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Oxygenic photosynthesis without galactolipids.

Koichiro Awai1, Hiroyuki Ohta2, Naoki Sato3

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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|September 9, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Researchers identified the mgdE gene, crucial for synthesizing monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) in cyanobacteria. This discovery challenges the necessity of galactolipids for oxygenic photosynthesis.

Keywords:
NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductasechromatophorecluster analysisendosymbiosisevolution of photosynthesis

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Area of Science:

  • Photosynthesis research
  • Molecular biology
  • Plant biochemistry

Background:

  • Thylakoid membranes in oxygenic photosynthesis are primarily composed of galactolipids: monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG).
  • In cyanobacteria, MGDG synthesis involves monoglucosyldiacylglycerol (GlcDG) as a precursor, but the specific enzyme responsible for its epimerization to MGDG remained unidentified.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the gene encoding the glucolipid epimerase responsible for converting GlcDG to MGDG in cyanobacteria.
  • To investigate the role of MGDG and DGDG in thylakoid membrane structure and photosynthetic function.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomic analysis was employed to identify the candidate gene, designated mgdE.
  • Gene knockout mutants (mgdE) were created in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to study the physiological consequences.

Main Results:

  • The identified mgdE gene knockout mutants were deficient in both MGDG and DGDG, accumulating GlcDG.
  • Despite the absence of galactolipids, mutants retained thylakoid membranes and exhibited normal maximal photosynthetic activity.
  • A reduction in light energy utilization efficiency was observed in the knockout mutants.

Conclusions:

  • The study successfully identified the mgdE gene, the glucolipid epimerase involved in MGDG synthesis.
  • The findings challenge the established view that galactolipids are indispensable for oxygenic photosynthesis.
  • Oxygenic photosynthesis can proceed, albeit with altered efficiency, in the absence of MGDG and DGDG.