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Bacteriophytochrome controls photosystem synthesis in anoxygenic bacteria

Nature volume 417, pages 202–205 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Plants use a set of light sensors to control their growth and development in response to changes in ambient light. In particular, phytochromes exert their regulatory activity by switching between a biologically inactive red-light-absorbing form (Pr) and an active far-red-light absorbing form (Pfr)1,2. Recently, biochemical and genetic studies have demonstrated the occurrence of phytochrome-like proteins in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic bacteria3,4,5,6,7—but little is known about their functions. Here we report the discovery of a bacteriophytochrome located downstream from the photosynthesis gene cluster in a Bradyrhizobium strain symbiont of Aeschynomene. The synthesis of the complete photosynthetic apparatus is totally under the control of this bacteriophytochrome. A similar behaviour is observed for the closely related species Rhodopseudomonas palustris, but not for the more distant anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria of the genus Rhodobacter, Rubrivivax or Rhodospirillum. Unlike other (bacterio)phytochromes, the carboxy-terminal domain of this bacteriophytochrome contains no histidine kinase features. This suggests a light signalling pathway involving direct protein–protein interaction with no phosphorelay cascade. This specific mechanism of regulation may represent an important ecological adaptation to optimize the plant–bacteria interaction.

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Figure 1: Molecular characterization of phytochromes.
Figure 2: In vitro assembly of Bradyrhizobium bacteriophytochrome.
Figure 3: Action spectra for photosystem synthesis.
Figure 4: Effect of illumination on photosynthetic activity and pigmentation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LSTM TA 10/J Laboratoire des Symbioses Tropicales et Méditerranéennes, UMR 113, IRD/CIRAD/INRA/ENSA-M. Campus de Baillarguet, 34398, Cedex 5, Montpellier, France

    Eric Giraud, Joël Fardoux, Nicolas Fourrier, Laure Hannibal & Bernard Dreyfus

  2. CEA/Cadarache DEVM-Laboratoire d'Écophysiologie de la Photosynthèse, UMR 163-CNRS-CEA, 13108 Cedex, Saint Paul lez Durance, France

    Bernard Genty

  3. CEA/Cadarache DEVM-Laboratoire de Bioénergétique Cellulaire, UMR 163-CNRS-CEA, Univ-Méditerranée CEA1000, 13108 Cedex, Saint Paul lez Durance, France

    Pierre Bouyer & André Verméglio

Authors
  1. Eric Giraud
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  2. Joël Fardoux
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  3. Nicolas Fourrier
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  4. Laure Hannibal
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  5. Bernard Genty
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  6. Pierre Bouyer
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  7. Bernard Dreyfus
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  8. André Verméglio
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Correspondence to André Verméglio.

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Giraud, E., Fardoux, J., Fourrier, N. et al. Bacteriophytochrome controls photosystem synthesis in anoxygenic bacteria. Nature 417, 202–205 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/417202a

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