Regulation of chlorophyll synthesis in photosynthetic bacteria

Abstract

Energy-transducing membranes of the nonsulfur purple photosynthetic bacteria are known to contain several species of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) complexes. The reaction-centre complex (rc-BChl) is the locus of the charge separation that provides the “poles” of the photochemical electron transport system, whereas the other complexes serve lightharvesting functions. This report summarizes an investigation of the general features of the control mechanisms governing synthesis of the several chlorophyll complexes inRhodopseudomonas capsulata. The results obtained indicate a close biosynthetic association between rc-BChl and one of the light-harvesting chlorophylls (complex I). Regulation of synthesis of light-harvesting complex II (during anaerobic photosynthetic growth) appears to be relatively independent, and intimately related to the “energy state” of the cell. Chlorophyll synthesis inR. capsulata cells growing aerobically in darkness was also studied. The presence of functional photosynthetic units in dark-grown cells, of very low BChl content, was clearly evidenced by demonstration of: the potentiality for resumption of anaerobic photosynthetic growth, light-induced oxidation of cytochrome₅₅₂ in vivo, and high photophosphorylation capacity (relative to BChl) of membrane fragments from such cells. Synthesis of light-harvesting BChl complex II is particularly inhibited in cells growing in darkness with respiratory phosphorylation as the source of energy, and it is suggested that this complex is a primary “target” of the biosynthetic control devices activated by change of light intensity or presence of molecular oxygen during growth of nonsulfur purple bacteria.