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Structure of the cytochrome b6f complex: new prosthetic groups, Q-space, and the ‘hors d’oeuvres hypothesis’ for assembly of the complex

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Abstract

3-Å crystal structures of the cytochrome b6f complex have provided a structural framework for the photosynthetic electron transport chain. The structures of the 220,000 molecular weight dimeric cytochrome b6f complex from the thermophilic cyanobacterium, Mastigocladis laminosus (Kurisu et al. 2003, Science 302: 1009–1014), and the green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Stroebel et al. 2003, Nature 426: 413–418), are very similar. The latter is the first structure of a integral membrane photosynthetic electron transport complex from a eukaryotic source. The M. laminosus and C. reinhardtii structures have provided structural information and experimental insights to the properties and functions of three native and novel prosthetic groups, a chlorophyll a, a β-carotene, and a unique heme x, one copy of which is found in each monomer of the cytochrome b6f complex, but not the cytochrome bc1 complex from the mitochondrial respiratory chain of animals and yeast. Several functional insights have emerged from the structures including the function of the dimer; the properties of heme x; the function of the inter-monomer quinone-exchange cavity; a quinone diffusion pathway through relatively narrow crevices or portals; a modified reaction scheme for n-side quinone redox reactions; a necessarily novel mechanism for quenching of the bound chlorophyll triplet state; a possible role for the bound chlorophyll a in activation of the LHC kinase; and a structural and assembly role for the four small PetG, L, M, and N subunits. An ‘hors d’oeuvres hypothesis’ for assembly of the complex is proposed for the small ‘hydrophobic stick’ or ‘picket fence’ polypeptides at the periphery of the complex, based on the cis-positive orientation of the small hydrophobic subunits and the ‘toothpick’ binding mode of the β-carotene.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

cis-side:

the side of membrane from which polypeptides are inserted into a membrane

cyt:

cytochrome

DOPC:

1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine

ISP:

iron-sulphur-protien

LHC:

light-harvesting chlorophyll protein

PC:

plastocyanin

Pet:

photosynthetic electron transport

p-and n-:

electrochemically negative and positive sides of the membrane

SDS-PAGE:

sodium-dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

TM:

trans-membrane

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Author notes

  1. Genji Kurisu

    Present address: Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Komaba 3-8-1, Meguro, Tokyo, 153-8902, Japan

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Lilly Hall of Life Sciences, Purdue University, 915 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN, 47907-2054, USA

    William A. Cramer, Jiusheng Yan, Huamin Zhang, Genji Kurisu & Janet L. Smith

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  1. William A. Cramer
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  2. Jiusheng Yan
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  3. Huamin Zhang
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  4. Genji Kurisu
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  5. Janet L. Smith
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Correspondence to Jiusheng Yan.

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Cramer, W.A., Yan, J., Zhang, H. et al. Structure of the cytochrome b6f complex: new prosthetic groups, Q-space, and the ‘hors d’oeuvres hypothesis’ for assembly of the complex. Photosynth Res 85, 133–143 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-004-2149-5

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