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Title: Protein–chromophore interactions controlling photoisomerization in red/green cyanobacteriochromes

Journal Article · · Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences (Online)

Abstract Photoreceptors in the phytochrome superfamily use 15,16-photoisomerization of a linear tetrapyrrole (bilin) chromophore to photoconvert between two states with distinct spectral and biochemical properties. Canonical phytochromes include master regulators of plant growth and development in which light signals trigger interconversion between a red-absorbing 15Z dark-adapted state and a metastable, far-red-absorbing 15E photoproduct state. Distantly related cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) carry out a diverse range of photoregulatory functions in cyanobacteria and exhibit considerable spectral diversity. One widespread CBCR subfamily typically exhibits a red-absorbing 15Z dark-adapted state similar to that of phytochrome that gives rise to a distinct green-absorbing 15E photoproduct. This red/green CBCR subfamily also includes red-inactive examples that fail to undergo photoconversion, providing an opportunity to study protein–chromophore interactions that either promote photoisomerization or block it. In this work, we identified a conserved lineage of red-inactive CBCRs. This enabled us to identify three substitutions sufficient to block photoisomerization in photoactive red/green CBCRs. The resulting red-inactive variants faithfully replicated the fluorescence and circular dichroism properties of naturally occurring examples. Converse substitutions restored photoconversion in naturally red-inactive CBCRs. This work thus identifies protein–chromophore interactions that control the fate of the excited-state population in red/green cyanobacteriochromes.

Research Organization:
Univ. of California, Davis, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division; National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-09ER16117; SC0002395
OSTI ID:
1862566
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1903632
Journal Information:
Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences (Online), Journal Name: Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences (Online) Vol. 21 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 1474-9092
Publisher:
Springer Science + Business MediaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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