A mutant of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 lacking cyanophycin synthetase: growth properties and ultrastructural aspects.

The gene cphA encoding cyanophycin synthetase was interrupted in Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 by insertional mutagenesis. The mutant lacked cyanophycin granules and the polar nodules of heterocysts. The mutant grew as fast as the wild-type irrespective of the nitrogen source at low light intensity whereas growth on N(2) was somewhat reduced in high light. It is concluded that cyanophycin metabolism and polar nodules are not essential for aerobic N(2) fixation.

Expression of two nblA-homologous genes is required for phycobilisome degradation in nitrogen-starved Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

One of the responses exhibited by cyanobacteria when they are limited for an essential nutrient is the rapid degradation of their light-harvesting complex, the phycobilisome. Phycobilisome degradation is an ordered proteolytic process, visible by a color change of the cyanobacterial cell from blue-green to yellow-green (chlorosis). The small polypeptide NblA plays a key role in degradation of phycobilisomes in Synechococcus sp. PCC7942. Unlike Synechococcus, Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 has two nblA-homologous genes, nblA1 and nblA2, which are contiguous on the genome. Here we show that nblA1 and nblA2 are simultaneously expressed in Synechocystis 6803 upon nitrogen deprivation, and are both required for phycobilisome degradation.

Biosynthesis of the cyanobacterial reserve polymer multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartic acid (cyanophycin): mechanism of the cyanophycin synthetase reaction studied with synthetic primers.

Biosynthesis of the cyanobacterial nitrogen reserve cyanophycin (multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartic acid) is catalysed by cyanophycin synthetase, an enzyme that consists of a single kind of polypeptide. Efficient synthesis of the polymer requires ATP, the constituent amino acids aspartic acid and arginine, and a primer like cyanophycin. Using synthetic peptide primers, the course of the biosynthetic reaction was studied. The following results were obtained: (a) sequence analysis suggests that cyanophycin synthetase has two ATP-binding sites and hence probably two active sites; (b) the enzyme catalyses the formation of cyanophycin-like polymers of 25-30 kDa apparent molecular mass in vitro; (c) primers are elongated at their C-terminus; (d) the constituent amino acids are incorporated stepwise, in the order aspartic acid followed by arginine, into the growing polymer. A mechanism for the cyanophycin synthetase reaction is proposed; (e) the specificity of the enzyme for its amino-acid substrates was also studied. Glutamic acid cannot replace aspartic acid as the acidic amino acid, whereas lysine can replace arginine but is incorporated into cyanophycin at a much lower rate.

Cyanophycinase, a peptidase degrading the cyanobacterial reserve material multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartic acid (cyanophycin): molecular cloning of the gene of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, expression in Escherichia coli, and biochemical characterization of the purified enzyme.

The branched polypeptide multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartic acid, also called cyanophycin, is a water-insoluble reserve material of cyanobacteria. The polymer is degraded by a specific hydrolytic enzyme called cyanophycinase. By heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, a gene encoding cyanophycinase has been identified in the sequenced genome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The gene, designated cphB, codes for a protein of 29.4 kDa. The high level of expression of active cyanophycinase in E. coli from the Synechocystis gene allowed for its purification to electrophoretic homogeneity. The enzyme, which appears to be specific for cyanophycin, hydrolysed the polymer to a dipeptide consisting of aspartic acid and arginine. Based on inhibitor sensitivity and primary sequence, cyanophycinase appears to be a serine-type exopeptidase related to dipeptidase E [Conlin, C.A., Haakensson, K., Liljas, A. & Miller, C.G. (1994) J. Bacteriol. 176, 166-172].

Molecular characterization of cyanophycin synthetase, the enzyme catalyzing the biosynthesis of the cyanobacterial reserve material multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartate (cyanophycin).

Cyanophycin (multi-L-arginyl-poly-L-aspartate), a water-insoluble reserve polymer of cyanobacteria, is a product of nonribosomal peptide synthesis. The purification of cyanophycin synthetase of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis is described. In sodium dodecylsulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the enzyme preparation shows one band with an apparent molecular mass of 100 kDa. The native enzyme has an apparent molecular mass of approximately 230 kDa, as determined by size-exclusion chromatography, suggesting that the active form is a homodimer. During catalysis, ATP is converted to ADP. The gene coding for cyanophycin synthetase has been identified in the sequenced genome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The C-terminal 60% of the deduced amino acid sequence of cyanophycin synthetase show sequence similarity to enzymes of the superfamily of ligases involved in the biosynthesis of murein and of folyl-poly(gamma-glutamate). Cells of Escherichia coli harbouring the gene on a plasmid express active synthetase and accumulate cyanophycin-like material. The results prove that a single enzyme catalyzes the de novo synthesis of cyanophycin.

Evidence for propeptide-assisted folding of the calcium-dependent protease of the cyanobacterium Anabaena.

The Ca(2+)-dependent protease of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis is a cytoplasmic enzyme with a substrate specificity like trypsin. Its previously published DNA sequence [Maldener, I., Lockau, W., Cai, Y. & Wolk, C. P. (1991) Mol. Gen. Genet. 225, 113-120] contained a sequencing error. Here we report the corrected sequence which shows, that the Ca(2+)-protease belongs to the family of subtilases (subtilisin-like serine proteases). Consistent with its cytoplasmic localization, a pre-sequence is not found. The enzyme is produced as a precursor with a large amino-terminal propeptide. Expression of the pro-region and mature region (protease domain) in Escherichia coli cells in trans demonstrates that formation of the active enzyme requires the propeptide. The results demonstrate that propeptide-assisted protein folding also occurs with cytoplasmic enzymes, in support of the hypothesis that this mechanism is a widespread phenomenon.

Proteolysis in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria: characterization of a further enzyme with trypsin-like specificity, and of a prolyl endopeptidase from Anabaena variabilis.

Soluble extracts of the cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 and an engineered mutant that lacks an intracellular protease cleaving after Lys and Arg (Maldener, Lockau, Cai, and Wolk, Mol. Gen, Genet. 225, 113-120 (1991)) were separated by ion exchange chromatography, and protease profiles determined using azocasein, N alpha-benzoyl-D,L-arginine-4-nitroanilide and N-carbobenzoxy-glycyl-L-proline-4-nitroanilide as substrates. A second enzyme cleaving at the carboxyl side of lysine and arginine, and a prolyl endopeptidase were detected, enriched and characterized. Both proteolytic enzymes appear to be located in the periplasm.

Calcium-dependent protease of the cyanobacterium Anabaena: molecular cloning and expression of the gene in Escherichia coli, sequencing and site-directed mutagenesis.

It has been suggested that a calcium-dependent intracellular protease of the cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp., participates in the differentiation of heterocysts, cells that are specialized for fixation of N2. Clones of the structural gene (designated prcA) for this protease from Anabaena variabilis strain ATCC 29413 and Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 were identified via their expression in Escherichia coli. The prcA gene from A. variabilis was sequenced. The genes of both strains, mutated by insertion of a drug resistance cassette, were returned to these same strains of Anabaena on suicide plasmids. The method of sacB-mediated positive selection for double recombinants was used to achieve replacement of the wild-type prcA genes by the mutated forms. The resulting mutants, which lacked Ca2(+)-dependent protease activity, were not impaired in heterocyst formation and grew on N2 as sole nitrogen source.

Purification and partial characterization of a calcium-stimulated protease from the cyanobacterium, Anabaena variabilis.

A calcium-stimulated protease was purified to apparent homogeneity from the heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413. As judged from experiments with inhibitors and chromogenic peptide substrates, the enzyme is a serine protease with a substrate specificity like trypsin. Its apparent relative molecular mass is 52,000. Calcium depletion inhibits the enzymic activity by 92%. Half-maximal activity requires about 0.5 microM free Ca2+. The enzyme binds to a hydrophobic column in a calcium-dependent manner, indicating calcium-induced exposure of a hydrophobic domain. The possible role of the protease in heterocyst differentiation is discussed.

Extra proton translocation and membrane potential generation--universal properties of cytochrome bc1/b6f complexes reconstituted into liposomes.

Isolated cytochrome complexes from different sources like beef heart mitochondria, spinach chloroplasts, cyanobacteria, and photosynthetic bacteria were incorporated into liposomes by sonication as revealed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation and electron microscopy. The reconstituted cytochrome complexes show suppressed rates of quinol-cytochrome c/plastocyanin oxidoreduction which can be stimulated by ionophores and uncouplers. In addition, extra proton translocation out of the vesicles and membrane potential generation during electron transport were observed, suggesting a universal mechanism of electron and proton transport through all the tested cytochrome complexes.

The inhibition of photosynthetic electron transport in spinach chloroplasts by low osmolarity.

The reversible inhibition, by low osmolarity, of the rate of electron transport through photosystem 1 has been investigated in spinach chloroplasts. By use of different electron donor systems to photosystem 1, inhibitors of plastocyanin, and by measurement of the extent of photooxidation of the photosystem 1 reaction center P700, the inhibition site has been localized on the electron donor side of this photosystem. From comparison of the influence of impermeant and permeant salts on the electron transport rate, and from the effect of ionic strength on the oxidation of externally added plastocyanin by subchloroplast preparations, it is concluded that low ionic strength within the thylakoids inhibits the photooxidation of endogenous plastocyanin by P700. The results are taken as evidence that plastocyanin is oxidized by P700 at the internal (lumen) side of the osmotic barrier in the thylakoid membrane.

Modes of reduction of nitrogen in heterocysts isolated from Anabaena species.

N2 fixation (acetylene reduction) has been studied with heterocysts isolated from Anabaena cylindrica and Anabaena 7120. In the presence of ATP and at very low concentrations of sodium dithionite, reducing equivalents for activity of nitrogenase in these cells can be derived from several compounds. In the dark, D-glucose 6-phosphate, 6-phosphogluconate and DL-isocitrate support acetylene reduction via NADPH. In the light, reductant can be generated by Photosystem I.

Pathways of assimilation of [13N]N2 and 13NH4+ by cyanobacteria with and without heterocysts.

The principal initial product of metabolism of [13N]N2 and 13NH4+ by five diverse cyanobacteria is glutamine. Methionine sulfoximine inhibits formation of [13N]glutamine except in the case of Gloeothece sp., an organism with a thick sheath through which the inhibitor may not penetrate. Thus, glutamine synthetase appears to catalyze the initial step in the assimilation of N2-derived or exogenous NH4+ by these organisms. [13N]Glutamate is, in all cases, the second major product of assimilation of 13N-labeled N2 and NH4+. In all of the N2-fixing cyanobacteria studied, the fraction of 13N in glutamine declines and that in glutamate increases with increasing times of assimilation of [13N]N2 and 13NH4+, and (Gloeothece again excepted) methionine sulfoximine reduces incorporation of 13N into glutamate as well as into glutamine. Glutamate synthase therefore appears to catalyze the formation of glutamate in a wide range of N2-fixing cyanobacteria. However, the major fraction of [13N]glutamate formed by Anacystis nidulans incubated with 13NH4+ may be formed by glutamic acid dehydrogenase. The formation of [13N]alanine from 13NH4+ appears to be catalyzed principally either by alanine dehydrogenase (as in Cylindrospermum licheniforme) or by a transaminase (as in Anabaena variabilis).

The pathways of assimilation of 13NH4+ by the cyanobacterium, Anabaena cylindrica.

The principal initial product of metabolism of 13N-labeled ammonium by Anabaena cylindrica grown with either NH4+ or N2 as nitrogen source is amide-labeled glutamine. The specific activity of glutamine synthetase is approximately half as great in NH4+-grown as in N2-grown filaments. After 1.5 min of exposure to 13NH4+, the ratio of 13N in glutamate to 13N in glutamine reaches a value of approximately 0.1 for N2- and 0.15 for NH4+-grown filaments, whereas after the same period of exposure to [13N]N2, that ratio has reached a value close to unity and is rising rapidly. During pulse-chase experiments, 13N is transferred from the amide group to glutamine into glutamate, and then apparently into the alpha-amino group of glutamine. Methionine sulfoximine, an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase, inhibits the formation of glutamine. In the presence of the inhibitor, direct formation of glutamate takes place, but accounts for only a few per cent of the normal rate of formation of that amino acid; and alanine is formed about as rapidly as glutamate. Azaserine reduces formation of [13N]glutamate approximately 100-fold, with relatively little effect on the formation of [13N]glutamine. Aminooxyacetate, an inhibitor of transaminase reactions blocks transfer of 13N to aspartate, citrulline, and arginine. We conclude, on the basis of these results and others in the literature, that the glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase pathway mediates most of the initial metabolism of ammonium in A. cylindrica, and that glutamic acid dehydrogenase and alanine dehydrogenase have only a very minor role.

Correlation of the photosynthetic reduction of p-(diazonium-) benzenesulfonic acid with the increased binding of the probe to the thylakoid membrane.

The reactions of chloroplast thylakoid lamellae with the chemical probe p-(diazonium-) benzenesulfonic acid (DABS) in the light have been reinvestigated. In contrast to a previous report, electron transport from a photosystem I electron donor to methylviologen was found to be inhibited by this treatment. During the incubation of chloroplasts with DABS in the light, the probe is altered with high rates. Under aerobic conditions, a concomitant oxygen uptake is observed, which is stoichiometric to the amount of DABS altered. Under anaerobic conditions, the binding of the 35S-labeled probe to the membranes in the light is stimulated 2-3 fold as compared to the binding under aerobic conditions. The data are taken as evidence that the photoreduction of the probe rather than a conformational change of the membrane may be at least partially responsible for the increased reagent binding observed in the light.