Roman Kouril

Structure and function of mitochondrial supercomplexes

The five complexes (complexes I-V) of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system of mitochondria can be extracted in the form of active supercomplexes. Single-particle electron microscopy has provided 2D and 3D data describing the interaction between complexes I and III, among I, III and IV and in a dimeric form of complex V, between two ATP synthase monomers. The stable interactions are called supercomplexes which also form higher-ordered oligomers. Cryo-electron tomography provides new insights on how these supercomplexes are arranged within intact mitochondria. The structure and function of OXPHOS supercomplexes are discussed.

The PsbS protein controls the macro-organisation of photosystem II complexes in the grana membranes of higher plant chloroplasts

The PsbS protein is a critical component in the regulation of non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ) in higher plant photosynthesis. Electron microscopy and image analysis of grana membrane fragments from wild type and mutant Arabidopsis plants showed that the semi‐crystalline domains of photosystem II supercomplexes were identical in the presence and absence of PsbS. However, the frequency of the domains containing crystalline arrays was increased in the absence of PsbS. Conversely, there was a complete absence of such arrays in the membranes of plants containing elevated amounts of this protein. It is proposed that PsbS controls the macro‐organisation of the grana membrane, providing an explanation of its role in NPQ.

Photosystem I of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Contains Nine Light-harvesting Complexes (Lhca) Located on One Side of the Core

Background: Photosystem I is a multiprotein complex essential for the photosynthetic process. Results: Photosystem I of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contains nine Lhca complexes arranged on one side of the core. Conclusion: A model of the subunits organization in the Photosystem I supercomplex is presented. Significance: The sequence of the system (dis)assembly relates to the function of the subunits. In this work we have purified the Photosystem I (PSI) complex of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to homogeneity. Biochemical, proteomic, spectroscopic, and structural analyses reveal the main properties of this PSI-LHCI supercomplex. The data show that the largest purified complex is composed of one core complex and nine Lhca antennas and that it contains all Lhca gene products. A projection map at 15 Å resolution obtained by electron microscopy reveals that the Lhcas are organized on one side of the core in a double half-ring arrangement, in contrast with previous suggestions. A series of stable disassembled PSI-LHCI intermediates was purified. The analysis of these complexes suggests the sequence of the assembly/disassembly process. It is shown that PSI-LHCI of C. reinhardtii is larger but far less stable than the complex from higher plants. Lhca2 and Lhca9 (the red-most antenna complexes), although present in the largest complex in 1:1 ratio with the core, are only loosely associated with it. This can explain the large variation in antenna composition of PSI-LHCI from C. reinhardtii found in the literature. The analysis of several subcomplexes with reduced antenna size allows determination of the position of Lhca2 and Lhca9 and leads to a proposal for a model of the organization of the Lhcas within the PSI-LHCI supercomplex.

Arabidopsis Mutants Deleted in the Light-Harvesting Protein Lhcb4 Have a Disrupted Photosystem II Macrostructure and Are Defective in Photoprotection

Analysis of a series of mutants lacking each of the three isoforms of the Lhcb4 light-harvesting complex in Arabidopsis showed that this complex plays an important role in the macro-organization and photoprotection of photosystem II. The role of the light-harvesting complex Lhcb4 (CP29) in photosynthesis was investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana by characterizing knockout lines for each of the three Lhcb4 isoforms (Lhcb4.1/4.2/4.3). Plants lacking all isoforms (koLhcb4) showed a compensatory increase of Lhcb1 and a slightly reduced photosystem II/I ratio with respect to the wild type. The absence of Lhcb4 did not result in alteration in electron transport rates. However, the kinetic of state transition was faster in the mutant, and nonphotochemical quenching activity was lower in koLhcb4 plants with respect to either wild type or mutants retaining a single Lhcb4 isoform. KoLhcb4 plants were more sensitive to photoinhibition, while this effect was not observed in knockout lines for any other photosystem II antenna subunit. Ultrastructural analysis of thylakoid grana membranes showed a lower density of photosystem II complexes in koLhcb4. Moreover, analysis of isolated supercomplexes showed a different overall shape of the C2S2 particles due to a different binding mode of the S-trimer to the core complex. An empty space was observed within the photosystem II supercomplex at the Lhcb4 position, implying that the missing Lhcb4 was not replaced by other Lhc subunits. This suggests that Lhcb4 is unique among photosystem II antenna proteins and determinant for photosystem II macro-organization and photoprotection.

A novel photosynthetic strategy for adaptation to low-iron aquatic environments

Iron (Fe) availability is a major limiting factor for primary production in aquatic environments. Cyanobacteria respond to Fe deficiency by derepressing the isiAB operon, which encodes the antenna protein IsiA and flavodoxin. At nanomolar Fe concentrations, a PSI-IsiA supercomplex forms, comprising a PSI trimer encircled by two complete IsiA rings. This PSI-IsiA supercomplex is the largest photosynthetic membrane protein complex yet isolated. This study presents a detailed characterization of this complex using transmission electron microscopy and ultrafast fluorescence spectroscopy. Excitation trapping and electron transfer are highly efficient, allowing cyanobacteria to avoid oxidative stress. This mechanism may be a major factor used by cyanobacteria to successfully adapt to modern low-Fe environments.

Association of chlorophyll a/c(2) complexes to photosystem I and photosystem II in the cryptophyte Rhodomonas CS24

Photosynthetic supercomplexes from the cryptophyte Rhodomonas CS24 were isolated by a short detergent treatment of membranes from the cryptophyte Rhodomonas CS24 and studied by electron microscopy and low-temperature absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. At least three different types of supercomplexes of photosystem I (PSI) monomers and peripheral Chl a/c(2) proteins were found. The most common complexes have Chl a/c(2) complexes at both sides of the PSI core monomer and have dimensions of about 17x24 nm. The peripheral antenna in these supercomplexes shows no obvious similarities in size and/or shape with that of the PSI-LHCI supercomplexes from the green plant Arabidopsis thaliana and the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and may be comprised of about 6-8 monomers of Chl a/c(2) light-harvesting complexes. In addition, two different types of supercomplexes of photosystem II (PSII) dimers and peripheral Chl a/c(2) proteins were found. The detected complexes consist of a PSII core dimer and three or four monomeric Chl a/c(2) proteins on one side of the PSII core at positions that in the largest complex are similar to those of Lhcb5, a monomer of the S-trimer of LHCII, Lhcb4 and Lhcb6 in green plants.