Light-dependent chlorophyll f synthase is a highly divergent paralog of PsbA of photosystem II

Ming Yang Ho, Gaozhong Shen, Daniel P. Canniffe, Chi Zhao, Donald A. Bryant

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

154 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chlorophyll f (Chl f) permits some cyanobacteria to expand the spectral range for photosynthesis by absorbing far-red light.We used reverse genetics and heterologous expression to identify the enzyme for Chl f synthesis. Null mutants of "super-rogue" psbA4 genes, divergent paralogs of psbA genes encoding the D1 core subunit of photosystem II, abolished Chl f synthesis in two cyanobacteria that grow in far-red light. Heterologous expression of the psbA4 gene, which we rename chlF, enables Chl f biosynthesis in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Because the reaction requires light, Chl f synthase is probably a photo-oxidoreductase that employs catalytically useful Chl a molecules, tyrosine YZ, and plastoquinone (as does photosystem II) but lacks a Mn4Ca1O5 cluster. Introduction of Chl f biosynthesis into crop plants could expand their ability to use solar energy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberaaf9178
JournalScience
Volume353
Issue number6302
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 26 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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