Biology subjects

Paik, I.

Publications and source records attributed to Paik, I..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2021

Multi-modal engineering of Bst DNA polymerase for thermostability in ultra-fast LAMP reactions

DNA polymerase from Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Bst DNA polymerase (Bst DNAP), is a versatile enzyme with robust strand-displacing activity that enables loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Despite its exclusive usage in LAMP assay, its properties remain open to improvement. Here, we describe logical redesign of Bst DNAP by using multimodal application of several independent and orthogonal rational engineering methods such as domain addition, supercharging, and machine learning predictions of amino acid substitutions. The resulting Br512g3 enzyme is not only thermostable and extremely robust but it also displays improved reverse transcription activity and the ability to carry out ultrafast LAMP at 74 {degrees}C. Our study illustrates a new enzyme engineering strategy as well as contributes a novel engineered strand displacing DNA polymerase of high value to diagnostics and other fields.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2020

Direct phosphorylation of HY5 by SPA1 kinase to regulate photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis

ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) is a key transcription factor which promotes photomorphogenesis by regulating complex downstream growth programs. Previous studies suggest that the regulation of HY5 mainly depends on the CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1) - SUPPRESSOR OF PHYTOCHROME A-105 (SPA) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex, which degrades positively acting transcription factors of light signaling to repress photomorphogenesis in the dark. SPA proteins function not only as a component of the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex but also as a kinase of PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR1 (PIF1) through its N-terminal kinase domain. Here, we show that HY5 is a new substrate of SPA1 kinase. SPA1 can directly phosphorylate HY5 in vitro and in vivo. We also demonstrate that unphosphorylated HY5 strongly interacts with both COP1 and SPA1 than phosphorylated HY5, is the preferred substrate for degradation, whereas phosphorylated HY5 is more stable in the dark. In addition, unphosphorylated HY5 actively binds to the target promoters, and is physiologically more active form. Consistently, the transgenic plants expressing unphosphorylated mutant of HY5 displays enhanced photomorphogenesis. Collectively, our study revealed that SPA1 fine-tunes the stability and the activity of HY5 to regulate photomorphogenesis.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Genomic evidence reveals SPA-regulated developmental and metabolic pathways in dark-grown Arabidopsis seedlings

Photomorphogenesis is repressed in the dark mainly by an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex comprising CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1) and four homologous proteins called SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA-105 (SPA1-SPA4) in Arabidopsis. This complex induces the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of positively acting transcription factors (e.g., HY5, HFR1, PAP1 and others) in the dark to repress photomorphogenesis. Genomic evidence showed a large number of genes regulated by COP1 in the dark, of which many are direct targets of HY5. However, the genomic basis for the constitute photomorphogenic phenotype of spaQ remains unknown. Here, we show that >7200 genes are differentially expressed in the spaQ background compared to wild-type in the dark. Comparison of the RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) data between cop1 and spaQ revealed a large overlapping set of genes regulated by the COP1-SPA complex. In addition, many of the genes coordinately regulated by the COP1-SPA complex are also regulated by HY5 directly and indirectly. Taken together, our data reveal that SPA proteins repress photomorphogenesis by controlling gene expression in concert with COP1, likely through regulating the abundance of downstream transcription factors in light signaling pathways. Moreover, SPA proteins may function both in a COP1-dependent and -independent manner in regulating many biological processes and developmental pathways in Arabidopsis. Summary statementComparison of transcriptome analyses between cop1 and spaQ mutants reveal overlapping pathways regulated by COP1 and SPAs.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

SPAs promote thermomorphogenesis via regulating the phyB-PIF4 module in Arabidopsis

High ambient temperature due to global warming has a profound influence on plant growth and development at all stages of life cycle. Plant response to high ambient temperature termed thermomorphogenesis is characterized by hypocotyl and petiole elongation, and hyponastic growth at seedling stage. However, the molecular mechanism of thermomorphogenesis is still rudimentary. Here, we show that a set of four SUPPRESSOR OF PHYA-105 (SPA) genes are required for thermomorphogenesis. Consistently, SPAs are necessary for global gene expression changes in response to high ambient temperature. SPA1 level is unaffected, while the thermosensor phyB is stabilized in the spaQ mutant at high ambient temperature. Furthermore, in the absence of four SPA genes, the pivotal transcription factor PIF4 fails to accumulate, indicating a role of SPAs in regulating the phyB-PIF4 module at high ambient temperature. SPA1 directly phosphorylates PIF4 in vitro, and a mutant SPA1 affecting the kinase activity fails to rescue the PIF4 level as well as the thermo-insensitive phenotype of spaQ, suggesting that the SPA1 kinase activity is necessary for thermomorphogenesis. Taken together, these data suggest that SPAs integrate light and temperature signaling via fine tuning the phyB-PIF4 module.

plant biology↗