Ferredoxin:NADPH oxidoreductase is recruited to thylakoids by binding to a polyproline type II helix in a pH-dependent manner

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010 Nov 9;107(45):19260-5. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1009124107. Epub 2010 Oct 25.

Abstract

Ferredoxin:NADPH oxidoreductase (FNR) is a key enzyme of photosynthetic electron transport required for generation of reduction equivalents. Recently, two proteins were found to be involved in membrane-anchoring of FNR by specific interaction via a conserved Ser/Pro-rich motif: Tic62 and Trol. Our crystallographic study reveals that the FNR-binding motif, which forms a polyproline type II helix, induces self-assembly of two FNR monomers into a back-to-back dimer. Because binding occurs opposite to the FNR active sites, its activity is not affected by the interaction. Surface plasmon resonance analyses disclose a high affinity of FNR to the binding motif, which is strongly increased under acidic conditions. The pH of the chloroplast stroma changes dependent on the light conditions from neutral to slightly acidic in complete darkness or to alkaline at saturating light conditions. Recruiting of FNR to the thylakoids could therefore represent a regulatory mechanism to adapt FNR availability/activity to photosynthetic electron flow.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chloroplasts / enzymology
  • Chloroplasts / metabolism
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / chemistry*
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase / metabolism
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Light
  • Peptides / metabolism*
  • Pisum sativum / enzymology
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Transport
  • Thylakoids / enzymology*
  • Thylakoids / metabolism

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Plant Proteins
  • polyproline
  • Ferredoxin-NADP Reductase

Associated data

  • PDB/3MHP