Identification of a phosphorylation site in cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer photolyase of rice

Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) photolyase monomerises ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced CPDs present in DNA, using energy from UVA and visible light. In plants, CPD photolyase activity is a crucial factor for determining UVB sensitivity. We previously demonstrated that native rice CPD photolyase is phosphorylated. To determine the phosphorylation site(s), the phosphorylation status of CPD photolyase was analyzed in rice varieties that have amino acid alterations at the potential phosphorylation sites. In wild-rice species, CPD photolyase was phosphorylated. In Poaceae species, CPD photolyase was phosphorylated in wheat but not in maize. Mutant CPD photolyase proteins, in which these putative phosphorylated residues were replaced with alanine residues, were synthesized using an insect cell-free translation system. A slow-migrating band disappeared when the serine residue at position 7 was mutated. A phospho-specific antibody was generated to determine whether this residue is phosphorylated in CPD photolyase. Only the slow-migrating band of native rice CPD photolyase was detected using this antibody, indicating that the serine residue at position 7 is a phosphorylation site in native rice CPD photolyase.

► We examined phosphorylation status of natural rice varieties and Poaceae species.
► Mutation analyses were performed using an insect cell-free translation system.
► The serine residue at position 7 is a phosphorylation site in rice CPD photolyase.