Chemical Mechanism of Allosteric and Asymmetric Dark Reversion in a Bacterial Phytochrome Uncovered by Cryo-EM.

ABSTRACT: Phytochromes are light-sensitive proteins that are found in plants, fungi, and bacteria. They exist in two functional states, Pr and Pfr, distinguished by Z/E isomers of their bilin chromophore. The chromophore can photoswitch between these states but also thermally converts in darkness. Despite the importance of the latter reaction, it is unknown how it is controlled by the phytochrome's structure. Here, we present single-particle cryo-EM measurements on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophytochrome (PaBphP) carried out at multiple time points during dark reversion from Pr to Pfr. These experiments resolved the structure of a PrPfr hybrid state as a transient intermediate. Surprisingly, we find that only protomer B converts back to Pfr in the hybrid, while protomer A

SUBMITTER: Bodizs S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12714102 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature