AI Article Synopsis

  • GUN4 is a conserved regulator of chlorophyll biosynthesis found in almost all oxygen-producing photosynthetic organisms, playing a key role in binding bilins and stimulating magnesium chelatase activity in algae.
  • Recent studies characterized GUN4 from Arabidopsis thaliana and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, revealing crystal structures of GUN4 bound to different bilins at high resolutions.
  • The research suggests that bilins adopt a cyclic-helical conformation, strengthening their binding to GUN4 and implies GUN4's involvement in regulating the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis pathway and its role in retrograde signaling.

Article Abstract

The chlorophyll biosynthesis regulator GENOMES UNCOUPLED 4 (GUN4) is conserved in nearly all oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. Recently, GUN4 has been found to be able to bind the linear tetrapyrroles (bilins) and stimulate the magnesium chelatase activity in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Here, we characterize GUN4 proteins from Arabidopsis thaliana and the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for their ability to bind bilins, and present the crystal structures of Synechocystis GUN4 in biliverdin-bound, phycocyanobilin-bound, and phytochromobilin-bound forms at the resolutions of 1.05, 1.10, and 1.70 Å, respectively. These linear molecules adopt a cyclic-helical conformation, and bind more tightly than planar porphyrins to the tetrapyrrole-binding pocket of GUN4. Based on structural comparison, we propose a working model of GUN4 in regulation of tetrapyrrole biosynthetic pathway, and address the role of the bilin-bound GUN4 in retrograde signaling.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8442963PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pro.4164DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

chlorophyll biosynthesis
8
biosynthesis regulator
8
gun4
8
structural basis
4
basis bilin
4
bilin binding
4
binding chlorophyll
4
regulator gun4
4
gun4 chlorophyll
4
regulator genomes
4

Similar Publications

The increasing cultivation of perennial C4 grass known as Miscanthus spp. for biomass production holds promise as a sustainable source of renewable energy. Unlike the sterile triploid hybrid of M.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Detrimental effects of terminal heat stress could be mitigated by exogenous application of synthetic compounds by preserving cell membrane integrity and protecting against oxidative damage. A field experiment was conducted to test the application of seven synthetic compounds on wheat growth traits: (1) thiourea (20 mM and 40mM); (2) potassium nitrate (1% and 2%); (3) sodium nitroprusside (400 μg mL-1 and 800μg mL-1 ); (4) dithiothreitol (25 ppm and 50ppm); (5) salicylic acid (100 ppm and 200ppm); (6) thioglycolic acid (200 ppm and 500ppm); and (7) putrescine (4 mM and 6mM). These compounds were applied at the anthesis and grain-filling stages to enhance physio-biochemical traits and yield attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum ) cvs GW-11 and GW-496 under terminal heat stress.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: This study explored how exogenous silicon (Si) affects growth and salt resistance in maize.

Methods: The maize was cultivated in sand-filled pots, incorporating varied silicon and salt stress (NaCl) treatments. Silicon was applied at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 mM, and salt stress was induced using 0, 60 and120 mM concentrations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Salinity stress disrupts water uptake and nutrient absorption, causing reduced photosynthesis, stunted growth, and decreased crop yields in plants. The use of indole acetic acid (IAA), arginine (AN), and mango fruit waste biochar (MFWB) can be effective methods to overcome this problem. Indole acetic acid (IAA) is a natural auxin hormone that aids cell elongation and division, thereby increasing plant height and branching.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Subtilisin-like protease 4 regulates cold tolerance through cell wall modification in rice.

Sci Rep

January 2025

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Breeding of Major Crops, College of Agronomy & Resources and Environment, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin, 300384, China.

Rice is susceptible to cold temperatures, especially during the seedling stage. Despite extensive research into the cold tolerance mechanisms of rice, the number of cloned genes remains limited. Plant subtilisin-like proteases (SUBs or SBTs) are protein-hydrolyzing enzymes which play important roles in various aspects of plant growth as well as the plant response to biotic and abiotic stress.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!