Light-harvesting like domain of the cyanobacterial ferrochelatase

Mgr. Marek PAZDERNÍK

Doctoral thesis

Abstract:

This thesis is focused on elucidating the function of the C-terminal transmembrane lightharvesting complex like (LHC) domain of the cyanobacterial ferrochelatase (FeCh). Using the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803, I show that the FeCh LHC domain can bind chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids; however, this pigment binding occurs only when the biosynthesis of heme and Chl in the cell is misbalanced. Further, I found that point mutation, which prevents the pigment binding to FeCh LHC domain results in a misregulated ratio between heme and Chl during stress conditions due to low heme accumulation. My data also show that the FeCh LHC domain interacts with CurT protein most likely to localize the FeCh into a specialized membrane domain, where the synthesis of photosystem II is proposed to occur. Based on my data I propose that the role of the FeCh LHC domain is to monitor the availability of Chl during photosystem biogenesis and to coordinate Chl availability with the synthesis of heme.

Abstract:

This thesis is focused on elucidating the function of the C-terminal transmembrane lightharvesting complex like (LHC) domain of the cyanobacterial ferrochelatase (FeCh). Using the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803, I show that the FeCh LHC domain can bind chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoids; however, this pigment binding occurs only when the biosynthesis of heme and Chl in the cell is misbalanced. Further, I found that point mutation, which prevents the pigment binding to FeCh LHC domain results in a misregulated ratio between heme and Chl during stress conditions due to low heme accumulation. My data also show that the FeCh LHC domain interacts with CurT protein most likely to localize the FeCh into a specialized membrane domain, where the synthesis of photosystem II is proposed to occur. Based on my data I propose that the role of the FeCh LHC domain is to monitor the availability of Chl during photosystem biogenesis and to coordinate Chl availability with the synthesis of heme.

Keywords

ferrochelatase, light-harvesting complex, heme, chlorophyll, tetrapyrrole pathway

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 7. 11. 2019

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Roman Sobotka, Ph.D.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH BOHEMIA IN ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE

Faculty of Science

Doctoral programme / field:
Molecular and Cell Biology / Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics