最近の研究から
光合成反応中心と集光アンテナタンパク質との複合体（LH1-RC）の結晶構造
2015 年 57 巻 2 号 p. 104-109
詳細
2015 年 57 巻 2 号 p. 104-109
For efficient use of sunlight, the light-harvesting core antenna (LH1) and the reaction center (RC) form a supramolecular complex (LH1-RC) in photosynthetic bacteria. We determined the crystal structure of a LH1-RC complex from a purple bacterium, Thermochromatium tepidum. The structure reveals that the RC is completely surrounded by 16 αβ-heterodimers. Calcium ions are bound at the periplasmic side of LH1. 32 bacteriochlorophyll and 16 spirilloxanthin molecules form an elliptical assembly in LH1. The pigment geometry involved in the absorption characteristics and excitation energy transfer is determined. In addition, ubiquinone channels and lipid molecules are observed in the complex.
