The flexible N-terminus of BchL autoinhibits activity through interaction with its [4Fe-4S] cluster and relieved upon ATP binding

A key step in bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis is the reduction of protochlorophyllide to chlorophyllide, catalyzed by dark-operative protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (DPOR). DPOR contains two [4Fe-4S]-containing component proteins (BchL and BchNB) that assemble upon ATP binding to BchL to coordinate electron transfer and protochlorophyllide reduction. But the precise nature of the ATP-induced conformational changes are poorly understood. We present a crystal structure of BchL in the nucleotide-free form where a conserved, flexible region in the N-terminus masks the [4Fe-4S] cluster at the docking interface between BchL and BchNB. Amino acid substitutions in this region produce a hyper-active enzyme complex, suggesting a role for the N-terminus in auto-inhibition. Hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry shows that ATP-binding to BchL produces specific conformational changes leading to release of the flexible N-terminus from the docking interface. The release also promotes changes within the local environment surrounding the [4Fe-4S] cluster and promotes BchL complex formation with BchNB. A key patch of amino acids, Asp-Phe-Asp (the ‘DFD patch’), situated at the mouth of the BchL ATP-binding pocket promotes inter-subunit cross stabilization of the two subunits. A linked BchL dimer with one defective ATP-binding site does not support protochlorophyllide reduction, illustrating nucleotide binding to both subunits as a prerequisite for the inter-subunit cross stabilization. The masking of the [4Fe-4S] cluster by the flexible N-terminal region and the associated inhibition of activity is a novel mechanism of regulation in metalloproteins. Such mechanisms are possibly an adaptation to the anaerobic nature of eubacterial cells with poor tolerance for oxygen.

THE GENETICS OF CHLOROPHYLL BIOSYNTHESIS: LIGHT-INDEPENDENT AND LIGHT-DEPENDENT PATHWAYS

The review summarizes contemporary genetical, molecular biological and biochemical data on the two protochlorophyllide oxidoreductases (POR), enzymes responsible of light-dependent (LPOR) and dark-operative (DPOR) protochlorophyllide reduction. Evolutionary aspects of origin and functioning of these enzymes are also discussed. The main focus of this review will be the genetics of archaic dark chlorophyll biosynthesis.