Nitrogenase-like light-independent protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (DPOR) is involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis. Bacteriochlorophyll formation additionally requires the structurally related chlorophyllide oxidoreductase (COR). During catalysis, homodimeric subunit BchL2 or ChlL2 of DPOR transfers electrons to the corresponding heterotetrameric catalytic subunit, (BchNB)2 or (ChlNB)2. Analogously, subunit BchX2 of the COR enzymes delivers electrons to subunit (BchYZ)2. Various chimeric DPOR enzymes formed between recombinant subunits (BchNB)2 and BchL2 from Chlorobaculum tepidum or (ChlNB)2 and ChlL2 from Prochlorococcus marinus and Thermosynechococcus elongatus were found to be enzymatically active, indicating a conserved docking surface for the interaction of both DPOR protein subunits. Biotin label transfer experiments revealed the interaction of P. marinus ChlL2 with both subunits, ChlN and ChlB, of the (ChlNB)2 tetramer. Based on these findings and on structural information from the homologous nitrogenase system, a site-directed mutagenesis approach yielded 10 DPOR mutants for the characterization of amino acid residues involved in protein-protein interaction. Surface-exposed residues Tyr127 of subunit ChlL, Leu70 and Val107 of subunit ChlN, and Gly66 of subunit ChlB were found essential for P. marinus DPOR activity. Next, the BchL2 or ChlL2 part of DPOR was exchanged with electron-transferring BchX2 subunits of COR and NifH2 of nitrogenase. Active chimeric DPOR was generated via a combination of BchX2 from C. tepidum or Roseobacter denitrificans with (BchNB)2 from C. tepidum. No DPOR activity was observed for the chimeric enzyme consisting of NifH2 from Azotobacter vinelandii in combination with (BchNB)2 from C. tepidum or (ChlNB)2 from P. marinus and T. elongatus, respectively.
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