Three-dimensional architecture of phycobilisomes from Nostoc flagelliforme revealed by single particle electron microscopy.
Phycobilisomes are protein complexes that harvest light and transfer energy to the photo system. Here, the three dimensional structure of intact phycobilisomes from Nostoc flagelliforme is studied by a combination of negative stain electron microscopy and cryo-electron microscopy. Results show that the intact phycobilisomes are composed of a tricylindrical core and six rods. Each allophycocyanin cylinder presents a double-layered structure when viewed from the side and a triangular shape when viewed from the top. These characteristics indicate that allophycocyanin trimers in the intact phycobilisomes are arranged into hexameric oligomers in a parallel manner.
Yi
Zhi-Wei
ZW
Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
Huang
Hui
H
Kuang
Ting-Yun
TY
Sui
Sen-Fang
SF
D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D046937:Nostoc / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D045524:Phycobilisomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D045524:Phycobilisomes