A potential role of chlorophylls b and c in assembly of light-harvesting complexes.
Chlorophyll (Chl)-containing light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) in chloroplasts of plant and algal cells usually include an oxidized Chl (Chl b or c) in addition to Chl a. Oxidation of peripheral groups on the tetrapyrrole structure increases the Lewis acid strength of the central Mg atom. We propose that the resulting stronger coordination bonds between oxidized Chls and ligands in LHC apoproteins (LHCPs) stabilize the initial intermediates and thus promote assembly of LHCs within the chloroplast envelope.
Department of Plant Biology and Center for the Study of Early Events in Photosynthesis, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1601, USA. khoober@asu.edu
J K
JK
Hoober
L L
LL
Eggink
D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000378:metabolism*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism*; D061146:Chlorophyll Binding Proteins; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
D000143:Acids; D020418:Algal Proteins; D061146:Chlorophyll Binding Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D002734:Chlorophyll; C064041:chlorophyll c; C037184:chlorophyll b; D008274:Magnesium