RESISTANCE TO PHYTOPHTHORA1 promotes cytochrome b559 formation during early photosystem II biogenesis in Arabidopsis.

As an essential intrinsic component of photosystem II (PSII) in all oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, heme-bridged heterodimer cytochrome b559 (Cyt b559) plays critical roles in the protection and assembly of PSII. However, the underlying mechanisms of Cyt b559 assembly are largely unclear. Here, we characterized the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) rph1 (resistance to Phytophthora1) mutant, which was previously shown to be susceptible to the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora brassicae.

Thylakoid protein FPB1 synergistically cooperates with PAM68 to promote CP47 biogenesis and Photosystem II assembly.

In chloroplasts, insertion of proteins with multiple transmembrane domains (TMDs) into thylakoid membranes usually occurs in a co-translational manner. Here, we have characterized a thylakoid protein designated FPB1 (Facilitator of PsbB biogenesis1) which together with a previously reported factor PAM68 (Photosynthesis Affected Mutant68) is involved in assisting the biogenesis of CP47, a subunit of the Photosystem II (PSII) core. Analysis by ribosome profiling reveals increased ribosome stalling when the last TMD segment of CP47 emerges from the ribosomal tunnel in fpb1 and pam68.

2,4-Dinitrophenol as an effective cocatalyst: greatly improving the activities and enantioselectivities of primary amine organocatalysts for asymmetric aldol reactions.

Seven primary amine organocatalysts 1a-g were readily prepared from natural primary amino acids via two steps and then were used to catalyze the direct asymmetric aldol reaction, but they showed very poor enantioselectivities and activities. As an effective cocatalyst, 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) dramatically elevated the activities and enantioselectivities of these very inefficient primary amine organocatalysts. This remedial course to the very inefficient organocatalysts by selection and employment of the optimal cocatalyst was particularly cost-effective and environment-beneficial compared with de novo development of catalysts.