Figure 5. A toggle mechanism between linker conformations modulates DGC activity.

(a) Schematic representation of how DGC activity is modulated by the coiled-coil linker register and its intrinsic conformational dynamics. The transition between the inhibiting and the stimulating coiled-coil conformations is represented on the x-axis as the probability to be in the stimulating register. Under conditions where a switching between coiled-coil registers is possible the dynamics of the system are increased (blue curve). In combination with the structural contribution of the stimulating register for DGC activity (orange curve), the overall enzymatic activity is approximated as the sum of both contributions (dark curve). A large photodynamic range can only be obtained by a fine-tuned balance of conformational flexibility and structural differences of the coiled coil conformations. (b) Schematic model of PadC activation. In the dark, a stable β-hairpin conformation of the PHY tongue elements maintains the coiled-coil linker in its inhibiting conformational register. Upon red light illumination and isomerization of the biliverdin of one protomer, the dimeric interface of the PSM rearranges leading to more conformational freedom at the PHY interface allowing the population of the stimulating linker register that in turn facilitates GTP conversion at the GGDEF domains.