Molecular mechanism of negative cooperativity of ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase by ferredoxin and NADP(H): involvement of a salt bridge between Asp60 of ferredoxin and Lys33 of FNR

Ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase (FNR) in plants receives electrons from ferredoxin (Fd) and converts NADP(+) to NADPH at the end of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain. We previously showed that the interaction between FNR and Fd was weakened by the allosteric binding of NADP(H) on FNR, which was considered as a part of negative cooperativity. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon using maize FNR and Fd, as the three-dimensional structure of this Fd:FNR complex is available. NMR chemical shift perturbation analysis identified a site (Asp60) on Fd molecule which was selectively affected by NADP(H) binding on FNR. Asp60 of Fd forms a salt bridge with Lys33 of FNR in the complex. Site-specific mutants of FdD60 and FNRK33 suppressed the negative cooperativity (downregulation of the interaction between FNR and Fd by NADPH), indicating that a salt bridge between FdD60 and FNRK33 is involved in this negative cooperativity.

Automated summary

This study investigated the molecular mechanism of negative cooperativity between FNR and Fd in plants, caused by the allosteric binding of NADP(H) on FNR. It identified a salt bridge between Asp60 of Fd and Lys33 of FNR as crucial for this negative cooperativity. Site-specific mutants of FdD60 and FNRK33 confirmed the involvement of this salt bridge in downregulating the interaction between FNR and Fd by NADPH.