In vivo quality control of photosystem II in cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: D1 protein degradation and repair under the influence of light, heat and darkness.

The cells of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 were subjected under photoinhibitory irradiation (600 micromolm(-2)s(-1)) at various temperatures (20-40 degrees C) to study in vivo quality control of photosystem II (PSII). The protease biogenesis and its consequences on photosynthetic efficiency (chlorophyll fluorescence ratio Fv/Fm) of the PSII, D1 degradation and repair were monitored during illumination and darkness. The loss in Fv/Fm value and degradation of D1 protein occurred not only under high light exposure, but also continued when the cells were subjected under dark restoration process after high light exposure. No loss in Fv/Fm value or D1 degradation occurred during recovery under growth/low light (30 micromol m(-2) s(-1)). Further, it helped the resynthesis of new D1 protein, essential to sustain quality control of PSII. In vivo triggering of D1 protein required high light exposure to switch-on the protease biosynthesis to maintain protease pool which induced temperature-dependent enzymatic proteolysis of photodamaged D1 protein during photoinhition and dark incubation. Our findings suggested the involvement and overexpression of a membrane-bound FtsH protease during high light exposure which caused degradation of D1 protein, strictly regulated by high temperature (30-40 degrees C). However, lower temperature (20 degrees C) prevented further loss of photoinhibited PSII efficiency in vivo and also retarded temperature-dependent proteolytic process of D1 degradation.

Radiation effects on the native structure of proteins: fragmentation without dissociation.

Several proteins (avidin, carboxypeptidase B, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, glutamate dehydrogenase, maltase, and peroxidase) composed of one to six subunits were irradiated in the frozen state. Each irradiated protein was examined by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and by denaturing gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). All these proteins eluted from SEC as a single peak even though SDS-PAGE showed cleavage of the polypeptide backbone of the monomers. Thus, fragmentation of the subunits did not result in dissociation of the oligomeric structure.

Human lysosomal beta-galactosidase-cathepsin A complex: definition of the beta-galactosidase-binding interface on cathepsin A.

Human lysosomal beta-galactosidase is organized as a 680-kDa complex with cathepsin A (also named carboxypeptidase L and protective protein), which is necessary to protect beta-galactosidase from intralysosomal proteolysis. To understand the molecular mechanism of beta-galactosidase protection by cathepsin A, we defined the structural organization of their complex including the beta-galactosidase-binding interface on cathepsin A. Radiation inactivation analysis suggested the existence of a 168-kDa structural subunit of the complex containing both beta-galactosidase and cathepsin A. Chemical cross-linking of the complex confirmed the existence of this subunit and showed that it is composed of one cathepsin A dimer and one beta-galactosidase monomer. The modeling of the cathepsin A dimer tertiary structure based on atomic coordinates of a wheat carboxypeptidase suggested a putative beta-galactosidase-binding cavity formed by the association of two cathepsin A monomers. According to this model two exposed loops of cathepsin A bordering the cavity were chosen as part of a putative beta-galactosidase-binding interface. Synthetic peptides corresponding to these loops were found both to dissociate the complex and to inhibit its in vitro reconstitution from purified cathepsin A and beta-galactosidase. The defined location of the GAL monomer in the complex with 35% of its surface covered by the CathA dimer may explain the stabilizing effect of CathA on GAL in lysosome.

Photochemical inactivation of enzymes.

The mechanisms of enzyme inactivation by ultraviolet light and visible light in the presence of sensitizing dyes are reviewed. Recent flash photolysis studies on amino acids and enzymes are summarized in terms of proposed models relating the initial photochemical reactions to permanent chemical and biological damage. The generation and reactions of singlet oxygen are discussed in connection with photodynamic processes. The photochemical results are compared with ionizing radiations, particularly pulse radiolytic methods employing radical anions as selective probes. The interrelationships between the various modes of enzyme inactivation are discussed, as well as the new information to be learned about the structure and functions of the native enzymes from selective radiation-induced alterations.