Molecular Architecture of Photosynthetic Membranes in Rhodobacter Sphaeroides: the Role of PufX

Overview

Journal EMBO J

Specialties Biotechnology
Molecular Biology

Date 2004 Feb 7

PMID 14765115

Citations 57

Authors

C Alistair Siebert

Pu Qian

Dimitrios Fotiadis

Andreas Engel

C Neil Hunter

Per A Bullough

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The effects of the PufX polypeptide on membrane architecture were investigated by comparing the composition and structures of photosynthetic membranes from PufX+ and PufX- strains of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. We show that this single polypeptide profoundly affects membrane morphology, leading to highly elongated cells containing extended tubular membranes. Purified tubular membranes contain helical arrays composed solely of dimeric RC-LH1-PufX (RC, reaction centre; LH, light harvesting) complexes with apparently open LH1 rings. PufX- cells contain crystalline membranes with a pseudo-hexagonal packing of monomeric core complexes. Analysis of purified complexes by electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy shows that LH1 and PufX form a continuous ring of protein around each RC. A model of the tubular membrane is presented with PufX located adjacent to the stained region created by a vacant LH1beta. This arrangement, coupled with a flexible ring, would give the RC QB site transient access to the interstices in the lattice, which might be of functional importance. We discuss the implications of our data for the export of quinol from the RC, for eventual reduction of the cytochrome bc1 complex.

Citing Articles

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Asymmetric structure of the native Rhodobacter sphaeroides dimeric LH1-RC complex.

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