Photooxidative stress-inducible orange and pink water-soluble astaxanthin-binding proteins in eukaryotic microalga

Commun Biol. 2020 Sep 7;3(1):490. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01206-7.

Abstract

Lipid astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant known as a natural sunscreen, accumulates in eukaryotic microalgae and confers photoprotection. We previously identified a photooxidative stress-inducible water-soluble astaxanthin-binding carotenoprotein (AstaP) in a eukaryotic microalga (Coelastrella astaxanthina Ki-4) isolated from an extreme environment. The distribution in eukaryotic microalgae remains unknown. Here we identified three novel AstaP orthologs in a eukaryotic microalga, Scenedesmus sp. Oki-4N. The purified proteins, named AstaP-orange2, AstaP-pink1, and AstaP-pink2, were identified as secreted fasciclin proteins with potent 1O2 quenching activity in aqueous solution, which are characteristics shared with Ki-4 AstaP. Nonetheless, the absence of glycosylation in the AstaP-pinks, the presence of a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor motif in AstaP-orange2, and highly acidic isoelectric points (pI = 3.6-4.7), differed significantly from that of AstaP-orange1 (pI = 10.5). These results provide unique examples on the use of water-soluble forms of astaxanthin in photosynthetic organisms as novel strategies for protecting single cells against severe photooxidative stresses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algal Proteins / chemistry
  • Algal Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Algal Proteins / metabolism*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • Color
  • Free Radical Scavengers / metabolism
  • Light*
  • Microalgae / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress / radiation effects*
  • Scenedesmus / metabolism
  • Singlet Oxygen / metabolism
  • Solubility
  • Solutions
  • Water / chemistry*
  • Xanthophylls / metabolism

Substances

  • Algal Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Solutions
  • Xanthophylls
  • Water
  • Singlet Oxygen
  • astaxanthine