Structure of a green algal photosystem I in complex with a large number of light-harvesting complex I subunits

Nat Plants. 2019 Mar;5(3):263-272. doi: 10.1038/s41477-019-0379-y. Epub 2019 Mar 8.

Abstract

Photosystem I (PSI) is a highly efficient natural light-energy converter, and has diverse light-harvesting antennas associated with its core in different photosynthetic organisms. In green algae, an extremely large light-harvesting complex I (LHCI) captures and transfers energy to the PSI core. Here, we report the structure of PSI-LHCI from a green alga Bryopsis corticulans at 3.49 Å resolution, obtained by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, which revealed 13 core subunits including subunits characteristic of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and 10 light-harvesting complex a (Lhca) antennas that form a double semi-ring and an additional Lhca dimer, including a novel four-transmembrane-helix Lhca. In total, 244 chlorophylls were identified, some of which were located at key positions for the fast energy transfer. These results provide a firm structural basis for unravelling the mechanisms of light-energy harvesting, transfer and quenching in the green algal PSI-LHCI, and important clues as to how PSI-LHCI has changed during evolution.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algal Proteins / chemistry
  • Algal Proteins / metabolism
  • Carotenoids / chemistry
  • Carotenoids / metabolism
  • Chlorophyll / chemistry
  • Chlorophyll / metabolism
  • Chlorophyta / chemistry*
  • Chlorophyta / genetics
  • Cryoelectron Microscopy
  • Energy Transfer
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / chemistry*
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / genetics
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / isolation & purification
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Photosystem I Protein Complex / chemistry*
  • Photosystem I Protein Complex / genetics
  • Photosystem I Protein Complex / isolation & purification
  • Photosystem I Protein Complex / metabolism
  • Protein Multimerization
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry
  • Protein Subunits / metabolism

Substances

  • Algal Proteins
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes
  • Photosystem I Protein Complex
  • Protein Subunits
  • Chlorophyll
  • Carotenoids