1
|
Timpmann K, Rätsep M, Freiberg A. Dominant role of excitons in photosynthetic color-tuning and light-harvesting. Front Chem 2023; 11:1231431. [PMID: 37908232 PMCID: PMC10613661 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1231431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Photosynthesis is a vital process that converts sunlight into energy for the Earth's ecosystems. Color adaptation is crucial for different photosynthetic organisms to thrive in their ecological niches. Although the presence of collective excitons in light-harvesting complexes is well known, the role of delocalized excited states in color tuning and excitation energy transfer remains unclear. This study evaluates the characteristics of photosynthetic excitons in sulfur and non-sulfur purple bacteria using advanced optical spectroscopic techniques at reduced temperatures. The exciton effects in these bacteriochlorophyll a-containing species are generally much stronger than in plant systems that rely on chlorophylls. Their exciton bandwidth varies based on multiple factors such as chromoprotein structure, surroundings of the pigments, carotenoid content, hydrogen bonding, and metal ion inclusion. The study nevertheless establishes a linear relationship between the exciton bandwidth and Qy singlet exciton absorption peak, which in case of LH1 core complexes from different species covers almost 130 nm. These findings provide important insights into bacterial color tuning and light-harvesting, which can inspire sustainable energy strategies and devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kõu Timpmann
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Margus Rätsep
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Arvi Freiberg
- Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Estonian Academy of Sciences, Tallinn, Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang Y, Qi CH, Yamano N, Wang P, Yu LJ, Wang-Otomo ZY, Zhang JP. Carotenoid Single-Molecular Singlet Fission and the Photoprotection of a Bacteriochlorophyll b-Type Core Light-Harvesting Antenna. J Phys Chem Lett 2022; 13:3534-3541. [PMID: 35420425 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.2c00519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoid (Car) in photosynthesis plays the major roles of accessary light harvesting and photoprotection, and the underlying structure-function relationship attracts continuing research interests. We have attempted to explore the dynamics of Car triplet excitation (3Car*) in the bacteriochlorophyll b (BChl b)-type light harvesting reaction center complex (LH1-RC) of photosynthetic bacterium Halorhodospira halochloris. We show that the LH1 antenna binds a single Car that was identified as a lycopene derivative. Although the Car is hardly visible in the LH1-RC stationary absorption, it shows up conspicuously in the triplet excitation profile with distinct vibronic features. This and the ultrafast formation of 3Car* on direct photoexcitation of Car unequivocally manifest the unimolecular singlet fission reaction of the Car. Moreover, the Car with even one molecule per complex is found to be rather effective in quenching 3BChl b*. The implications of different 3Car* formation mechanisms are discussed, and the self-photoprotection role of BChl b are proposed for this extremophilic species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 1000872, P. R. China
| | - Chen-Hui Qi
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, P. R. China
| | - Nami Yamano
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 1000872, P. R. China
| | - Peng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 1000872, P. R. China
| | - Long-Jiang Yu
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, P. R. China
| | | | - Jian-Ping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Light Conversion Materials and Biophotonics, Department of Chemistry, Renmin University of China, Beijing 1000872, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kimura Y, Nojima S, Nakata K, Yamashita T, Wang XP, Takenaka S, Akimoto S, Kobayashi M, Madigan MT, Wang-Otomo ZY, Yu LJ. Electrostatic charge controls the lowest LH1 Q y transition energy in the triply extremophilic purple phototrophic bacterium, Halorhodospira halochloris. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2021; 1862:148473. [PMID: 34310933 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2021.148473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Halorhodospira (Hlr.) halochloris is a unique phototrophic purple bacterium because it is a triple extremophile-the organism is thermophilic, alkalophilic, and halophilic. The most striking photosynthetic feature of Hlr. halochloris is that the bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) b-containing core light-harvesting (LH1) complex surrounding its reaction center (RC) exhibits its LH1 Qy absorption maximum at 1016 nm, which is the lowest transition energy among phototrophic organisms. Here we report that this extraordinarily red-shifted LH1 Qy band of Hlr. halochloris exhibits interconvertible spectral shifts depending on the electrostatic charge distribution around the BChl b molecules. The 1016 nm band of the Hlr. halochloris LH1-RC complex was blue-shifted to 958 nm upon desalting or pH decrease but returned to its original position when supplemented with salts or pH increase. Resonance Raman analysis demonstrated that these interconvertible spectral shifts are not associated with the strength of hydrogen-bonding interactions between BChl b and LH1 polypeptides. Furthermore, circular dichroism signals for the LH1 Qy transition of Hlr. halochloris appeared with a positive sign (as in BChl b-containing Blastochloris species) and opposite those of BChl a-containing purple bacteria, possibly due to a combined effect of slight differences in the transition dipole moments between BChl a and BChl b and in the interactions between adjacent BChls in their assembled state. Based on these findings and LH1 amino acid sequences, it is proposed that Hlr. halochloris evolved its unique and tunable light-harvesting system with electrostatic charges in order to carry out photosynthesis and thrive in its punishing hypersaline and alkaline habitat.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukihiro Kimura
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
| | - Shingo Nojima
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Kazuna Nakata
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | | | - Xiang-Ping Wang
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China
| | - Shinji Takenaka
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Seiji Akimoto
- Department of Science, Graduate School of Science, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | | | - Michael T Madigan
- Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
| | | | - Long-Jiang Yu
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100093, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kimura Y, Yamashita T, Seto R, Imanishi M, Honda M, Nakagawa S, Saga Y, Takenaka S, Yu LJ, Madigan MT, Wang-Otomo ZY. Circular dichroism and resonance Raman spectroscopies of bacteriochlorophyll b-containing LH1-RC complexes. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2021; 148:77-86. [PMID: 33834357 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-021-00831-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The core light-harvesting complexes (LH1) in bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) b-containing purple phototrophic bacteria are characterized by a near-infrared absorption maximum around 1010 nm. The determinative cause for this ultra-redshift remains unclear. Here, we present results of circular dichroism (CD) and resonance Raman measurements on the purified LH1 complexes in a reaction center-associated form from a mesophilic and a thermophilic Blastochloris species. Both the LH1 complexes displayed purely positive CD signals for their Qy transitions, in contrast to those of BChl a-containing LH1 complexes. This may reflect differences in the conjugation system of the bacteriochlorin between BChl b and BChl a and/or the differences in the pigment organization between the BChl b- and BChl a-containing LH1 complexes. Resonance Raman spectroscopy revealed remarkably large redshifts of the Raman bands for the BChl b C3-acetyl group, indicating unusually strong hydrogen bonds formed with LH1 polypeptides, results that were verified by a published structure. A linear correlation was found between the redshift of the Raman band for the BChl C3-acetyl group and the change in LH1-Qy transition for all native BChl a- and BChl b-containing LH1 complexes examined. The strong hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions between BChl b and nearby aromatic residues in the LH1 polypeptides, along with the CD results, provide crucial insights into the spectral and structural origins for the ultra-redshift of the long-wavelength absorption maximum of BChl b-containing phototrophs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Kimura
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
| | - T Yamashita
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Mito, 310-8512, Japan
| | - R Seto
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - M Imanishi
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - M Honda
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Mito, 310-8512, Japan
| | - S Nakagawa
- Department of Chemistry, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, 577-8502, Japan
| | - Y Saga
- Department of Chemistry, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, 577-8502, Japan
| | - S Takenaka
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan
| | - L-J Yu
- Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - M T Madigan
- Department of Microbiology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Z-Y Wang-Otomo
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Mito, 310-8512, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dachev M, Bína D, Sobotka R, Moravcová L, Gardian Z, Kaftan D, Šlouf V, Fuciman M, Polívka T, Koblížek M. Unique double concentric ring organization of light harvesting complexes in Gemmatimonas phototrophica. PLoS Biol 2017; 15:e2003943. [PMID: 29253871 PMCID: PMC5749889 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2003943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of life on Earth depends directly or indirectly on the sun as a source of energy. The initial step of photosynthesis is facilitated by light-harvesting complexes, which capture and transfer light energy into the reaction centers (RCs). Here, we analyzed the organization of photosynthetic (PS) complexes in the bacterium G. phototrophica, which so far is the only phototrophic representative of the bacterial phylum Gemmatimonadetes. The isolated complex has a molecular weight of about 800 ± 100 kDa, which is approximately 2 times larger than the core complex of Rhodospirillum rubrum. The complex contains 62.4 ± 4.7 bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a molecules absorbing in 2 distinct infrared absorption bands with maxima at 816 and 868 nm. Using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, we determined the energy transfer time between these spectral bands as 2 ps. Single particle analyses of the purified complexes showed that they were circular structures with an outer diameter of approximately 18 nm and a thickness of 7 nm. Based on the obtained, we propose that the light-harvesting complexes in G. phototrophica form 2 concentric rings surrounding the type 2 RC. The inner ring (corresponding to the B868 absorption band) is composed of 15 subunits and is analogous to the inner light-harvesting complex 1 (LH1) in purple bacteria. The outer ring is composed of 15 more distant BChl dimers with no or slow energy transfer between them, resulting in the B816 absorption band. This completely unique and elegant organization offers good structural stability, as well as high efficiency of light harvesting. Our results reveal that while the PS apparatus of Gemmatimonadetes was acquired via horizontal gene transfer from purple bacteria, it later evolved along its own pathway, devising a new arrangement of its light harvesting complexes. The majority of life on Earth depends directly or indirectly on the sun as a source of energy. Phototrophic organisms use energy from light to power various cellular and metabolic processes. The initial step of photosynthesis is facilitated by light-harvesting complexes, which capture and transfer light energy into the reaction centers where it is used to power proton gradients or to form new chemical bonds. Here, we analyzed photosynthetic complexes in Gemmatimonas phototrophica, the only known phototrophic representative of the bacterial phylum Gemmatimonadetes. Using a combination of biochemical and spectroscopic techniques, we show that the light-harvesting complexes of G. phototrophica are organized in 2 concentric rings around the reaction center. This organization is unique among anoxygenic phototrophs. It offers both structural stability and high efficiency of light harvesting. The structural unit of both antenna rings is a dimer of photosynthetic pigments called bacteriochlorophyll. The inner ring is populated by more densely packed dimers, while the outer ring contains more distant dimers with a minimal excitation exchange. Such an arrangement modifies the spectral properties of bacteriochlorophylls in the complex and ensures efficient capture of light in the near-infrared part of the solar spectrum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marko Dachev
- Center Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - David Bína
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Roman Sobotka
- Center Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Lenka Moravcová
- Center Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenko Gardian
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Kaftan
- Center Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Šlouf
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Marcel Fuciman
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Polívka
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Koblížek
- Center Algatech, Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Muzziotti D, Adessi A, Faraloni C, Torzillo G, De Philippis R. Acclimation strategy of Rhodopseudomonas palustris to high light irradiance. Microbiol Res 2017; 197:49-55. [PMID: 28219525 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The ability of Rhodopseudomonas palustris cells to rapidly acclimate to high light irradiance is an essential issue when cells are grown under sunlight. The aim of this study was to investigate the photo-acclimation process in Rhodopseudomonas palustris 42OL under different culturing conditions: (i) anaerobic (AnG), (ii) aerobic (AG), and (iii) under H2-producing (HP) conditions both at low (LL) and high light (HL) irradiances. The results obtained clearly showed that the photosynthetic unit was significantly affected by the light irradiance at which Rp. palustris 42OL was grown. The synthesis of carotenoids was affected by both illumination and culturing conditions. At LL, lycopene was the main carotenoid synthetized under all conditions tested, while at HL under HP conditions, it resulted the predominant carotenoid. Oppositely, under AnG and AG at HL, rhodovibrin was the major carotenoid detected. The increase in light intensity produced a deeper variation in light-harvesting complexes (LHC) ratio. These findings are important for understanding the ecological distribution of PNSB in natural environments, mostly characterized by high light intensities, and for its growth outdoors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dayana Muzziotti
- Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, via Maragliano 77, 50144, Florence, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Adessi
- Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, via Maragliano 77, 50144, Florence, Italy; Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (ICCOM), CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 10-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Cecilia Faraloni
- Institute of Ecosystem Study (ISE), CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 10-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Torzillo
- Institute of Ecosystem Study (ISE), CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 10-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Roberto De Philippis
- Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, via Maragliano 77, 50144, Florence, Italy; Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (ICCOM), CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 10-50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Challenges facing an understanding of the nature of low-energy excited states in photosynthesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2016; 1857:1627-1640. [PMID: 27372198 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
While the majority of the photochemical states and pathways related to the biological capture of solar energy are now well understood and provide paradigms for artificial device design, additional low-energy states have been discovered in many systems with obscure origins and significance. However, as low-energy states are naively expected to be critical to function, these observations pose important challenges. A review of known properties of low energy states covering eight photochemical systems, and options for their interpretation, are presented. A concerted experimental and theoretical research strategy is suggested and outlined, this being aimed at providing a fully comprehensive understanding.
Collapse
|
8
|
Kimura Y, Inada Y, Yu LJ, Wang ZY, Ohno T. A Spectroscopic Variant of the Light-Harvesting 1 Core Complex from the Thermophilic Purple Sulfur Bacterium Thermochromatium tepidum. Biochemistry 2011; 50:3638-48. [DOI: 10.1021/bi200278u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yukihiro Kimura
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Yuta Inada
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Long-Jiang Yu
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Bunkyo, Mito 310-8512, Japan
| | - Zheng-Yu Wang
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Bunkyo, Mito 310-8512, Japan
| | - Takashi Ohno
- Department of Agrobioscience, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kobe University, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Shibata Y, Tateishi S, Nakabayashi S, Itoh S, Tamiaki H. Intensity Borrowing via Excitonic Couplings among Soret and Qy Transitions of Bacteriochlorophylls in the Pigment Aggregates of Chlorosomes, the Light-Harvesting Antennae of Green Sulfur Bacteria. Biochemistry 2010; 49:7504-15. [DOI: 10.1021/bi100607c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Shibata
- Division of Material Science (Physics), Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Shingo Tateishi
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Shosuke Nakabayashi
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Shigeru Itoh
- Division of Material Science (Physics), Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Tamiaki
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Ritsumeikan University, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
|
11
|
Kimura Y, Hirano Y, Yu LJ, Suzuki H, Kobayashi M, Wang ZY. Calcium ions are involved in the unusual red shift of the light-harvesting 1 Qy transition of the core complex in thermophilic purple sulfur bacterium Thermochromatium tepidum. J Biol Chem 2008; 283:13867-73. [PMID: 18332135 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m800256200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermophilic purple sulfur bacterium, Thermochromatium tepidum, can grow at temperatures up to 58 degrees C and exhibits an unusual Qy absorption at 915 nm for the core light-harvesting complex (LH1), an approximately 35-nm red shift from those of its mesophilic counterparts. We demonstrate in this study, using a highly purified LH1-reaction center complex, that the LH1 Qy transition is strongly dependent on metal cations and Ca2+ is involved in the unusual red shift. Removal of the Ca2+ resulted in formation of a species with the LH1 Qy absorption at 880 nm, and addition of the Ca2+ to the 880-nm species recovered the native 915-nm form. Interchange between the two forms is fully reversible. Based on spectroscopic and isothermal titration calorimetry analyses, the Ca2+ binding to the LH1 complex was estimated to occur in a stoichiometric ratio of Ca2+/alphabeta-subunit = 1:1 and the binding constant was in 10(5) m(-1) order of magnitude, which is comparable with those for EF-hand Ca2+-binding proteins. Despite the high affinity, conformational changes in the LH1 complex upon Ca2+ binding were small and occurred slowly, with a typical time constant of approximately 6 min. Replacement of the Ca2+ with other metal cations caused blue shifts of the Qy bands depending on the property of the cations, indicating that the binding site is highly selective. Based on the amino acid sequences of the LH1 complex, possible Ca2+-binding sites are proposed that consist of several acidic amino acid residues near the membrane interfaces of the C-terminal region of the alpha-polypeptide and the N-terminal region of the beta-polypeptide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukihiro Kimura
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Mito 310-8512, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Suzuki H, Hirano Y, Kimura Y, Takaichi S, Kobayashi M, Miki K, Wang ZY. Purification, characterization and crystallization of the core complex from thermophilic purple sulfur bacterium Thermochromatium tepidum. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2007; 1767:1057-63. [PMID: 17658456 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2007.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2007] [Revised: 05/23/2007] [Accepted: 06/04/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A light-harvesting-reaction center (LH1-RC) core complex has been highly purified from a thermophilic purple sulfur bacterium, Thermochromatium tepidum. The bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a molecules in the LH1 exhibit a Q(y) transition at 914 nm, more than 25 nm red-shift from those of its mesophilic counterparts. The LH1-RC complex was isolated in a monomeric form as confirmed by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, blue native PAGE and size-exclusion chromatography. Four subunits (L, M, H and a tetraheme cytochrome) in RC and two polypeptides (alpha and beta) in LH1 were identified. Spirilloxanthin was determined to be the predominant carotenoid in the core complex. The purified core complex was highly stable, no significant change in the LH1 Q(y) transition was observed over 10 days of incubation at room temperature in dark. Circular dichroism spectrum of the LH1 complex was characterized by low intensity and nonconservative spectral shape, implying a high symmetry of the large LH1 ring and interaction between the BChl a and carotenoid molecules. A dimeric feature of the BChl a molecules in LH1 was revealed by magnetic circular dichroism spectrum. Crystals of the core complex were obtained which diffracted X-rays to about 10 A.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Suzuki
- Faculty of Science, Ibaraki University, Bunkyo, Mito 310-8512, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Georgakopoulou S, van Grondelle R, van der Zwan G. Explaining the Visible and Near-Infrared Circular Dichroism Spectra of Light-Harvesting 1 Complexes from Purple Bacteria: A Modeling Study. J Phys Chem B 2006; 110:3344-53. [PMID: 16494349 DOI: 10.1021/jp051794c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
In this work, we investigate the origin and characteristics of the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum of various light-harvesting 1 (LH1) complexes. The near-infrared (NIR) CD signal of these core antennae is strongly nonconservative, and the nature of this nonconservativity is under examination in this paper. So far, on the basis of the high-resolution structures of LH2, we have been able to model the absorption and CD spectra in the bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) Q(Y) and Q(X) regions of LH2 (Georgakopoulou et al., Biophys. J. 2002, 82, 2184-2197), as well as in the carotenoid region (Georgakopoulou et al., Biophys. J. 2004, 87, 3010-3022). We proceed by applying the same modeling method in order to reproduce the LH1 spectra. We assume a ring of dimers in a perfect circular arrangement with 16-fold symmetry, and account for all excitonic interactions within the ring. Because LH1 complexes exhibit Q(Y) and Q(X) CD signals of very low intensity, higher transitions can easily affect these regions. Therefore, we expand the model and take into account also the Soret and carotenoid transitions. We can now understand the shape of the absorption and CD spectra and contemplate the structure of the LH1 complex. The latter is similar to LH2 in that it is a very symmetric ring dominated by excitonic interactions. The larger number of symmetry and the bigger diameter of LH1, combined with small rotations of the BChl transition dipole moments, are responsible for the display of CD signals that are very low in intensity. The interaction of the Q(Y) with the carotenoid transitions results in complete loss of the conservativity. Interaction energies between all the pigments in the ring are calculated, and their values are in good accordance with what is reported in the literature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Georgakopoulou
- Department of Biophysics and Physics of Complex Systems, Vrije Universiteit, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | |
Collapse
|