Understanding signaling in photoreceptors involved in the regulation of bacterial photosynthesis genes using serial crystallography and time-resolved spectroscopy.

Project Information

DynAppACry

Grant agreement ID: 893817

DOI

10.3030/893817

Project closed

EC signature date 28 April 2020

Start date 1 September 2020

End date 18 October 2022

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 184 707,84

EU contribution

€ 184 707,84

Coordinated by

COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DynAppACry (Understanding signaling in photoreceptors involved in the regulation of bacterial photosynthesis genes using serial crystallography and time-resolved spectroscopy.)

Reporting period: 2020-09-01 to 2022-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Living systems are fundamentally dependent on the ability of proteins to respond to external stimuli. This response is characterized by time dependent changes in structure that occur on multiple time scales, from subpicosecond to seconds. These signal-transduction events are far from being fully understood in all photoreceptor classes. The aim of the project is to measure the real-time structural evolution during photoreceptor-mediated signal transduction, a fundamental cellular process that enables diverse organisms to adapt to changing environmental light conditions and regulate important processes including vision, circadian rhythms and photomovement. Using state-of-the-art time-resolved structural biology techniques, we have monitored the dynamic behaviour of a blue-light photoreceptor. The acquired knowledge may help in the engineering of photoreceptors that will enhance the optogenetics toolbox. It should be mentioned that optogenetics have a great potential in contributing to improved treatments for many diseases (e.g. Alzheimer, Parkinson’s, stroke) and therefore research in that direction may have in the long term a great impact in the society.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

We have applied state-of-the-art techniques like time-resolved solution X-ray scattering and time-resolved serial synchrotron crystallography as well as serial femtosecond crystallography and macromolecular crystallography to study the signal transduction pathway in a blue-light photoreceptor. Structural changes upon blue-light illumination of the photoreceptor have been observed both in solution and in crystallo. Part of the findings has been presented in the Biophysical Society meeting (2022) and in the Regional Biophysics Conference (2022). The work will be further disseminated in high-impact Journals and conferences (in 2023).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The current findings extend our understanding on the signal transduction pathway on blue-light photoreceptors and pave the way for the engineering of photoreceptors that will enrich the pool of photoreceptors that could be used for optogenetic applications. They also put forward the positive impact that the advent of powerful X-ray sources is able to bring in our lives as they give us new ways to understand fundamental biological processes (e.g. new ways to scan for potential drugs or understand important biological processes related to health).

Crystals of the blue-light photoreceptor