title: The Role of Cysteine Residues in Redox Regulation and Protein Stability of Arabidopsis thaliana Starch Synthase 1.
abstract: Starch biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana is strictly regulated. In leaf extracts, starch synthase 1 (AtSS1) responds to the redox potential within a physiologically relevant range. This study presents data testing two main hypotheses: 1) that specific thiol-disulfide exchange in AtSS1 influences its catalytic function 2) that each conserved Cys residue has an impact on AtSS1 catalysis. Recombinant AtSS1 versions carrying combinations of cysteine-to-serine substitutions were generated and characterized in vitro. The results demonstrate that AtSS1 is activated and deactivated by the physiological redox transmitters thioredoxin f1 (Trxf1), thioredoxin m4 (Trxm4) and the bifunctional NADPH-dependent thioredoxin reductase C (NTRC). AtSS1 displayed an activity change within the physiologically relevant redox range, with a midpoint potential equal to -306 mV, suggesting that AtSS1 is in the reduced and active form during the day with active photosynthesis. Cys164 and Cys545 were the key cysteine residues involved in regulatory disulfide formation upon oxidation. A C164S_C545S double mutant had considerably decreased redox sensitivity as compared to wild type AtSS1 (30% vs 77%). Michaelis-Menten kinetics and molecular modeling suggest that both cysteines play important roles in enzyme catalysis, namely, Cys545 is involved in ADP-glucose binding and Cys164 is involved in acceptor binding. All the other single mutants had essentially complete redox sensitivity (98-99%). In addition of being part of a redox directed activity "light switch", reactivation tests and low heterologous expression levels indicate that specific cysteine residues might play additional roles. Specifically, Cys265 in combination with Cys164 can be involved in proper protein folding or/and stabilization of translated protein prior to its transport into the plastid. Cys442 can play an important role in enzyme stability upon oxidation. The physiological and phylogenetic relevance of these findings is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Katsiaryna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Skryhan
authors.affiliation: Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, 1799 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cuesta-Seijo
authors.affiliation: Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, 1799 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
authors.forename: Morten M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, 1799 Copenhagen V, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marri
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Silas B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mikkel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Glaring
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Poul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, 1799 Copenhagen V, Denmark; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Monica M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Palcic
authors.affiliation: Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blennow
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020134:Catalytic Domain; D003545:Cysteine / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004795:Enzyme Stability; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010802:Phylogeny; D013879:Thioredoxins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D013879:Thioredoxins; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C000597589:SS1 protein, Arabidopsis; D003545:Cysteine