title: Phycobilisome-reaction centre interaction in cyanobacteria.
abstract: The phycobilisome is a remarkable light-harvesting antenna that combines high efficiency with functional flexibility and the ability to capture light across a broad spectral range. A combination of biochemical, structural and spectroscopic studies has given an excellent picture of the structure and function of isolated phycobilisomes. However, we still know remarkably little about the interaction of the phycobilisome with the thylakoid membrane and the reaction centres. This article will discuss the various current ideas about this question and explain the things we need to know more about. As a working model, I propose that the phycobilisome is attached to the membrane by multiple weak charge-charge interactions with lipid head-groups and/or proteins, and that the core-membrane linker polypeptide ApcE provides a flexible surface allowing interaction with multiple membrane components.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, UK. c.mullineaux@qmul.ac.uk
authors.forename: Conrad W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Mullineaux
mesh_terms: D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D004735:Energy Transfer; D008954:Models, Biological; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D045524:Phycobilisomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D045524:Phycobilisomes