title: Blue light induces global and localized conformational changes in the kinase domain of full-length phototropin.
abstract: The blue-light photoreceptor phototropin plays a crucial role in optimizing photosynthesis in plants. In the two light-, oxygen-, or voltage-sensitive (LOV) domains of phototropin, the light stimulus is absorbed by the flavin chromophores. The signal is assumed to be transferred via dissociation and unfolding of a conserved J alpha helix element to the serine/threonine kinase domain. We investigated full-length phototropin from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to shed light on the signal transfer within the protein and on the structural response of the kinase. Light-induced structural changes were assigned by comparing signals of the full-length protein with those of the truncated LOV1-LOV2-J alpha and LOV1-LOV2 and with those of deletion mutants. A loss of helicity originating from the J alpha linker helix was observed in LOV1-LOV2-J alpha in agreement with previous studies of LOV2-J alpha. Full-length phototropin showed reversible global conformational changes via several turn elements. These changes were suppressed in a deletion mutant lacking the J alpha linker and are attributed to the kinase domain. The loss of turn structure is interpreted as a light-induced opening of the kinase tertiary structure upon release of the LOV2 domain. Concomitant protonation changes of Asp or Glu residues in the kinase domain were not observed. A light-induced loss in helicity was observed only in the presence of a phototropin-characteristic 54-amino acid extension of the kinase activation loop, which is predicted to be located apart from the catalytic cleft. This response of the extension might play a significant role in the phototropin signaling process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry, Bielefeld University, Universitatsstrasse 25, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: Tilo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mathes
authors.forename: Yinghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hegemann
authors.forename: Tilman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kottke
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution / Q000235:genetics; D020134:Catalytic Domain / Q000235:genetics; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D008027:Light; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D056949:Phototropins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D056949:Phototropins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases