Purification and Characterization of a Type III Photolyase from Caulobacter crescentus †

Photolyase/cryptochrome family is a large family of flavoproteins that encompasses DNA repair proteins, photolyases; and cryptochromes that regulate blue-light dependent growth and development in plants, and light-dependent and light-independent circadian clock-setting in animals. Phylogenetic analysis has revealed a new branch of the family which co-segregates with plant cryptochromes. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a member of this family named Type III photolyase, from Caulobacter crescentus. Spectroscopic analysis shows that the enzyme contains both the methenyl-tetrahydrofolate photoantenna and the FAD catalytic cofactor. Biochemical analysis shows that it is a bona fide photolyase that repairs cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Mutation of an active site Trp to Arg disrupts FAD binding with no measurable effect on MTHF binding. Using enzyme preparations that contain either or both chromophores we were able to determine the efficiency and rate of energy transfer from MTHF to FAD. Photolyase/cryptochrome family is a large family of flavoproteins that encompasses DNA repair proteins, photolyases; and cryptochromes that regulate blue-light dependent growth and development in plants, and light-dependent and light-independent circadian clock-setting in animals. Phylogenetic analysis has revealed a new branch of the family which co-segregates with plant cryptochromes. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of a member of this family named Type III photolyase, from Caulobacter crescentus. Spectroscopic analysis shows that the enzyme contains both the methenyl-tetrahydrofolate photoantenna and the FAD catalytic cofactor. Biochemical analysis shows that it is a bona fide photolyase that repairs cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers. Mutation of an active site Trp to Arg disrupts FAD binding with no measurable effect on MTHF binding. Using enzyme preparations that contain either or both chromophores we were able to determine the efficiency and rate of energy transfer from MTHF to FAD