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Four distinct trimeric forms of light-harvesting complex II isolated from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

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Abstract

Light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) absorbs light energy and transfers it primarily to photosystem II in green algae and land plants. Although the trimeric structure of LHCII is conserved between the two lineages, its subunit composition and function are believed to differ significantly. In this study, we purified four LHCII trimers from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and analyzed their biochemical properties. We used several preparation methods to obtain four distinct fractions (fractions 1–4), each of which contained an LHCII trimer with different contents of Type I, III, and IV proteins. The pigment compositions of the LHCIIs in the four fractions were similar. The absorption and fluorescence spectra were also similar, although the peak positions differed slightly. These results indicate that this green alga contains four types of LHCII trimer with different biochemical and spectroscopic features. Based on these findings, we discuss the function and structural organization of green algal LHCII antennae.

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Abbreviations

CBB:

Coomassie brilliant blue

Chl:

Chlorophyll

CV:

Column volume

α-DDM:

Dodecyl-α-D-maltoside

β-DDM:

Dodecyl-β-D-maltoside

LHCII:

Light-harvesting complex II

MES:

2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfonic acid

PSII:

Photosystem II

PSI:

Photosystem I

SDG:

Sucrose density gradient

SDS-PAGE:

Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

UPLC:

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography

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Acknowledgements

We thank Ms. Rie Uno (Osaka City University), Mr. Daisuke Namba (Osaka City University), and Ms. Chiyo Noda (National Institute for Basic Biology) for their assistance with purification and analysis. We are also grateful to Prof. Nobuo Kamiya (Osaka City University) and Associate Prof. Ikuko Miyahara (Osaka City University) for providing laboratory access. This work was funded by the Joint Usage/Research Program of the Artificial Photosynthesis, Osaka City University. K.K. and J.M. are grateful for the continued support of JST CREST, Japan (Grant No. JPMJCR13M4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The OCU Advanced Research Institute for Natural Science & Technology (OCARINA), Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan

    Keisuke Kawakami

  2. Division of Environmental Photobiology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Nishigonaka 38, Myodaiji, Okazaki, 444-8585, Japan

    Ryutaro Tokutsu, Eunchul Kim & Jun Minagawa

Authors
  1. Keisuke Kawakami
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  2. Ryutaro Tokutsu
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  3. Eunchul Kim
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  4. Jun Minagawa
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Correspondence to Keisuke Kawakami.

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Kawakami, K., Tokutsu, R., Kim, E. et al. Four distinct trimeric forms of light-harvesting complex II isolated from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Photosynth Res 142, 195–201 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-019-00669-y

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