Structure of a symmetric photosynthetic reaction center-photosystem

Christopher Gisriel, Iosifina Sarrou, Bryan Ferlez, John H. Golbeck, Kevin Redding, Raimund Fromme

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

122 Scopus citations

Abstract

Reaction centers are pigment-protein complexes that drive photosynthesis by converting light into chemical energy. It is believed that they arose once froma homodimeric protein. The symmetry of a homodimer is broken in heterodimeric reaction-center structures, such as those reported previously. The 2.2-angstrom resolution x-ray structure of the homodimeric reaction center-photosystem from the phototroph Heliobacterium modesticaldum exhibits perfect C2 symmetry. The core polypeptide dimer and two small subunits coordinate 54 bacteriochlorophylls and 2 carotenoids that capture and transfer energy to the electron transfer chain at the center, which performs charge separation and consists of 6 (bacterio)chlorophylls and an iron-sulfur cluster; unlike other reaction centers, it lacks a bound quinone. This structure preserves characteristics of the ancestral reaction center, providing insight into the evolution of photosynthesis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1021-1025
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume357
Issue number6355
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 8 2017

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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