Characterization of a mutant strain of Rhodovulum sulfidophilum lacking the pufA and pufB genes encoding the polypeptides for the light-harvesting complex 1 (B 870)

Expression characterization and actual function of the second pucBA in Rhodobacter sphaeroides

The puc2BA operon of Rhodobacter sphaeroides is highly similar to the original puc1BA operon. Genetic, biochemical and spectroscopic approaches were used to investigate the function of puc2BA; the puc1BA and puc2BA structural genes were amplified and cloned into the pRK415 vector controlled by the puc promoter from R. sphaeroides, which was then introduced into R. sphaeroides mutant strains. The results indicated that puc2BA was normally expressed and puc2BA-encoded polypeptides were assembled into membrane LHII (light-harvesting II) complexes, although the puc2A-encoded polypeptide was much larger than the puc1A-encoded polypeptide. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR (reverse transcription-PCR) and SDS/PAGE indicated that puc1BA and puc2BA were expressed in R. sphaeroides when integrated into the genome or expressed from vectors. Furthermore, the polypeptides from the puc1BA and puc2BA genes were both involved in LHII assembly, and pucC is also necessary to assemble LHII complexes. Nevertheless, the LHII complexes synthesized from puc2BA in R. sphaeroides have blue-shift absorption bands at 801 and 846 nm.

Characteristics of light-harvesting complex II mutant of Rhodobacter sphaeroides with alterations at the transmembrane helices of beta-subunit

The peripheral light-harvesting complex II (LHII) is an important component of the photosynthetic apparatus of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. In this study, genetic, biochemical, and spectroscopic approaches were applied to investigate the spectral properties and functions of LHII in which two amino acid residues Phe32 and Leu42 in the transmembrane helix domain of pucB-encoded beta-apoprotein were replaced by Leu and Pro. The mutated LHII complex showed blue shift of absorbance peaks in the near infrared region at approximately 801-845 nm in R. sphaeroides. It should be noted that the B800 peak was much lower than that of the native LHII, and transfer energy was efficient from the B800 to the B850 pigments in the LHII complex. The results suggest that the mutated pucB could be expressed in R. sphaeroides, and the functional LHII was assembled into the membrane of R. sphaeroides notwithstanding with the different spectral properties. These mutated residues were indeed critical for the modulation of characteristics and function of LHII complex.