High-resolution cryo-EM structures of plant cytochrome b6fb_{6}f at work

Plants use solar energy to power cellular metabolism. The oxidation of plastoquinol and reduction of plastocyanin by cytochrome $b_{6}f$ (Cyt $b_{6}f$) is known as one of the key steps of photosynthesis, but the catalytic mechanism in the plastoquinone oxidation site ($Q_{p}$) remains elusive. Here, we describe two high-resolution cryo-EM structures of the spinach Cyt $b_{6}f$ homodimer with endogenous plastoquinones and in complex with plastocyanin. Three plastoquinones are visible and line up one after another head to tail near $Q_{p}$ in both monomers, indicating the existence of a channel in each monomer. Therefore, quinones appear to flow through Cyt $b_{6}f$ in one direction, transiently exposing the redox-active ring of quinone during catalysis. Our work proposes an unprecedented one-way traffic model that explains efficient quinol oxidation during photosynthesis and respiration. Structures of cytochrome $b_{6}f$ with and without plastocyanin imply a one-way traffic of quinones for efficient photosynthesis

Ncs2* mediates in vivo virulence of pathogenic yeast through sulphur modification of cytoplasmic transfer RNA.

Fungal pathogens threaten ecosystems and human health. Understanding the molecular basis of their virulence is key to develop new treatment strategies. Here, we characterize NCS2*, a point mutation identified in a clinical baker's yeast isolate. Ncs2 is essential for 2-thiolation of tRNA and the NCS2* mutation leads to increased thiolation at body temperature. NCS2* yeast exhibits enhanced fitness when grown at elevated temperatures or when exposed to oxidative stress, inhibition of nutrient signalling, and cell-wall stress. Importantly, Ncs2* alters the interaction and stability of the thiolase complex likely mediated by nucleotide binding. The absence of 2-thiolation abrogates the in vivo virulence of pathogenic baker's yeast in infected mice. Finally, hypomodification triggers changes in colony morphology and hyphae formation in the common commensal pathogen Candida albicans resulting in decreased virulence in a human cell culture model. These findings demonstrate that 2-thiolation of tRNA acts as a key mediator of fungal virulence and reveal new mechanistic insights into the function of the highly conserved tRNA-thiolase complex

The combination of X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy provides insight into the overall architecture of the dodecameric Rvb1/Rvb2 complex

The Rvb1/Rvb2 complex is an essential component of many cellular pathways. The Rvb1/Rvb2 complex forms a dodecameric assembly where six copies of each subunit form two heterohexameric rings. However, due to conformational variability, the way the two rings pack together is still not fully understood. Here, we present the crystal structure and two cryo-electron microscopy reconstructions of the dodecameric, full-length Rvb1/Rvb2 complex, all showing that the interaction between the two heterohexameric rings is mediated through the Rvb1/Rvb2-specific domain II. Two conformations of the Rvb1/Rvb2 dodecamer are present in solution: a stretched conformation also present in the crystal, and a compact conformation. Novel asymmetric features observed in the reconstruction of the compact conformation provide additional insight into the plasticity of the Rvb1/Rvb2 complex

E2/E3-independent ubiquitin-like protein conjugation by Urm1 is directly coupled to cysteine persulfidation.

Post-translational modifications by ubiquitin-like proteins (UBLs) are essential for nearly all cellular processes. Ubiquitin-related modifier 1 (Urm1) is a unique UBL, which plays a key role in tRNA anticodon thiolation as a sulfur carrier protein (SCP) and is linked to the noncanonical E1 enzyme Uba4 (ubiquitin-like protein activator 4). While Urm1 has also been observed to conjugate to target proteins like other UBLs, the molecular mechanism of its attachment remains unknown. Here, we reconstitute the covalent attachment of thiocarboxylated Urm1 to various cellular target proteins in vitro, revealing that, unlike other known UBLs, this process is E2/E3-independent and requires oxidative stress. Furthermore, we present the crystal structures of the peroxiredoxin Ahp1 before and after the covalent attachment of Urm1. Surprisingly, we show that urmylation is accompanied by the transfer of sulfur to cysteine residues in the target proteins, also known as cysteine persulfidation. Our results illustrate the role of the Uba4-Urm1 system as a key evolutionary link between prokaryotic SCPs and the UBL modifications observed in modern eukaryotes

Molecular basis of tRNA recognition by the Elongator complex

The highly conserved Elongator complex modifies transfer RNAs (tRNAs) in their wobble base position, thereby regulating protein synthesis and ensuring proteome stability. The precise mechanisms of tRNA recognition and its modification reaction remain elusive. Here, we show cryo–electron microscopy structures of the catalytic subcomplex of Elongator and its tRNA-bound state at resolutions of 3.3 and 4.4 Å. The structures resolve details of the catalytic site, including the substrate tRNA, the iron-sulfur cluster, and a SAM molecule, which are all validated by mutational analyses in vitro and in vivo. tRNA binding induces conformational rearrangements, which precisely position the targeted anticodon base in the active site. Our results provide the molecular basis for substrate recognition of Elongator, essential to understand its cellular function and role in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer