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Pigment protein complexes and the concept of the photosynthetic unit: Chlorophyll complexes and phycobilisomes

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Abstract

The photosynthetic unit includes the reaction centers (RC 1 and RC 2) and the light-harvesting complexes which contribute to evolution of one O2 molecule. The light-harvesting complexes, that greatly expand the absorptance capacity of the reactions, have evolved along three principal lines. First, in green plants distinct chlorophyll (Chl) a/b-binding intrinsic membrane complexes are associated with RC 1 and RC 2. The Chl a/b-binding complexes may add about 200 additional chromophores to RC 2. Second, cyanobacteria and red algae have a significant type of antenna (with RC 2) in the form of phycobilisomes. A phycobilisome, depending on the size and phycobiliprotein composition adds from 700 to 2300 light-absorbing chromophores. Red algae also have a sizable Chl a-binding complex associated with RC 1, contributing an additional 70 chromophores. Third, in chromophytes a variety of carotenoid-Chl-complexes are found. Some are found associated with RC 1 where they may greatly enhance the absorptance capacity. Association of complexes with RC 2 has been more difficult to ascertain, but is also expected in chromophytes. The apoprotein framework of the complexes provides specific chromophore attachment sites, which assures a directional energy transfer whithin complexes and between complexes and reaction centers. The major Chl-binding antenna proteins generally have a size of 16–28 kDa, whether of chlorophytes, chromophytes, or rhodophytes. High sequence homology observed in two of three transmembrane regions, and in putative chlorophyll-binding residues, suggests that the complexes are related and probably did not evolve from widely divergent polyphyletic lines.

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Abbreviations

APC:

allophycocyanin

B:

phycoerythrin-large bangiophycean phycoerythrin

Chl:

chlorophyll

LCM :

linker polypeptide in phycobilisome to thylakoid

FCP:

fucoxanthin Chl a/c complex

LHC(s):

Chl-binding light harvesting complex(s)

LHC I:

Chl-binding complex of Photosystem I

LHC II:

Chl-binding complex of Photosystem II

PC:

phycocyanin

PCP:

peridinin Chl-binding complex

P700:

photochemically active Chl a of Photosystem I

PS I:

Photosystem I

PS II:

Photosystem II

RC 1:

reaction center core of PS I

RC 2:

reaction center core of PS II

R:

phycoerythrin-large rhodophycean phycoerythrin

sPCP:

soluble peridinin Chl-binding complex

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  1. Department of Plant Biology & Maryland Experiment Station, University of Maryland, 20742, College Park, MD, USA

    Elisabeth Gantt

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Gantt, E. Pigment protein complexes and the concept of the photosynthetic unit: Chlorophyll complexes and phycobilisomes. Photosynth Res 48, 47–53 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040995

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040995

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