. Plasmid integration mutagenesis additionally revealed that nifA, nifB and fdxN form one transcriptional unit. This result was confirmed by complementation analysis of polar interposon insertion mutants of nifA, nifB and fdxN and by complementation of a non-polar nifA deletion mutant. A DNA sequence resembling a typical nif consensus promoter, which is preceded by two putative NifA-binding sites, is located in front of nifB. This nifB promoter can be activated in Escherichia coli by the nifA gene product of Klebsiella pneumoniae to the same level as that of the R. meliloti nifH promoter. In contrast, R. meliloti NifA stimulates the nifH promoter more efficiently than the nifB promoter. This low-level activation of the nifB promoter may be the reason why transcription of nifB and fdxN is initiated primarily at a promoter in front of nifA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The active species of "CO2" utilized in ferredoxin-linked carboxylation reactions.

The active species of "CO2", i.e. CO2 or HCO-3(H2CO3) utilized by enzymes catalyzing ferredoxin-linked carboxylation reactions was determined. The enzyme investigated was pyruvate synthase from Clostridium pasteurianum (EC 1.2.7.1; Pyruvate: ferredoxin oxidoreductase). Data were obtained which were compatible with those expected if CO2 is the active species. The dissociation constant (Ks) of the enzyme-CO2 complex was measured. At pH 7.2 Ks for CO2 of pyruvate synthase was found to be approximately 5 mM.

Acetyl Coenzyme A↗

1H NMR studies on ferricytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F and its interaction with ferredoxin I.

The 1H NMR signals of the heme methyl, propionate and related chemical groups of cytochrome c3 from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Miyazaki F (D.v. MF) were site-specifically assigned by means of 1D NOE, 2D DQFCOSY and 2D TOCSY spectra. They were consistent with the site-specific assignments of the hemes with the highest and second-lowest redox potentials reported by Fan et al. (Biochemistry, 29 (1990) 2257-2263). The site-specific heme assignments were also supported by NOE between the methyl groups of these hemes and the side chain of Val18. All the results contradicted the heme assignments for D.v. MF cytochrome c3 made on the basis of electron spin resonance (Gayda et al. (1987) FEBS Lett., 217 57-61). Based on these assignments, the interaction of cytochrome c3 with D.v. MF ferredoxin I was investigated by NMR. The major interaction site of cytochrome c3 was identified as the heme with the highest redox potential, which is surrounded by the highest density of positive charges. The stoichiometry and association constant were two cytochrome c3 molecules per monomer of ferredoxin I and 10(8) M-2 (at 53 mM ionic strength and 25 degrees C), respectively.

Binding Sites↗

Effects of lindane on the photosynthetic apparatus of the cyanobacterium Anabaena: fluorescence induction studies and immunolocalization of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase.

INTENTION, GOAL, SCOPE, BACKGROUND: Cyanobacteria have the natural ability to degrade moderate amounts of organic pollutants. However, when pollutant concentration exceeds the level of tolerance, bleaching of the cells and death occur within 24 hours. Under stress conditions, cyanobacterial response includes the short-term adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to light quality, named state transitions. Moreover, prolonged stresses produce changes in the functional organization of phycobilisomes and in the core-complexes of both photosystems, which can result in large changes in the PS II fluorescence yield. The localization of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase (FNR) at the ends of some peripheral rods of the cyanobacterial phycobilisomes, makes this protein a useful marker to check phycobilisome integrity. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this work is to improve the knowledge of the mechanism of action of a very potent pesticide, lindane (gamma-hexaclorociclohexane), in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp., which can be considered a potential candidate for bioremediation of pesticides. We have studied the effect of lindane on the photosynthetic apparatus of Anabaena using fluorescence induction studies. As ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase plays a key role in the response to oxidative stress in several systems, changes in synthesis, degradation and activity of FNR were analyzed. Immunolocalization of this enzyme was used as a marker of phycobilisome integrity. The knowledge of the changes caused by lindane in the photosynthetic apparatus is essential for rational further design of genetically-modified cyanobacteria with improved biorremediation abilities. METHODS: Polyphasic chlorophyll a fluorescence rise measurements (OJIP) have been used to evaluate the vitality and stress adaptation of the nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena PCC 7119 in the presence of increasing concentrations of lindane. Effects of the pesticide on the ultrastructure have been investigated by electron microscopy, and FNR has been used as a marker of phycobilisome integrity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Cultures of Anabaena sp. treated with moderate amounts of lindane showed a decrease in growth rate followed by a recovery after 72 hours of pesticide treatment. Concentrations of lindane below 5 ppm increased the photosynthetic performance and activity of the cells. Higher amounts of pesticide caused a decrease in these activities which seems to be due to a non-competitive inhibition of PS II. Active PS II units are converted into non-QA reducing, so called heat sink centers. Specific activity and amount of FNR in lindane-treated cells were similar to the values measured in control cultures. Release of FNR from the thylakoid after 48 hours of exposure to 5 ppm of lindane towards the cytoplasm was detected by immunogold labeling and electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: From these results, we conclude that the photosynthetic performance and activity of the cells are slightly increased in the presence of lindane up to 5 ppm. Moreover, in those conditions, lindane did not produce significant changes in the synthesis, degradation or activity of FNR. The high capability of Anabaena to tolerate lindane makes this cyanobacterium a good candidate for phytoremediation of polluted areas. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: The results of this study show that cultures of Anabaena PCC 7119 tolerate lindane up to 5 ppm, without significant changes in the photosynthetic vitality index of the cells. However, a slight increase in phycobiliprotein synthesis is observed, which is related to total protein content. This change might be due to degradation of proteins less stable than phycobiliproteins. An identification of the proteins with altered expression pattern in the presence of the pesticide remains the subject of further work and will provide valuable information for the preparation of strains which are highly tolerant to lindane.

Anabaena↗

A cytochrome P450 and a ferredoxin isolated from Mycobacterium sp. strain HE5 after growth on morpholine.

A cytochrome P450 and an iron-sulfur protein, whose expression was specifically induced during growth of Mycobacterium sp. strain HE5 on morpholine as the sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy were purified to apparent homogeneity. Due to the lack of enzymatic activity, carbon monoxide difference spectra and determination of the acid-labile sulfur, respectively, were used to detect the proteins during purification. The cytochrome P450, designated P450mor, was characterized as a monomer with an apparent molecular mass of 44.7 kDa. The amino acid sequence of an internal peptide comprising 19 amino acids was identical to the sequence derived from a gene encoding a cytochrome P450 from Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155 suggested to be involved in the utilization of piperidine and pyrrolidine. The iron-sulfur protein was characterized as a ferredoxin exhibiting a molecular mass of 6.8 kDa and named Fdmor. An identity of 48-77% was obtained for the 30 N-terminal amino acids of Fdmor and the corresponding sequences of different 3Fe-4S-ferredoxins known to be involved in P450-dependent reactions. From these data we concluded that growth of Mycobacterium sp. strain HE5 on morpholine led to the expression of a cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system composed of at least two different proteins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Enhanced ferredoxin-dependent cyclic electron flow around photosystem I and alpha-tocopherol quinone accumulation in water-stressed ndhB-inactivated tobacco mutants.

Dissipation mechanisms of excess photon energy under water stress were studied in ndhB-inactivated tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi) mutants, which are impaired in NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-dependent cyclic electron flow around PSI. Relative leaf water content and net CO(2) assimilation decreased to 30% and almost zero, respectively, after 11-day water stress in the mutant and wild type plants. Similar reductions in PSII activity (by ca. 75%), and increases in malondialdehyde (by ca. 45%), an indicator of lipid peroxidation, were observed in both the plant groups when subjected to water stress. The stressed mutant and wild type plants showed similar P700 redox kinetics, but only the stressed mutant demonstrated an enhanced operation of the antimycin A-sensitive, ferredoxin-dependent cyclic electron flow around PSI, as indicated by a transient increase in chlorophyll fluorescence after turning off of actinic light. Further, the stressed mutant showed higher oxidation of alpha-tocopherol to alpha-tocopherol quinone, as compared with that in the stressed wild type. Thus, a deficiency in NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-dependent cyclic electron flow around PSI does not lead to oxidative damage because the mutant compensates for this deficiency by activating alternative dissipating routes of excess photon energy, such as up-regulation of ferredoxin-dependent cyclic electron flow around PSI and increased accumulation of alpha-tocopherol quinone.

Antimycin A↗

Structure of a [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from Rhodobacter capsulatus likely involved in Fe-S cluster biogenesis and conformational changes observed upon reduction.

FdVI from Rhodobacter capsulatus is structurally related to a group of [2Fe-2S] ferredoxins involved in iron-sulfur cluster biosynthesis. Comparative genomics suggested that FdVI and orthologs found in alpha-Proteobacteria are involved in this process. Here, the crystal structure of FdVI has been determined for both the oxidized and the reduced protein. The [2Fe-2S] cluster lies 6 A below the protein surface in a hydrophobic pocket without access to the solvent. This particular cluster environment might explain why the FdVI midpoint redox potential (-306 mV at pH 8.0) did not show temperature or ionic strength dependence. Besides the four cysteines that bind the cluster, FdVI features an extra cysteine which is located close to the S1 atom of the cluster and is oriented in a position such that its thiol group points towards the solvent. Upon reduction, the general fold of the polypeptide chain was almost unchanged. The [2Fe-2S] cluster underwent a conformational change from a planar to a distorted lozenge. In the vicinity of the cluster, the side chain of Met24 was rotated by 180 degrees , bringing its S atom within hydrogen-bonding distance of the S2 atom of the cluster. The reduced molecule also featured a higher content of bound water molecules, and more extensive hydrogen-bonding networks compared with the oxidized molecule. The unique conformational changes observed in FdVI upon reduction are discussed in the light of structural studies performed on related ferredoxins.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The [2Fe-2S] protein I (Shetna protein I) from Azotobacter vinelandii is homologous to the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum.

The [2Fe-2S] protein from Azotobacter vinelandii that was previously known as iron-sulfur protein I, or Shethna protein I, has been shown to be encoded by a gene belonging to the major nif gene cluster. Overexpression of this gene in Escherichia coli yielded a dimeric protein of which each subunit comprises 106 residues and contains one [2Fe-2S] cluster. The sequence of this protein is very similar to that of the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum (2FeCpFd), and the four cysteine ligands of the [2Fe-2S] cluster occur in the same positions. The A. vinelandii protein differs from the C. pasteurianum one by the absence of the N-terminal methionine, the presence of a five-residue C-terminal extension, and a lesser number of acidic and polar residues. The UV-visible absorption and EPR spectra, as well as the redox potentials of the two proteins, are nearly identical. These data show that the A. vinelandii FeS protein I, which is therefore proposed to be designated 2FeAvFdI, is the counterpart of the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxin from C. pasteurianum. The occurrence of the 2FeAvFdI-encoding gene in the nif gene cluster, together with the previous demonstration of a specific interaction between the 2FeCpFd and the nitrogenase MoFe protein, suggest that both proteins might be involved in nitrogen fixation, with possibly similar roles.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Chromatographic separation of extruded iron-sulfur cores from the apoproteins of Clostridium pasteurianum and spinach ferredoxins in aqueous Triton X-100/urea.

Iron-sulfur core extrusions from spinach [( 2Fe-2S]) and Clostridium pasteurianum (2[4Fe-4S]) ferredoxins in aqueous Triton X-100/urea containing excess benzenethiol yield quantitatively [FenSn(SPh)4]2- with n = 2 and n = 4, respectively. The iron-sulfur cluster can be separated from the corresponding apoprotein by rapid passage of the extrusion mixture over a small anaerobic column of Whatman DE-52 anion-exchange cellulose. Essentially quantitative recovery of [FenSn (SPh)4]2- is achieved in the eluate. The apoprotein remaining on the column can be eluted with 0.5 M NaCl. Most of the residual Triton X-100 and benzenethiol can be removed by passage of the apoprotein eluate over a small column of Bio-Beads SM-2, a hydrophobic polystyrene adsorbent. Apoprotein recovery is comparable to that obtained by other chromatographic methods. At least with spinach ferredoxin, the apoprotein prepared in this fashion can be reconstituted. The procedures developed in this work are potentially most applicable to selective removal of [2Fe-2S] and [4Fe-4S] centers from a multicenter enzyme without irreversible denaturation.

Apoproteins↗

Characterization of cyanobacterial ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase molecular heterogeneity using chromatofocusing.

Chromatofocusing has been used as an analytical tool to check preparations of the enzyme ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase (EC 1.18.1.2) purified in either the presence or absence of the serine protease inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain 7119. Only one isoelectric species was found when the crude extract was processed in the presence of the protease inhibitor. Nevertheless, when the inhibitor was omitted, four ionic forms of the enzyme--showing apparent pI's in the range 4.3-4.6--were separated after chromatofocusing of the purified preparation. These forms were found to differ in their specific activities, exhibiting, on the other hand, lower values than the single one obtained in the presence of the protease inhibitor. Analysis by acrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed virtually a single main protein band except for the ionic form of pI 4.39, which was clearly resolved into two active components. Except for the more basic form, which seems to be an homodimer of Mr 80,000, all the protein components were found to be monomeric species in the range Mr 33,000-38,000. These results indicate that the molecular heterogeneity of the ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase purified from the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. strain 7119 may result from the activity of a protease present in the whole cell homogenates. On the other hand, these data also point out that chromatofocusing should be considered as an effective technique in the isolation and characterization of the different molecular forms of this enzyme.

Amino Acids↗

Isolation and sequencing of an active-site peptide from spinach ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase after affinity labeling with periodate-oxidized NADP+.

Spinach ferredoxin-NADP+ oxidoreductase was inactivated by treatment with 2',3'-dialdehyde NADP+ (periodate-oxidized NADP+), which selectively modifies a lysine residue at the nucleotide-binding domain of the enzyme. The identity of the derivatized residue was ascertained by thin-layer chromatography of the protein hydrolysate. Reductase that had been labeled with periodate-oxidized NADP+ and NaB3H4 was treated with trypsin, and samples of the tryptic digest were subjected to reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The radioactivity profiles showed modification of one specific peptide. The primary structure of this peptide was found to be Gly-Glu-Lys*-Met-Tyr-Ile-Gln-Thr-Arg, where Lys* represents the derivatized lysine. The sequence obtained corresponds to residues 242-250 in the primary structure of spinach ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase recently reported [Karplus et al. (1984) Biochemistry 23, 6576-6583].

Affinity Labels↗

Molecular cloning and immunological characterization of porcine kidney ferredoxin.

Porcine renodoxon is a kidney mitochondrial iron-sulfur protein (ISP) that functions to transfer electron to cytochromes P450 of the vitamin D pathway. A full-length cDNA clone to porcine renodoxin was isolated in the current investigation and used to study the protein's primary structure and immunological properties. The cysteine ligands for the iron-sulfur center, and the surface protein-binding and phosphorylation sites occupied identical positions in both porcine renodoxin and bovine adrenodoxin. Furthermore, porcine renodoxin was functionally indistinguishable from bovine adrenodoxin and the mature forms of both proteins had the same encoded length and shared approximately 91% sequence similarity. A synthetic peptide to the surface protein-binding region was used to demonstrate the antigenicity of the domain in both the porcine and the bovine ISPs. However, porcine renodoxin displayed only limited immunological identity to other regions of bovine adrenodoxin as measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Part of this immunological distinction was attributed to the COOH-terminal processing of porcine renodoxin, an action which negated expression of a COOH-terminal antigenic site that is present in bovine adrenodoxin. Other antigenic differences were linked to charged-residue substitutions that were located in predicted surface domains. The highest frequency of surface-residue substitutions in ferredoxin proteins was predicted for porcine renodoxin, which could provide a basis for understanding why the pig protein appears more antigenically divergent than other ferredoxins.

Adrenodoxin↗

Immunological quantitation of chloroplast ferredoxin.

An immunosassy for the quantitative determinations of ferredoxins in cell free extracts from plant tissues is described. The method is accurate for the assay of 0.3-1.5 nmol ferredoxin directly from the extracts. The following average values (nmol ferredoxin/mg extractable protein) were obtained: 3.9, 1.8. 5.90, 14.8 and 10.9 for Euglena gracilis, spinach, parsley, lettuce, and broccoli, respectively. Specific factors affecting the method are discussed in detail.

Chlorophyll↗

NMR characterization of three forms of ferredoxin from Desulphovibrio gigas, a sulphate reducer.

A NMR and magnetic susceptibility study of the oxidized and reduced states of three different oligomers (forms) of a [4Fe-4S] ferrodoxin protein from Desulphovibrio gigas, FdI, FdI', and FdII was carried out. FdI and FdI' are different trimers and FdII a tetramer of the same basic subunit. A probable assignment of the contact shifted resonances is indicated. Since the temperature dependences of the contact shifted responances associated with each [4Fe-4S] are not all similar a delocalized model for the spin densities on the 4Fe does not apply. The exchange rate between oxidized and reduced states is slow on the NMR time scale. The three oligomers are not magnetically equivalent. Using the "three state hypothesis" terminology it is shown that FdIox is predominantly in the C2- state and changes upon reduction into the C3- state, while FdIIox is in the C- state and changes into the C2- state. FdI' does not easily fit into this classification. This study shows a similarity of magnetic behaviour between FdI and bacterial ferredoxins (e.g. Bacillus polymyxa) and between FdII and HiPIP from Chromatium sp. The influence of the quaternary structure on the stabilization of the different oxidation states of ferredoxins as well as on their redox potentials is discussed.

Desulfovibrio↗

Contribution of the exchange interactions to the redox properties of the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxins.

It is shown that in the [2Fe-2S] ferredoxins, the exchange interactions between the two iron atoms of the redox cluster provide stabilization of the oxidized state. Compared to the uncoupled situation, this leads to a significant lowering of the redox potential which can be larger than 100 mV. This effect could be one of the main origins of the low potential of these ferredoxins, compared to the potential of rubredoxins.

Bacteria↗

Oxidation-reduction properties of the ferredoxin-linked glutamate synthase from spinach leaf.

Oxidation-reduction titrations have been conducted to determine the midpoint potential (Em) values of the three electron-carrying prosthetic groups of the ferredoxin-linked glutamate synthase isolated from spinach leaves. Titrations using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals to monitor the oxidation state of the [3Fe-4S]+,0 cluster found in the enzyme, indicated the presence of a single n = 1 component with Em = -170 mV at pH 7.7. Titrations using absorbance changes in the visible region to monitor the oxidation states of the FAD and FMN groups present in the enzyme could be fit to a single n = 2 Nernst curve with Em = -180 mV at pH 7.7. The magnitude of the absorbance change observed during this titration accounts for all of the FMN and FAD found in the enzyme, indicating that the two flavins are either isopotential or differ in Em by less than about 30 mV. Neither optical nor EPR titrations gave any evidence for the presence of stable flavin free radicals. These results represent the first characterization of the redox properties of the prosthetic groups of a ferredoxin-dependent glutamate synthase.

Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy↗