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Function and organization of Photosystem I polypeptides

  • Reaction Center Complexes Plants and Bacteria
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Abstract

Photosystem I functions as a plastocyanin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts and cyanobacteria. The PS I complex contains the photosynthetic pigments, the reaction center P700, and five electron transfer centers (A0, A1, FX, FA, and FB) that are bound to the PsaA, PsaB, and PsaC proteins. In addition, PS I complex contains at least eight other polypeptides that are accessory in their functions. Recent use of cyanobacterial molecular genetics has revealed functions of the accessory subunits of PS I. Site-directed mutagenesis is now being used to explore structure-function relations in PS I. The overall architecture of PSI complex has been revealed by X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, and biochemical methods. The information obtained by different techniques can be used to propose a model for the organization of PS I. Spectroscopic and molecular genetic techniques have deciphered interaction of PS I proteins with the soluble electron transfer partners. This review focuses on the recent structural, biochemical and molecular genetic studies that decipher topology and functions of PS I proteins, and their interactions with soluble electron carriers.

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Abbreviations

NHS:

N-hydroxysuccinamide

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA

    Parag R. Chitnis, Qiang Xu & Vaishali P. Chitnis

  2. Department of Botany, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Rachel Nechushtai

Authors
  1. Parag R. Chitnis
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  2. Qiang Xu
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  3. Vaishali P. Chitnis
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  4. Rachel Nechushtai
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This review is dedicated to Prof. J. Philip Thornber, in whose laboratory PRC was introduced to the green world of chlorophyllproteins.

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Chitnis, P.R., Xu, Q., Chitnis, V.P. et al. Function and organization of Photosystem I polypeptides. Photosynth Res 44, 23–40 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00018294

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