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The Photosynthetic Reaction Centre from the Purple Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis

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We first describe the history and methods of membrane protein crystallization, and show how the structure of the photosynthetic reaction centre from the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis was solved. The structure of this membrane protein complex is correlated with its function as a light-driven electron pump across the photosynthetic membrane. Finally we draw conclusions on the structure of the photosystem II reaction centre from plants and discuss the aspects of membrane protein structure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas, 75235, USA

    Johann Deisenhofer

  2. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Biophysik, Heinrich-Hoffmann-Str. 7, D-6000, Frankfurt/M 71, West Germany

    Harmut Michel

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  1. Johann Deisenhofer
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Published in Les Prix Nobel–The Nobel Prizes 1988 (Nobel Foundation, Stockholm, 1989) and republished here with the permission of the Nobel Foundation the copyright holders.

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Deisenhofer, J., Michel, H. The Photosynthetic Reaction Centre from the Purple Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis. Biosci Rep 24, 323–361 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10540-005-2737-4

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