The anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB) are an active component of aquatic microbial communities. While DNA-based studies have delivered a detailed picture of APB diversity, they cannot provide any information on the activity of individual species. Therefore, we focused on the expression of a photosynthetic gene by APB communities in two freshwater lakes (Cep lake and the Římov Reservoir) in the Czech Republic. First, we analyzed expression levels of pufM during the diel cycle using RT-qPCR. The transcription underwent a strong diel cycle and was inhibited during the day in both lakes. Then, we compared DNA- (total) and RNA-based (active) community composition by sequencing pufM amplicon libraries. We observed large differences in expression activity among different APB phylogroups. While the total APB community in the Římov Reservoir was dominated by Betaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria prevailed in the active library. A different situation was encountered in the oligotrophic lake Cep where Betaproteobacteria (order Burkholderiales) dominated both the DNA and RNA libraries. Interestingly, in Cep lake we found smaller amounts of highly active uncultured phototrophic Chloroflexi, as well as phototrophic Gemmatimonadetes. Despite the large diversity of APB communities, light repression of pufM expression seems to be a common feature of all aerobic APB present in the studied lakes.
- MeSH
- Alphaproteobacteria izolace a purifikace fyziologie účinky záření MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny genetika metabolismus MeSH
- Betaproteobacteria izolace a purifikace fyziologie účinky záření MeSH
- DNA bakterií genetika izolace a purifikace MeSH
- fotoperioda * MeSH
- fotosyntetické reakční centrum - proteinové komplexy genetika metabolismus MeSH
- fototrofní procesy genetika účinky záření MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- jezera mikrobiologie MeSH
- mikrobiota fyziologie účinky záření MeSH
- regulace genové exprese u bakterií fyziologie účinky záření MeSH
- světlo škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
A polyhistidine tag (His-tag) present on Chlorobaculum tepidum reaction centers (RCs) was used to immobilize photosynthetic complexes on a silver nanowire (AgNW) modified with nickel-chelating nitrilo-triacetic acid (Ni-NTA). The optical properties of conjugated nanostructures were studied using wide-field and confocal fluorescence microscopy. Plasmonic enhancement of RCs conjugated to AgNWs was observed as their fluorescence intensity dependence on the excitation wavelength does not follow the excitation spectrum of RC complexes in solution. The strongest effect of plasmonic interactions on the emission intensity of RCs coincides with the absorption spectrum of AgNWs and is observed for excitation into the carotenoid absorption. From the absence of fluorescence decay shortening, we attribute the emission enhancement to increase of absorption in RC complexes.
Chlorobaculum tepidum is a representative of green sulfur bacteria, a group of anoxygenic photoautotrophs that employ chlorosomes as the main light-harvesting structures. Chlorosomes are coupled to a ferredoxin-reducing reaction center by means of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) protein. While the biochemical properties and physical functioning of all the individual components of this photosynthetic machinery are quite well understood, the native architecture of the photosynthetic supercomplexes is not. Here we report observations of membrane-bound FMO and the analysis of the respective FMO-reaction center complex. We propose the existence of a supercomplex formed by two reaction centers and four FMO trimers based on the single-particle analysis of the complexes attached to native membrane. Moreover, the structure of the photosynthetic unit comprising the chlorosome with the associated pool of RC-FMO supercomplexes is proposed.
- MeSH
- bakteriální proteiny chemie metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- Chlorobi chemie MeSH
- cytoplazma chemie MeSH
- fotosyntetické reakční centrum - proteinové komplexy chemie metabolismus MeSH
- intracelulární membrány chemie MeSH
- světlosběrné proteinové komplexy chemie metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Light-harvesting capacity was investigated in six species of aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic (AAP) bacteria using absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, and pigment analyses. Aerobically grown AAP cells contained approx. 140-1800 photosynthetic reaction centers per cell, an order of magnitude less than purple non-sulfur bacteria grown semiaerobically. Three of the studied AAP species did not contain outer light-harvesting complexes, and the size of their reaction center core complexes (RC-LH1 core complexes) varied between 29 and 36 bacteriochlorophyll molecules. In AAP species containing accessory antennae, the size was frequently reduced, providing between 5 and 60 additional bacteriochlorophyll molecules. In Roseobacter litoralis, it was found that cells grown at a higher light intensity contained more reaction centers per cell, while the size of the light-harvesting complexes was reduced. The presented results document that AAP species have both the reduced number and size of light-harvesting complexes which is consistent with the auxiliary role of phototrophy in this bacterial group.
- MeSH
- aerobióza MeSH
- Alphaproteobacteria chemie metabolismus MeSH
- bakteriochlorofyly metabolismus MeSH
- fotosyntetické reakční centrum - proteinové komplexy chemie metabolismus MeSH
- fototrofní procesy MeSH
- Gammaproteobacteria chemie metabolismus MeSH
- světlosběrné proteinové komplexy chemie metabolismus MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Quantum dots (QDs) absorb ultraviolet and long-wavelength visible light energy much more efficiently than natural bacterial light-harvesting proteins and can transfer the excitation energy to photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs). Inclusion of RCs combined with QDs as antennae into liposomes opens new opportunities for using such hybrid systems as a basis for artificial energy-transforming devices that potentially can operate with greater efficiency and stability than devices based only on biological components or inorganic components alone. RCs from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and QDs (CdSe/ZnS with hydrophilic covering) were embedded in lecithin liposomes by extrusion of a solution of multilayer lipid vesicles through a polycarbonate membrane or by dialysis of lipids and proteins dispersed with excess detergent. The efficiency of RC and QD interaction within the liposomes was estimated using fluorescence excitation spectra of the photoactive bacteriochlorophyll of the RCs and by measuring the fluorescence decay kinetics of the QDs. The functional activity of the RCs in hybrid complexes was fully maintained, and their stability was even increased. The efficiency of energy transfer between QDs and RCs and conditions of long-term stability of function of such hybrid complexes in film preparations were investigated as well. It was found that dry films containing RCs and QDs, maintained at atmospheric humidity, are capable of maintaining their functional activity for at least some months as judged by measurements of their spectral characteristics, efficiency of energy transfer from QDs to RCs and RC electron transport activity. Addition of trehalose to the films increases the stability further, especially for films maintained at low humidity. These stable hybrid film structures are promising for further studies towards developing new phototransformation devices for biotechnological applications.
Chromera velia is an alveolate alga associated with scleractinian corals. Here we present detailed work on chromatic adaptation in C. velia cultured under either blue or red light. Growth of C. velia under red light induced the accumulation of a light harvesting antenna complex exhibiting unusual spectroscopic properties with red-shifted absorption and atypical 710nm fluorescence emission at room temperature. Due to these characteristic features the complex was designated "Red-shifted Chromera light harvesting complex" (Red-CLH complex). Its detailed biochemical survey is described in the accompanying paper (Bina et al. 2013, this issue). Here, we show that the accumulation of Red-CLH complex under red light represents a slow acclimation process (days) that is reversible with much faster kinetics (hours) under blue light. This chromatic adaptation allows C. velia to maintain all important parameters of photosynthesis constant under both light colors. We further demonstrated that the C. velia Red-CLH complex is assembled from a 17kDa antenna protein and is functionally connected to photosystem II as it shows variability of chlorophyll fluorescence. Red-CLH also serves as an additional locus for non-photochemical quenching. Although overall rates of oxygen evolution and carbon fixation were similar for both blue and red light conditions, the presence of Red-CLH in C. velia cells increases the light harvesting potential of photosystem II, which manifested as a doubled oxygen evolution rate at illumination above 695nm. This data demonstrates a remarkable long-term remodeling of C. velia light-harvesting system according to light quality and suggests physiological significance of 'red' antenna complexes.
- MeSH
- 2D gelová elektroforéza MeSH
- chlorofyl metabolismus MeSH
- elektroforéza v polyakrylamidovém gelu MeSH
- fluorescenční spektrometrie MeSH
- fotosyntetické reakční centrum - proteinové komplexy metabolismus MeSH
- fotosyntéza MeSH
- fyziologická adaptace MeSH
- kinetika MeSH
- mikrořasy fyziologie MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The arrangement of core antenna complexes (B808-866-RC) in the cytoplasmic membrane of filamentous phototrophic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus was studied by electron microscopy in cultures from different light conditions. A typical nearest-neighbor center-to-center distance of ~18 nm was found, implying less protein crowding compared to membranes of purple bacteria. A mean RC:chlorosome ratio of 11 was estimated for the occupancy of the membrane directly underneath each chlorosome, based on analysis of chlorosome dimensions and core complex distribution. Also presented are results of single-particle analysis of core complexes embedded in the native membrane.
- MeSH
- buněčná membrána metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- Chloroflexus metabolismus MeSH
- elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
- fotosyntetické reakční centrum - proteinové komplexy metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- fotosyntéza MeSH
- organely metabolismus ultrastruktura MeSH
- Rhodopseudomonas metabolismus MeSH
- světlo MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
A series of photosynthetic electron transport (PET) inhibitors from the group of salicylanilide alkylcarbamates was investigated. The compounds were analyzed using RP-HPLC to determine lipophilicity, and their PET inhibition was determined in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. The site of action of the studied compounds is situated at the donor site of photosystem 2 (PS 2). Compounds substituted by chlorine in C'-3 and C'-4 of the aniline ring and the optimal length of the alkyl chain pentyl-heptyl in the carbamate moiety provided the most active PET inhibitors (IC(50) inhibition <10 μmol/L). Disubstitution in C'-3,4 by chlorine caused significant PET inhibiting activity decrease. Nevertheless, for all three series of C'-3, C'-4, C'-3,4 compounds, the dependence of PET activity on lipophilicity showed to be quasi-parabolic.
- MeSH
- fotosyntetické reakční centrum - proteinové komplexy antagonisté a inhibitory metabolismus MeSH
- fotosyntéza účinky léků MeSH
- karbamáty chemická syntéza chemie farmakologie MeSH
- salicylanilidy chemie MeSH
- Spinacia oleracea metabolismus MeSH
- vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
