title: Characterization of apcC, the nuclear gene for the phycobilisome core linker polypeptide L(c)(7.8) from the glaucocystophyte alga Cyanophora paradoxa. Import of the precursor into isolated cyanelles and integration of the mature protein into intact phycobilisomes.
abstract: Phycobilisomes are the complex and highly efficient light-harvesting antenna systems of cyanobacteria, glaucocystophyte algae and red algae. In the glaucocystophyte Cyanophora paradoxa, seven genes for (chromophoric) phycobilisome components are known thus far, which all reside on the cyanelle genome. Here, we report the sequence of apcC, specifying the precursor to the colorless polypeptide L(c)(7.8), the first core linker reported for a eukaryote. The precursor was efficiently imported in vitro into isolated cyanelles. Fractionation into thylakoid membranes and stroma and into intact phycobilisomes and soluble proteins, respectively, indicated a low but significant incorporation of the imported linker polypeptide into the phycobilisomes.
authors.affiliation: Max F. Perutz Laboratories, University Departments at the Vienna Biocenter, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology and Ludwig Boltzmann Research Unit for Biochemistry, Dr. Bohrgasse 9, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Jürgen M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Pompe
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Löffelhardt
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D044424:Cyanophora / Q000235:genetics*; D005453:Fluorescence; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D045524:Phycobilisomes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D021381:Protein Transport; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D045524:Phycobilisomes