The translocon protein FtsHi1 is an ATP-dependent DNA/RNA helicase that prevents R-loop accumulation in chloroplasts

center dot R-loops, three-stranded nucleic acid structures consisting of a DNA: RNA hybrid and displaced single-stranded DNA, play critical roles in gene expression and genome stability. How R-loop homeostasis is integrated into chloroplast gene expression remains largely unknown.center dot We found an unexpected function of FtsHi1, an inner envelope membrane-bound AAA-ATPase in chloroplast R-loop homeostasis of Arabidopsis thaliana.center dot Previously, this protein was shown to function as a component of the import motor complex for nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins. However, this study provides evidence that FtsHi1 is an ATP-dependent helicase that efficiently unwinds both DNA-DNA and DNA-RNA duplexes, thereby preventing R-loop accumulation. Over-accumulation of R-loops could impair chloroplast transcription but not necessarily genome integrity. The dual function of FtsHi1 in both protein import and chloroplast gene expression may be important to coordinate the biogenesis of nuclear- and chloroplast-encoded subunits of multi-protein photosynthetic complexes.center dot This study suggests a mechanical link between protein import and R-loop homeostasis in chloroplasts of higher plants.

Automated summary

This study reveals a previously unknown function of the inner envelope membrane-bound AAA-ATPase FtsHi1 in maintaining R-loop homeostasis in chloroplasts of Arabidopsis thaliana. It is shown that FtsHi1 acts as an ATP-dependent helicase and prevents the accumulation of R-loops by unwinding both DNA-DNA and DNA-RNA duplexes. The dual function of FtsHi1 in protein import and chloroplast gene expression suggests a mechanical link between these two processes in higher plant chloroplasts.