The native architecture of a photosynthetic membrane

Svetlana Bahatyrova, Raoul N. Frese, C. Alistair Siebert, John D. Olsen, Kees O. van der Werf, Rienk van Grondelle, Robert A. Niederman, Per A. Bullough, Cees Otto and C. Neil Hunter ()
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Svetlana Bahatyrova: University of Twente
Raoul N. Frese: University of Twente
C. Alistair Siebert: University of Sheffield
John D. Olsen: University of Sheffield
Kees O. van der Werf: University of Twente
Rienk van Grondelle: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, 1081
Robert A. Niederman: Rutgers University
Per A. Bullough: University of Sheffield
Cees Otto: University of Twente
C. Neil Hunter: University of Sheffield

Nature, 2004, vol. 430, issue 7003, 1058-1062

Abstract: Abstract In photosynthesis, the harvesting of solar energy and its subsequent conversion into a stable charge separation are dependent upon an interconnected macromolecular network of membrane-associated chlorophyll–protein complexes. Although the detailed structure of each complex has been determined1,2,3,4, the size and organization of this network are unknown. Here we show the use of atomic force microscopy to directly reveal a native bacterial photosynthetic membrane. This first view of any multi-component membrane shows the relative positions and associations of the photosynthetic complexes and reveals crucial new features of the organization of the network: we found that the membrane is divided into specialized domains each with a different network organization and in which one type of complex predominates. Two types of organization were found for the peripheral light-harvesting LH2 complex. In the first, groups of 10–20 molecules of LH2 form light-capture domains that interconnect linear arrays of dimers of core reaction centre (RC)–light-harvesting 1 (RC–LH1–PufX) complexes; in the second they were found outside these arrays in larger clusters. The LH1 complex is ideally positioned to function as an energy collection hub, temporarily storing it before transfer to the RC where photochemistry occurs: the elegant economy of the photosynthetic membrane is demonstrated by the close packing of these linear arrays, which are often only separated by narrow ‘energy conduits’ of LH2 just two or three complexes wide.

Date: 2004
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DOI: 10.1038/nature02823

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