Crystal structure of the complex between the photosynthetic reaction center and the light-harvesting antenna core proteins (Press Release)
- Release Date
- 27 Mar, 2014
- BL41XU (Structural Biology I)
- BL44XU (Macromolecular Assemblies)
27 Mar, 2014
Kyoto University
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The research group of Kyoto University (led by Prof. Kunio Miki, Graduate School of Science) and Ibaraki University (led by Prof. Zheng-Yu Wang-Otomo, Faculty of Science) determined the crystal structure of a supramolecular complex in photosynthetic bacteria (*1) performing primitive photosynthesis without oxygen-evolution. The first near-atomic structure of the LH1-RC complex between the light-harvesting antenna core complex (LH1) and the photosynthetic reaction center (RC) precisely elucidated the architecture of protein subunits in the complex and the positions and orientations of cofactors (*3) such as bacteriochlorophyll (*2) bound to the complex. Publication: |
《Figure》
(A) Molecular structure of the LH1-RC complex. RC (magenta) located at the central part is surrounded by LH1 (green). (B) Positions and orientations of bacteriochlorophylls in LH1 (purple) and in RC (red-purple). Light energy is transferred to RC's bacteriochlorophylls. (C) Channel in LH1 of possible diffusion route for ubiquinones
《Glossary》
*1 Photosynthetic bacteria
Bacteria living in lakes and marshes and performing primitive photosynthesis without oxygen-evolution
*2 Bacteriochlorophyll
A pigment molecule with a similar structure to chlorophyll used in photosynthetic bacteria
*3 Cofactor
Small molecules accommodated in proteins such as pigments and metal ions and assisting protein function. Various cofactors such as chlorophylls, carotenoids and hemes are employed in photosynthetic apparatuses.
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