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Statistical considerations on the formation of circular photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes from Rhodopseudomonas palustris

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Abstract

Depending on growth conditions, some species of purple photosynthetic bacteria contain peripheral light-harvesting (LH2) complexes that are heterogeneous owing to the presence of different protomers (containing different αβ-apoproteins). Recent spectroscopic studies of Rhodopseudomonas palustris grown under low-light conditions suggest the presence of a C 3-symmetric LH2 nonamer comprised of two distinct protomers. The software program Cyclaplex, which enables generation and data-mining of virtual libraries of molecular rings formed upon combinatorial reactions, has been used to delineate the possible number and type of distinct nonamers as a function of numbers of distinct protomers. The yield of the C 3-symmetric nonamer from two protomers (A and B in varying ratios) has been studied under the following conditions: (1) statistical, (2) enriched (preclusion of the B-B sequence), and (3) seeded (pre-formation of an A-B-A block). The yield of C 3-symmetric nonamer is at most 0.98 % under statistical conditions versus 5.6 % under enriched conditions, and can be dominant under conditions of pre-seeding with an A-B-A block. In summary, the formation of any one specific nonamer even from only two protomers is unlikely on statistical grounds but must stem from enhanced free energy of formation or a directed assembly process by as-yet unknown factors.

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Abbreviations

LH2:

Light-harvesting complex 2

Bchl a :

Bacteriochlorophyll a

NIR:

Near-infrared

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Acknowledgments

This research was carried out as part of the Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center (PARC), an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Award No. DE-SC0001035.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8204, USA

    Masahiko Taniguchi & Jonathan S. Lindsey

  2. Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK

    Sarah Henry & Richard J. Cogdell

Authors
  1. Masahiko Taniguchi
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  2. Sarah Henry
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  3. Richard J. Cogdell
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  4. Jonathan S. Lindsey
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Correspondence to Masahiko Taniguchi, Richard J. Cogdell or Jonathan S. Lindsey.

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Taniguchi, M., Henry, S., Cogdell, R.J. et al. Statistical considerations on the formation of circular photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes from Rhodopseudomonas palustris . Photosynth Res 121, 49–60 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-014-9975-x

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