Structure of the multi-subunit chloroplast RNA polymerase
- authored by
- Paula F V do Prado, Frederik M Ahrens, Monique Liebers, Noah Ditz, Hans-Peter Braun, Thomas Pfannschmidt, Hauke Hillen
- Abstract
Chloroplasts contain a dedicated genome that encodes subunits of the photosynthesis machinery. Transcription of photosynthesis genes is predominantly carried out by a plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP), a nearly 1 MDa complex composed of core subunits with homology to eubacterial RNA polymerases (RNAPs) and at least 12 additional chloroplast-specific PEP-associated proteins (PAPs). However, the architecture of this complex and the functions of the PAPs remain unknown. Here, we report the cryo-EM structure of a 19-subunit PEP complex from Sinapis alba (white mustard). The structure reveals that the PEP core resembles prokaryotic and nuclear RNAPs but contains chloroplast-specific features that mediate interactions with the PAPs. The PAPs are unrelated to known transcription factors and arrange around the core in a unique fashion. Their structures suggest potential functions during transcription in the chemical environment of chloroplasts. These results reveal structural insights into chloroplast transcription and provide a framework for understanding photosynthesis gene expression.
- Organisation(s)
-
Institute of Botany
Section Plant Physiology
Institute of Plant Genetics
Section Plant Molecular Biology and Plant Proteomics
- External Organisation(s)
-
University of Göttingen
Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (UMG)
- Type
- Article
- Journal
- Molecular cell
- Volume
- 84
- Pages
- 910-925.e5
- ISSN
- 1097-2765
- Publication date
- 07.03.2024
- Publication status
- Published
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology
- Electronic version(s)
-
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2024.02.003 (Access:
Open)