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Photosensing and Thermosensing by Phytochrome B Require Both Proximal and Distal Allosteric Features within the Dimeric Photoreceptor

Journal Article · · Scientific Reports
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [5];  [2];  [6];  [3]
  1. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States). Dept. of Biology; Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Genetics; DOE/OSTI
  2. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Genetics
  3. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States). Dept. of Biology; Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States). Dept. of Genetics
  4. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Dept. of Biology; City Univ. of New York (CUNY), NY (United States). CUNY Advanced Science Research Center
  5. Washington Univ., St. Louis, MO (United States). Dept. of Biology
  6. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Dept. of Biology; Van Andel Research Inst. (VARI), Grand Rapids, MI (United States)
Phytochromes (Phys) encompass a diverse collection of bilin-containing photoreceptors that help plants and microorganisms perceive light through photointerconversion between red light (Pr) and far-red light (Pfr)-absorbing states. In addition, Pfr reverts thermally back to Pr via a highly enthalpic process that enables temperature sensation in plants and possibly other organisms. Through domain analysis of the Arabidopsis PhyB isoform assembled recombinantly, coupled with measurements of solution size, photoconversion, and thermal reversion, we identified both proximal and distal features that influence all three metrics. Included are the downstream C-terminal histidine kinase-related domain known to promote dimerization and a conserved patch just upstream of an N-terminal Period/Arnt/Sim (PAS) domain, which upon removal dramatically accelerates thermal reversion. We also discovered that the nature of the bilin strongly influences Pfr stability. Whereas incorporation of the native bilin phytochromobilin into PhyB confers robust Pfr → Pr thermal reversion, that assembled with the cyanobacterial version phycocyanobilin, often used for optogenetics, has a dramatically stabilized Pfr state. Taken together, we conclude that Pfr acquisition and stability are impacted by a collection of opposing allosteric features that inhibit or promote photoconversion and reversion of Pfr back to Pr, thus allowing Phys to dynamically measure light, temperature, and possibly time.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Upton, NY (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
National Institute of Health; National Science Foundation; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0012704
OSTI ID:
1624353
Journal Information:
Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 7; ISSN 2045-2322
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (10)

Molecular mechanisms underlying phytochrome-controlled morphogenesis in plants journal November 2019
Plant Phytochromes and their Phosphorylation journal July 2019
Near-Infrared Markers based on Bacterial Phytochromes with Phycocyanobilin as a Chromophore journal December 2019
Only a matter of time: the impact of daily and seasonal rhythms on phytochemicals journal August 2019
Physicochemical modeling of the phytochrome-mediated photothermal sensing journal July 2019
PCH1 regulates light, temperature, and circadian signaling as a structural component of phytochrome B-photobodies in Arabidopsis journal April 2019
Molecular characterization of D X CF cyanobacteriochromes from the cyanobacterium Acaryochloris marina identifies a blue-light power sensor journal December 2017
Influence of the N-terminal segment and the PHY-tongue element on light-regulation in bacteriophytochromes journal January 2019
The role of reactive oxygen species in the integration of temperature and light signals journal March 2018
Differential phosphorylation of the N‐terminal extension regulates phytochrome B signaling journal November 2019

Figures / Tables (6)


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