STIC2 selectively binds ribosome-nascent chain complexes in the cotranslational sorting of Arabidopsis thylakoid proteins.

Chloroplast-encoded multi-span thylakoid membrane proteins are crucial for photosynthetic complexes, yet the coordination of their biogenesis remains poorly understood. To identify factors that specifically support the cotranslational biogenesis of the reaction center protein D1 of photosystem (PS) II, we generated and affinity-purified stalled ribosome-nascent chain complexes (RNCs) bearing D1 nascent chains. Stalled RNCs translating the soluble ribosomal subunit uS2c were used for comparison. Quantitative tandem-mass spectrometry of the purified RNCs identified around 140 proteins specifically associated with D1 RNCs, mainly involved in protein and cofactor biogenesis, including chlorophyll biosynthesis, and other metabolic pathways. Functional analysis of STIC2, a newly identified D1 RNC interactor, revealed its cooperation with chloroplast protein SRP54 in the de novo biogenesis and repair of D1, and potentially other cotranslationally-targeted reaction center subunits of PSII and PSI. The primary binding interface between STIC2 and the thylakoid insertase Alb3 and its homolog Alb4 was mapped to STIC2's ß-sheet region, and the conserved Motif III in the C-terminal regions of Alb3/4.

Chromoplast differentiation in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruits.

We report here a detailed analysis of the proteome adjustments that accompany chromoplast differentiation from chloroplasts during bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) fruit ripening. While the two photosystems are disassembled and their constituents degraded, the cytochrome b6 f complex, the ATPase complex, and Calvin cycle enzymes are maintained at high levels up to fully mature chromoplasts. This is also true for ferredoxin (Fd) and Fd-dependent NADP reductase, suggesting that ferredoxin retains a central role in the chromoplasts' redox metabolism. There is a significant increase in the amount of enzymes of the typical metabolism of heterotrophic plastids, such as the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) and amino acid and fatty acid biosynthesis. Enzymes of chlorophyll catabolism and carotenoid biosynthesis increase in abundance, supporting the pigment reorganization that goes together with chromoplast differentiation. The majority of plastid encoded proteins decline but constituents of the plastid ribosome and AccD increase in abundance. Furthermore, the amount of plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX) remains unchanged despite a significant increase in phytoene desaturase (PDS) levels, suggesting that the electrons from phytoene desaturation are consumed by another oxidase. This may be a particularity of non-climacteric fruits such as bell pepper that lack a respiratory burst at the onset of fruit ripening.

Working day and night: plastid casein kinase 2 catalyses phosphorylation of proteins with diverse functions in light- and dark-adapted plastids.

Casein kinase 2 is a ubiquitous protein kinase that has puzzled researchers for several decades because of its pleiotropic activity. Here, we set out to identify the in vivo targets of plastid casein kinase 2 (pCK2) in Arabidopsis thaliana. Survey phosphoproteome analyses were combined with targeted analyses with wild-type and pck2 knockdown mutants to identify potential pCK2 targets by their decreased phosphorylation state in the mutant. To validate potential substrates, we complemented the pck2 knockdown line with tandem affinity tag (TAP)-tagged pCK2 and found it to restore growth parameters, as well as many, but not all, putative pCK2-dependent phosphorylation events. We further performed a targeted analysis at the end-of-night to increase the specificity of target protein identification. This analysis confirmed light-independent phosphorylation of several pCK2 target proteins. Based on the aforementioned data, we define a set of in vivo pCK2-targets that span different chloroplast functions, such as metabolism, transcription, translation and photosynthesis. The pleiotropy of pCK2 functions is also manifested by altered state transition kinetics during short-term acclimation and significant alterations in the mutant metabolism, supporting its function in photosynthetic regulation. Thus, our data expand our understanding on chloroplast phosphorylation networks and provide insights into kinase networks in the regulation of chloroplast functions.

Identification of STN7/STN8 kinase targets reveals connections between electron transport, metabolism and gene expression.

The thylakoid-associated kinases STN7 and STN8 are involved in short- and long-term acclimation of photosynthetic electron transport to changing light conditions. Here we report the identification of STN7/STN8 in vivo targets that connect photosynthetic electron transport with metabolism and gene expression. Comparative phosphoproteomics with the stn7 and stn8 single and double mutants identified two proteases, one RNA-binding protein, a ribosomal protein, the large subunit of Rubisco and a ferredoxin-NADP reductase as targets for the thylakoid-associated kinases. Phosphorylation of three of the above proteins can be partially complemented by STN8 in the stn7 single mutant, albeit at lower efficiency, while phosphorylation of the remaining three proteins strictly depends on STN7. The properties of the STN7-dependent phosphorylation site are similar to those of phosphorylated light-harvesting complex proteins entailing glycine or another small hydrophobic amino acid in the -1 position. Our analysis uncovers the STN7/STN8 kinases as mediators between photosynthetic electron transport, its immediate downstream sinks and long-term adaptation processes affecting metabolite accumulation and gene expression.

Identification and characterization of chloroplast casein kinase II from Oryza sativa (rice).

Plastid casein kinase II is an important regulator of transcription, posttranscriptional processes, and, most likely, different metabolic functions in dicotyledonous species. Here we report the identification and characterization of pCKII from the monocotyledonous species Oryza sativa. OspCKII activity was enriched from isolated rice chloroplasts using heparin-Sepharose chromatography, in which it co-elutes with the transcriptionally active chromosome (TAC) and several ribosomal proteins. Inclusion mass scanning of the kinase-active fraction identified the gene model for OspCKII. Transient expression of GFP fused to the 184 N-terminal amino acids of the OspCKII sequence in rice confirmed the chloroplastic localization of the kinase. OspCKII activity shows the characteristic features of casein kinase II, such as the utilization of GTP as phosphate donor, inhibition by low concentrations of heparin and poly-lysine, and utilization of the canonical pCKII motif E-S-E-G-E in the model substrate RNP29. Phosphoproteome analysis of a protein extract from rice leaves combined with a meta-analysis with published phosphoproteomics data revealed differences in the target protein spectrum between rice and Arabidopsis. Consistently, several pCKII phosphorylation sites in dicotyledonous plants are not conserved in monocots and algae, suggesting that details of pCKII regulation in plastids have changed during evolution.

Common and specific protein accumulation patterns in different albino/pale-green mutants reveals regulon organization at the proteome level.

Research interest in proteomics is increasingly shifting toward the reverse genetic characterization of gene function at the proteome level. In plants, several distinct gene defects perturb photosynthetic capacity, resulting in the loss of chlorophyll and an albino or pale-green phenotype. Because photosynthesis is interconnected with the entire plant metabolism and its regulation, all albino plants share common characteristics that are determined by the switch from autotrophic to heterotrophic growth. Reverse genetic characterizations of such plants often cannot distinguish between specific consequences of a gene defect from generic effects in response to perturbations in photosynthetic capacity. Here, we set out to define common and specific features of protein accumulation in three different albino/pale-green plant lines. Using quantitative proteomics, we report a common molecular phenotype that connects the loss of photosynthetic capacity with other chloroplast and cellular functions, such as protein folding and stability, plastid protein import, and the expression of stress-related genes. Surprisingly, we do not find significant differences in the expression of key transcriptional regulators, suggesting that substantial regulation occurs at the posttranscriptional level. We examine the influence of different normalization schemes on the quantitative proteomics data and report all identified proteins along with their fold changes and P values in albino plants in comparison with the wild type. Our analysis provides initial guidance for the distinction between general and specific adaptations of the proteome in photosynthesis-impaired plants.

Identification of four plastid-localized protein kinases.

In chloroplasts, protein phosphorylation regulates important processes, including metabolism, photosynthesis, gene expression, and signaling. Because the hitherto known plastid protein kinases represent only a fraction of existing kinases, we aimed at the identification of novel plastid-localized protein kinases that potentially phosphorylate enzymes of the tetrapyrrole biosynthesis (TBS) pathway. We screened publicly available databases for proteins annotated as putative protein kinase family proteins with predicted chloroplast localization. Additionally, we analyzed chloroplast fractions which were separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation by mass spectrometry. We identified four new candidates for protein kinases, which were confirmed to be plastid localized by expression of GFP-fusion proteins in tobacco leaves. A phosphorylation assay with the purified kinases confirmed the protein kinase activity for two of them.

DNA-binding proteins of the Whirly family in Arabidopsis thaliana are targeted to the organelles.

Arabidopsis thaliana contains three genes with high homology to potato p24 which was described as a member of the Whirly family of nuclear transcriptional activators. Computer-based analysis revealed that all Arabidopsis Whirly (Why) proteins contain targeting sequences for either plastids or mitochondria. The functionality of these sequences was demonstrated by in vitro import assays into isolated organelles. Transient expression of GFP fusion proteins in protoplasts and onion epidermal cells confirmed the localisation of these proteins in plastids or mitochondria, respectively. The possession of organellar targeting sequences seems to be conserved among Why proteins of higher plant species, including potato p24.

Arabidopsis proteomics: a simple and standardizable workflow for quantitative proteome characterization.

Arabidopsis is the model plant of choice for large-scale proteome analyses, because its genome is well annotated, essentially free of sequencing errors, and relatively small with little redundancy. Furthermore, most Arabidopsis organs are susceptible to standard protein solubilization protocols making protein extraction relatively simple. Many different facets of functional plant proteomics were established with Arabidopsis such as mapping the subcellular proteomes of organelles, proteo-genomic peptide mapping, and numerous studies on the dynamic changes in protein modification and protein abundances. As most standard proteomics technologies are now routinely applied, research interest is increasingly shifting towards the reverse genetic characterization of gene function at the proteome level, i.e., by profiling the quantitative proteome of wild type in comparison with mutant plant tissue. We report here a simple, standardizable protocol for the large-scale comparative quantitative proteome characterization of different Arabidopsis organs based on normalized spectral counting and suggest a statistical framework for data interpretation. Based on existing organellar proteome maps, proteins can be assigned to organelles, thus allowing the identification of organelle-specific responses.

The RNA-binding protein RNP29 is an unusual Toc159 transport substrate.

The precursors of RNP29 and Ferredoxin (Fd2) were previously identified in the cytosol of ppi2 plant cells with their N-terminal amino acid acetylated. Here, we explore whether precursor accumulation in ppi2 is characteristic for Toc159 client proteins, by characterizing the import properties of the RNP29 precursor in comparison to Fd2 and other Toc159-dependent or independent substrates. We find specific accumulation of the RNP29 precursor in ppi2 but not in wild type or ppi1 protoplasts. With the exception of Lhcb4, precursor accumulation is also detected with all other tested constructs in ppi2. However, RNP29 is clearly different from the other proteins because only precursor but almost no mature protein is detectable in protoplast extracts. Co-transformation of RNP29 with Toc159 complements its plastid import, supporting the hypothesis that RNP29 is a Toc159-dependent substrate. Exchange of the second amino acid in the RNP29 transit peptide to Glu or Asn prevents methionine excision but not N-terminal acetylation, suggesting that different N-acetyltransferases may act on chloroplast precursor proteins in vivo. All different RNP29 constructs are efficiently imported into wild type but not into ppi2 plastids, arguing for a minor impact of the N-terminal amino acid on the import process.

Protein identification and quantification by data-independent acquisition and multi-parallel collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry (MS(E)) in the chloroplast stroma proteome.

We report here a systematic evaluation of a multiplex mass spectrometry method coupled with ion mobility separation (HD-MS(E)) for the identification and quantification of proteins in the chloroplast stroma. We show that this method allows the robust quantification of reference proteins in mixtures, and it detects concentration differences with high sensitivity when three replicas are performed. Applied to the analysis of the chloroplast stroma proteome, HD-MS(E) identified and quantified many chloroplast proteins that were not previously identified in large-scale proteome analyses, suggesting HD-MS(E) as a suitable complementary tool for discovery proteomics. We find that HD-MS(E) tends to underestimate protein abundances at concentrations above 25fmol, which is likely due to ion transmission loss and detector saturation. This limitation can be circumvented by omitting the ion mobility separation step in the HD-MS(E) workflow. The robustness of protein quantification is influenced by the selection of peptides and their intensity distribution, therefore critical scrutiny of quantification results is required. Based on the HD-MS(E) quantification of chloroplast stroma proteins we performed a meta-analysis and compared published quantitative data with our results, using a parts per million normalization scheme. Important pathways in the chloroplast stroma show quantitative stability against different experimental conditions and quantification strategies. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Our analysis establishes MS(E)-based Hi3 quantification as a tool for the absolute quantification of proteins in the chloroplast stroma. The meta-analysis performed with a parts per million normalization scheme shows that quantitative proteomics data acquired in different labs and with different quantification strategies yield comparable results for some metabolic pathways, while others show a higher variability. Our data therefore indicate that such meta-analyses allow distinguishing robust from fine-controlled metabolic pathways.

Dual targeting of a mitochondrial protein: the case study of cytochrome c1.

As a result of the endosymbiotic gene transfer, the majority of proteins of mitochondria and chloroplasts is encoded in the nucleus and synthesized in the cytosol as precursor molecules carrying N-terminal transit peptides for the transport into the respective target organelle. In most instances, transport takes place into either mitochondria or chloroplasts, although a few examples of dual targeting into both organelles have been described. Here, we show by a combination of three different experimental strategies that also cytochrome c(1) of potato, a component of the respiratory electron transport chain, is imported not only into mitochondria, but also into plastids. In organello import experiments with isolated mitochondria and chloroplasts, which were analyzed in both single and mixed organelle assays, demonstrate that the processing products accumulating after import within the two endosymbiotic organelles are different in size. Dual targeting of cytochrome c(1) is observed also in vivo, after biolistic transformation of leaf epidermal cells with suitable reporter constructions. Finally, Western analyses employing cytochrome c(1)-specific antiserum provide evidence that the protein accumulates in significant amounts in mitochondria and chloroplasts of both pea and spinach. The possible consequences of our findings on the relevance of the dual targeting phenomenon are discussed.

Simultaneous isolation of intact mitochondria and chloroplasts from a single pulping of plant tissue.

Isolated organelles are suitable tools for the investigation of organelle function. However, if the properties of different organelles are to be compared, analysis is generally impeded by the fact that the organelles are isolated independently from each other from different specimens, different tissues or even different plants, i.e. the organelles have been exposed to different conditions during growth and development. Here we describe a method to isolate intact chloroplasts and mitochondria simultaneously from a single pulping of pea leaves, which results in organelles with an essentially identical physiological background. The functionality of the isolated chloroplasts and mitochondria is demonstrated by protein transport experiments, which yield results identical to those obtained with independently isolated organelles. With slight modifications, the method is also successfully applied to organelles from potato and spinach, which implies that it may be generally applicable to organelles from many different species.