title: Cytochrome b6f is a dimeric protochlorophyll a binding complex in etioplasts.
abstract: The cytochrome b6f complex is a dimeric protein complex that is of central importance for photosynthesis to carry out light driven electron and proton transfer in chloroplasts. One molecule of chlorophyll a was found to associate per cytochrome b6f monomer and the structural or functional importance of this is discussed. We show that etioplasts which are devoid of chlorophyll a already contain dimeric cytochrome b6f. However, the phytylated chlorophyll precursor protochlorophyll a, and not chlorophyll a, is associated with subunit b6. The data imply that a phytylated tetrapyrrol is an essential structural requirement for assembly of cytochrome b6f.
authors.affiliation: Department Biology I, University Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reisinger
authors.forename: Alexander P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hertle
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plöscher
authors.forename: Lutz A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Eichacker
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000201:enzymology*; D045346:Cytochrome b6f Complex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D019281:Dimerization; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins; D002734:Chlorophyll; C016083:protochlorophyll; D045346:Cytochrome b6f Complex; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D012273:Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase