The electrophoretic isolation and partial characterization of three chlorophyll-protein complexes from blue-green algae

Biochim Biophys Acta. 1979 Aug 14;547(2):188-97. doi: 10.1016/0005-2728(79)90002-1.

Abstract

Three chlorophyll-protein complexes have been resolved from blue-green algae using an improved procedure for membrane solubilization and electrophoretic fractionation. One complex has a red absorbance maximum of 676 nm and a molecular weight equivalency of 255 000 +/- 15 000. A second complex has an absorbance maximum of 676 nm, a molecular weight equivalency of 118 000 +/- 8000, and resembles the previously described P-700-chlorophyll a-protein (CPI) of higher plants and algae. The third chlorophyll-protein has a red absorbance maximum of 671 nm and a molecular weight equivalency of 58 000 +/- 5000. Blue-green algal membrane fractions enriched in Photosystem I and heterocyst cells do not contain this third chlorophyll-protein, whereas Photosystem II-enriched membrane fractions and vegetative cells do. A component of the same spectral characteristics and molecular weight equivalency was also observed in chlorophyll b-deficient mutants of barley and maize. It is hypothesized that this third complex is involved in some manner with Photosystem II.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Chlorophyll / analysis*
  • Cyanobacteria / analysis*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Molecular Weight
  • Plant Proteins / analysis*
  • Species Specificity
  • Spectrophotometry

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Chlorophyll