More than just genetic code

Date:
September 8, 2020
Source:
University of Freiburg
Summary:
Researchers discover how messenger RNAs transport information to
where photosynthesis takes place.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
In photosynthesis, solar energy is converted into chemical energy,
which is then used in nature to produce organic molecules from
carbon dioxide. In plants, algae and cyanobacteria, the key
photosynthesis reactions take place in two complex structures known
as photosystems. These are located in a special membrane system, the thylakoids. However, many details of their molecular structure and the way
the proteins are incorporated into the membranes have yet to be explored.


==========================================================================
A team led by Professor Conrad Mullineaux from the Institute of Biology
and Chemistry at Queen Mary University London, UK, Professor Annegret
Wilde and Professor Wolfgang Hess from the Institute of Biology III
at the University of Freiburg and Professor Satoru Watanabe from the
Institute of Biosciences at the Agricultural University of Tokyo, Japan,
has published a study in the current issue of Nature Plants: The mRNAs
are transported to the thylakoid membranes and the respective proteins
are produced there on the spot.

The researchers used molecular genetic, bioinformatics and
high-resolution microscopic approaches at the single cell level for
their investigations. The results confirm that mRNA molecules encode
much more than just the sequence of the protein. They also carry signals
that appear to control the position and coordination of the photosystem structure. The team was able to identify two proteins likely to be
involved in this process by interacting with these mRNAs.

The researchers say this opens the way to a detailed understanding of
the molecular mechanisms involved and provides new approaches to make
these processes useful for photobiotechnology.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Freiburg. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Moontaha Mahbub, Luisa Hemm, Yuxiao Yang, Ramanpreet Kaur,
Helder Carmen,
Christoph Engl, Tuomas Huokko, Matthias Riediger, Satoru
Watanabe, Lu- Ning Liu, Annegret Wilde, Wolfgang R. Hess, Conrad
W. Mullineaux. mRNA localization, reaction centre biogenesis and
thylakoid membrane targeting in cyanobacteria. Nature Plants,
2020; DOI: 10.1038/s41477-020-00764-2 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200908122457.htm

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