Crystal structure of the RC-LH1 core complex from Rhodopseudomonas palustris

Science. 2003 Dec 12;302(5652):1969-72. doi: 10.1126/science.1088892.

Abstract

The crystal structure at 4.8 angstrom resolution of the reaction center-light harvesting 1 (RC-LH1) core complex from Rhodopseudomonas palustris shows the reaction center surrounded by an oval LH1 complex that consists of 15 pairs of transmembrane helical alpha- and beta-apoproteins and their coordinated bacteriochlorophylls. Complete closure of the RC by the LH1 is prevented by a single transmembrane helix, out of register with the array of inner LH1 alpha-apoproteins. This break, located next to the binding site in the reaction center for the secondary electron acceptor ubiquinone (UQB), may provide a portal through which UQB can transfer electrons to cytochrome b/c1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoproteins / chemistry
  • Bacterial Proteins / chemistry*
  • Bacteriochlorophyll A / chemistry
  • Binding Sites
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / chemistry*
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Models, Molecular
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Rhodopseudomonas / chemistry*
  • Ubiquinone / chemistry

Substances

  • Apoproteins
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacteriochlorophyll A
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
  • Ubiquinone

Associated data

  • PDB/1PYH