Skip to main content
Log in

Characterization of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in iron-supplied and iron-deficient media

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Plant Molecular Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The photosynthetic apparatus is rich in iron-containing cofactors and iron deficiency causes severe impairment of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 serves as a model system to investigate the complex assembly and integration of the multi-subunit protein complexes of oxygenic photosynthetic electron transport; particularly when coupled to developmental cues due to nutrient limitation or requirements. We study Fe3+-deficient and Fe3+-supplemented cultures of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The autotrophic growth rate of Fe3+-deficient cultures is slower than Fe3+-supplemented cultures. Whole cell spectral analysis reveals differences in both the quantity and the peak absorbance of chlorophyll. Fe3+ deficiency decreases rates of photosynthetic electron transport and the mRNA and corresponding protein levels as observed using specific probes. mRNA levels of psaB increased 20-fold during recovery from Fe3+ deficiency, as compared to the control. psaD transcript levels increased to 160% during recovery as compared to the control. PsaA/B heterodimer formation and turnover is dependent on Fe3+ and the complete assembly on the reducing side of photosystem I (PS I) is PsaD-dependent. Recovery from Fe3+ deficiency suggests that regulation occurs at both the mRNA and protein level.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bricker, TM: Oxygen evolution in the absence of the 33-kilodalton manganese-stabilizing protein. Biochemistry 31: 4623–4628 (1922).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bryant, DA: Photosystem I: polypeptide subunits, genes and mutants. In: Barber, J (ed) Current Topics in Photosynthesis, vol. 11, pp. 501–549. Elsevier, Amsterdam (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chitnis, PR, Nelson, N: Photosystem I. Cell Cult Somatic Cell Genet Plants 7B: 177–224 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Chitnis, PR, Nelson, N: Assembly of two subunits of the cyanobacterial photosystem I on the n-side of the thylakoid membranes. Plant Physiol 99: 239–246 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chitnis, PR, Reilly, PA, Nelson, N: Insertional inactivation of the gene encoding subunit II of photosystem I from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. J Biol Chem 31: 18 381–18 385 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cohen, Y, Nechushtai, R: Assembly and processing of subunit II (PsaD) precursor in the isolated photosystem-I complex. FEBS Lett 302: 15–17 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Constable, A, Quick, S, Gray, NK, Hentze, MW: Modulation of the RNA-binding activity of a regulatory protein by iron in vitro: switching between enzymatic and genetic function? Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 89: 4554–4558 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  8. Fillat, MF, Borrias, WE, Weisbeek, PJ: Isolation and over-expression in Eschevichia coli of the flavodoxin gene from Anabaena PCC 7119. Biochem J 280: 187–191 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Golbeck, JH, Bryant, DA: Photosystem I. Curr Top Bioenerg 16: 83–175 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gould, JM: The phosphorylation site associated with the oxidation of exogenous donors of electrons to photosystem I. Biochim Biophys Acta 387: 135–148 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Guikema, JA, Sherman, LA: Protein composition and architecture of the photosynthetic membranes from the cyanobacterium, Anacystis nidulans R2. Biochim Biophys Acta 681: 440–450 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Guikema, JA: Fluorescence induction characteristics of Anacystis nidulans during recovery from iron-deficiency. J Plant Nutr 8: 891–908 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Guikema, JA, Sherman, LA: Organization and function of chlorophyll in membranes of cyanobacteria during iron starvation. Plant Physiol 73: 250–256 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  14. Guikema, JA, Sherman, LA: Influence of iron deprivation on the membrane composition of Anacystis nidulans. Plant Physiol 74: 90–95 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Henry, RL, Takemoto, LJ, Murphy, J, Gallegos, GL, Guikema, JA: Development and use of domain-specific antibodies in a characterization of the large subunits of soybean photosystem 1. Plant Physiol Biochem 30: 105–114 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Lind, LK, Shukla, VK, Nyhus, KJ, Pakrasi, HB: Genetic and immunological analyses of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 show that the protein encoded by the psbJ gene regulates the number of photosystem II centers in thylakoid membranes. J Biol Chem 268: 1575–1579 (1993).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mohmed, A, Jansson, C: Influence of light on accumulation of photosynthesis-specific transcripts in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803. Plant Mol Biol 13: 693–700 (1989).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mullet, JE: Chloroplast development and gene expression. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 39: 475–502 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Nechushtai, R, Nelson, N: Biogenesis of photosystem I reaction center during greening of oat, bean and spinach leaves. Plant Mol Biol 4: 377–384 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Odom, WR, Bricker, TM: Interaction of CPa-1 with the manganese-stabilizing protein of photosystem II: identification of domains cross-linked by 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide Biochemistry 31: 5616–5620 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Öquist, G: Changes in pigment composition and photosynthesis induced by iron-deficiency in the blue-green alga Anacystis nidulans. Physiol Plant 25: 188–191 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Öquist, G: Iron deficiency in blue-green alga anacystis nidulans: fluorescence and absorption spectra recorded at 77°K. Physiol Plant 31: 55–58 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ort, DR: Quantitative relationship between photosystem I electron transport and ATP formation. Arch Biochem Biophys 166: 629–638 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pakrasi, HB, Goldenberg, A, Sherman, LA: Membrane development in the cyanobacterium, Anacystis nidulans, during recovery from iron starvation. Plant Physiol 79: 290–295 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Riethman, HC, Sherman, LA: Immunological characterization of iron-regulated membrane proteins in the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans R2. Plant Physiol 88: 497–505 (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sandman, G, Malkin, R: Iron-sulfur centers and activities of the photosynthetic electron transport chain in irondeficient cultures of the blue-green alga Aphanocapsa. Plant Physiol 73: 724–728 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Sherman, DM, Sherman, LA: Effect of iron deficiency and iron restoration on ultrastructure of Anacystis nidulans. J Bact 156: 393–401 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Smart, LB, McIntosh, L: Expression of photosynthesis genes in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: psaA-psaB and psbA transcripts accumulate in dark grown cells. Plant Mol Biol 17: 959–971 (1991).

    Google Scholar 

  29. Warren PV, Smart LB, McIntosh L, Golbeck JH: Sitedirected conversion of cysteine-565 to serine in PsaB of photosystem I results in the assembly of [3Fe-4S] and [4Fe-4S] clusters in Fx. Mixed-ligand [4Fe-4S] cluster is capable of electron transfer to FA and FB. Biochemistry, in press (1993).

  30. Williams, JGK: Construction of specific mutations in photosystem II photosynthetic reaction center by genetic engineering methods in Synechocystis 6803. In: Packer, L, Glazer, AN (eds) Methods in Enzymology, volume 167: Cyanobacteria, pp. 766–778. Academic Press, San Diego, CA (1988).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Zhao, J, Li, N, Warren, PV, Golbeck, JH, Bryant, DA: Site-directed conversion of a cysteine to aspartate leads to the assembly of a [3Fe-4S] cluster in PsaC of Photosystem I. The photoreduction of FA is independent of FB. Biochemistry 31: 5093–5099 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Odom, W.R., Hodges, R., Chitnis, P.R. et al. Characterization of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 in iron-supplied and iron-deficient media. Plant Mol Biol 23, 1255–1264 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042358

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00042358

Key words

Navigation