Cryo-EM structure of the RC-LH core complex from an early branching photosynthetic prokaryote

Yueyong Xin, Yang Shi, Tongxin Niu, Qingqiang Wang, Wanqiang Niu, Xiaojun Huang, Wei Ding, Lei Yang, Robert E. Blankenship, Xiaoling Xu () and Fei Sun ()
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Yueyong Xin: Hangzhou Normal University
Yang Shi: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Tongxin Niu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qingqiang Wang: Hangzhou Normal University
Wanqiang Niu: Hangzhou Normal University
Xiaojun Huang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wei Ding: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lei Yang: Hangzhou Normal University
Robert E. Blankenship: Washington University in St. Louis
Xiaoling Xu: Hangzhou Normal University
Fei Sun: Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Photosynthetic prokaryotes evolved diverse light-harvesting (LH) antennas to absorb sunlight and transfer energy to reaction centers (RC). The filamentous anoxygenic phototrophs (FAPs) are important early branching photosynthetic bacteria in understanding the origin and evolution of photosynthesis. How their photosynthetic machinery assembles for efficient energy transfer is yet to be elucidated. Here, we report the 4.1 Å structure of photosynthetic core complex from Roseiflexus castenholzii by cryo-electron microscopy. The RC–LH complex has a tetra-heme cytochrome c bound RC encompassed by an elliptical LH ring that is assembled from 15 LHαβ subunits. An N-terminal transmembrane helix of cytochrome c inserts into the LH ring, not only yielding a tightly bound cytochrome c for rapid electron transfer, but also opening a slit in the LH ring, which is further flanked by a transmembrane helix from a newly discovered subunit X. These structural features suggest an unusual quinone exchange model of prokaryotic photosynthetic machinery.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03881-x

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