title: Towards structural and functional characterization of photosynthetic and mitochondrial supercomplexes.
abstract: Bioenergetic reactions in chloroplasts and mitochondria are catalyzed by large multi-subunit membrane proteins. About two decades ago it became clear that several of these large membrane proteins further associate into supercomplexes and since then a number of new ones have been described. In this review we focus on supercomplexes involved in light harvesting and electron transfer in the primary reactions of oxygenic photosynthesis and on the mitochondrial supercomplexes that catalyze electron transfer and ATP synthesis in oxidative phosphorylation. Functional and structural aspects are overviewed. In addition, several relevant technical aspects are discussed, including membrane solubilization with suitable detergents and methods of purification. Some open questions are addressed, such as the lack of high-resolution structures, the outstanding gaps in the knowledge about supercomplexes involved in cyclic electron transport in photosynthesis and the unusual mitochondrial protein complexes of protists and in particular of ciliates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom. Electronic address: n.dudkina@mail.cryst.bbk.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Natalya V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Dudkina
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Applied Sciences, Technical University Delft, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: i.m.folea@tudelft.nl.
authors.forename: I Mihaela
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Folea
authors.affiliation: Electron Microscopy Group, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 7, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.j.boekema@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Egbert J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Boekema
mesh_terms: D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004579:Electron Transport; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051336:Mitochondrial Membranes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008958:Models, Molecular; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation; D010788:Photosynthesis; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D046912:Multiprotein Complexes; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins
keywords: Chloroplast; Electron microscopy; Mitochondrion; Oxidative phosphorylation; Oxygenic photosynthesis; Supercomplex