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A comparative study of the thermal stability of plastocyanin, cytochrome c6 and Photosystem I in thermophilic and mesophilic cyanobacteria

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Abstract

Cytochrome c6 (Cyt) from the thermophilic cyanobacterium Phormidium laminosum has been purified and characterized. It is a mildly acidic protein, with physicochemical properties very similar to those of plastocyanin (Pc). This is in agreement with the functional interchangeability of the two metalloproteins as electron donors to Photosystem I (PS I). The kinetic analyses of the interaction of Pc and Cyt with Photosystem I show that both metalloproteins reduce PS I with similar efficiencies, according to an oriented collisional kinetic model involving repulsive electrostatic interactions. The thermostability study of the Phormidium Pc/PS I system compared with those from mesophilic cyanobacteria (Synechocystis, Anabaena and Pseudanabaena) reveals that Pc is the partner limiting the thermostability of the Phormidium couple. The cross-reactions between Pc and PS I from different organisms demonstrate not only that Phormidium Pc enhances the stability of the Pc/PS I system using PS I from mesophilic cyanobacteria, but also that Phormidium PS I possesses a higher thermostability than the other photosystems.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de la Cartuja, Universidad de Sevilla y CSIC, 41092, Sevilla, Spain

    Alexis Balme, Manuel Hervás, Miguel A. De la Rosa & José A. Navarro

  2. Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain

    Luis A. Campos & Javier Sancho

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  1. Alexis Balme
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  2. Manuel Hervás
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  3. Luis A. Campos
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  4. Javier Sancho
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  5. Miguel A. De la Rosa
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  6. José A. Navarro
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Correspondence to Miguel A. De la Rosa.

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Balme, A., Hervás, M., Campos, L.A. et al. A comparative study of the thermal stability of plastocyanin, cytochrome c6 and Photosystem I in thermophilic and mesophilic cyanobacteria. Photosynthesis Research 70, 281–289 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014761524242

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