Role and Regulation of Starch Phosphorylase and Starch Synthase IV in Starch Biosynthesis in Maize Endosperm Amyloplasts
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Role and Regulation of Starch Phosphorylase and Starch Synthase IV in Starch Biosynthesis in Maize Endosperm Amyloplasts By Renuka M. Subasinghe A Thesis presented to The University of Guelph In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular and Cellular Biology Guelph, Ontario, Canada © Renuka M. Subasinghe, January, 2013 ABSTRACT ROLE AND REGULATION OF PLASTIDIAL STARCH PHOSPHORYLASE AND STARCH SYNTHASE IV IN STARCH BIOSYNTHESIS IN MAIZE ENDOSPERM AMYLOPLASTS Renuka M. Subasinghe Advisor: University of Guelph, 2013 Dr. Ian Tetlow Storage starch is synthesized in sub-cellular organelles called amyloplasts in higher plants. The synthesis of the starch granule is a result of the coordinated activity of several groups of starch biosynthetic enzymes. There are four major groups of these enzymes, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), starch synthases (SS), starch branching enzymes (SBE), and starch debranching enzymes (SDE). Starch phosphorylase (SP) exists as both dimeric and tetrameric forms in plastids in developing cereal endosperm and catalyses the reversible transfer of glucosyl units from glucose-1-phosphate to the non- reducing end of α-1-4 linked glucan chains, although the precise role in the pathway remains unclear. The present study was conducted to investigate the role and regulation of SP and SSIV in starch biosynthesis in developing maize endosperm. The results of this study showed that the tetrameric form of SP accounts for the majority of measurable catalytic activity, with the dimeric form being barely active and the monomer catalytically inactive. A catalytically active recombinant maize SP was heterologously expressed and used as an affinity ligand with amyloplast lysates to test protein-protein interactions in vitro. Results showed that the different multimeric status of SP influenced interactions with other enzymes of starch synthesis. Tetrameric SP interacted with SBEI and SSIIa, whilst the dimeric form of the enzyme interacted with SBEI, SBEIIb. All of these interactions were enhanced when amyloplasts were pre-treated with ATP, and broken following treatment with alkaline phosphatase (APase), indicating these interactions are regulated by protein phosphorylation. In addition, the catalytic activity of SSIV was reduced following treatment with APase, indicating a role for protein phosphorylation in the regulation of SSIV activity. Protein- protein interaction experiments also suggested a weak interaction between SSIV and SP. Multimeric forms of SP regulated by protein-protein interactions and protein phosphorylation suggested a role for SP in starch biosynthesis in maize endosperm. Acknowledgements First and foremost I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to my advisor Dr. Ian Tetlow for providing me the opportunity to conduct a PhD in his laboratory at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph and for the guidance, encouragement and expert advice given through the program. I would especially thank to Dr. Michael Emes, for his excellent guidance and contribution given in his area of expertise. I would like to thank Drs. Robert Mullen and Peter Pauls for serving as the members of my advisory committee. I gratefully acknowledge all members of the examination committee: Dr. Frederic Marsolais (External examiner), Dr. Anthony Clarke, Dr. Robert Mullen, Dr. Peter Pauls and Dr. Janet Wood. The members of the Tetlow/Emes research group have contributed immensely to my personal and professional time at University of Guelph. I am especially grateful to Dr. Fushan Liu for his valuable contribution and Amina Mahmouduva for technical support given towards my research. My sincere thanks also go to Usha, Zaheer, Nadya, Wendy, Mark, John, Lily, Ruby and all the present and pass members in the lab for their support and friendship. I gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the BioCar Initiative Project, Ontario and the University of Guelph Graduate Scholarship program. I sincerely thank to my loving mother, my husband and two daughters for their understanding, sacrifice and encouragement given in my life. iv Dedicated to my Loving Family My Husband Wasantha, My daughters Niki and Himi and my mother Karuna v Table of Contents Title Page Abstract Acknowledgements............………………………………………………….....………………..iv Dedication..............................................................................................................................v Table of Contents………..........………………………………………………………………………………..vi List of Figures ………………………………………………………………………………………………….....xiii List of Tables ………………………………………………………………............…….………………….xviii List of Abbreviations…………………………………………………………………………………........….xvv Page CHAPTER 1..........................................................................................................................1 1. General Introduction................................................................................................2 1.1 Starch Metabolism........................................................................................................2 1.1.1. Molecular structure of starch.............................................................................3 1.1.2. Starch Biosynthesis.............................................................................................7 1.1.2.1. Starch biosynthetic enzymes......................................................................8 1.1.2.1.1. ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase EC 2.7.7.27)................8 1.1.2.1.2. Starch synthase (SS, EC 2.4.1.21)..................................................13 1.1.2.1.2.1. Granule bound starch synthases (GBSS)................................16 1.1.2.1.2.2. Starch synthase I (SSI)...............................................................16 1.1.2.1.2.3. Starch synthase II (SSII)............................................................18 1.1.2.1.2.4. Starch Synthase III (SSIII…........…………......…………..…......20 1.1.2.1.2.5. Starch synthase IV (SSIV)………........…….……………….........21 vi 1.1.2.1.3. Starch branching enzyme (SBEs)......................................................25 1.1.2.1.3.1. Starch branching enzyme I (SBEI)...........................................25 1.1.2.1.3.2. Starch branching enzyme II (SBEII)........................................26 1.1.2.1.4. Starch de-branching enzyme (DBE)…………....……………............27 1.1.2.1.5. Disproportionating enzyme (D-enzyme).........................................28 1.1.2.1.6. Starch phosphorylase (SP).................................................................29 1.1.2.1.6.1. Importance of SP in starch metabolism…………..…......……..30 1.1.2.1.6.2. The isoforms of SP in higher plants………………....................30 1.1.2.1.6.3. Characterization of SP…………………………...…...…................32 1.1.2.1.6.4. Biochemical characterization of SP……….……………...…........33 1.1.2.1.6.5. SP and starch biosynthesis models...........................................40 1.1.2.1.6.6. Evidences of interaction of SP with SSIV….....…….................41 1.1.2.2. Post transitional modification of starch biosynthesis enzymes..........42 1.2. Objectives of the study…………………………………………………………….........43 CHAPTER 2: Biochemical Investigation of the Regulation of Plastidial Starch Phosphorylase in Maize Endosperm….....……....…………………………45 2.1. Introduction……..………………………………………….......………….......................46 2.2. Materials and Methods……...............………......…...………………….....…………...52 2.2.1. Materials……………………………………………………………...........................52 2.2.2. Methods..…………………………………………………………………......………..52 2.2.2.1. Amyloplast purification from maize endosperms.......…………………..52 vii 2.2.2.2. Preparation of whole cell extracts.……………………………………………………53 2.2.2.3. Localization of SP in the plastid..………...........……………………………54 2.2.2.4. Preparation of granule bound proteins…………….…......……………….54 2.2.2.5. Biochemical Characterization of SP in maize endosperm………….…55 2.2.2.5.1. Phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of amyloplast lysates..............................................................................55 2.2.2.5.2. Enzyme Assays………………………....................……………………...56 2.2.2.5.2.1. Starch phosphorylase glucan synthetic activity assay………56 2.2.2.5.2.2. Starch phosphorylase glucan degradative activity assay...56 2.2.2.5.3. Gel Filtration Chromatography (GPC)…...…………….………..........57 2.2.2.6. Protein analysis………………………………………………………………….58 2.2.2.6.1. Quantification of proteins……………………………………………......58 2.2.2.6.2. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis…...58 2.2.2.6.3. SP-Native affinity Zymogram…………………………………..............59 2.2.2.6.4. Coomassie blue staining………………………………………………….60 2.2.2.6.5. Silver staining………………………………………………………............60 2.2.2.6.6. Mobility shift detection of phosphorylated proteins (Phos-TagTM)………………………………………………………………..60 2.2.2.6.7. Immunological techniques……………………………………………….62 2.2.2.6.7.1. Preparation of Peptides and Antisera…………………………...62 2.2.2.6.7.2. Antibody Purification………………………………………………...63 2.2.2.6.7.3. Immunoblot analysis………………………………………………...64 2.2.2.6.7.4. Immunoprecipitation……………………………………….………….......64 viii 2.3 Results…………………………………………………………………………………………………............66 2.3.1. Subcellular localization of SP in maize endosperm.....................................66 2.3.2. The synthetic activity of SP in developing maize endosperm..................69 2.3.3. Investigating the regulation of SP by protein phosphorylation................71