Protein/lipid interactions in phospholipid monolayers containing the bacterial antenna protein B800-850

Heckl, Wolfgang M. and Lösche, Mathias and Scheer, Hugo and Möhwald, Helmuth (1985): Protein/lipid interactions in phospholipid monolayers containing the bacterial antenna protein B800-850. In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, Vol. 810: pp. 73-83

Abstract

Studies on monomolecular layers of phospholipids containing the antenna protein B800-850 (LHCP) and in some cases additionally the reaction center of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides are reported. Information on monolayer preparation as well as on protein /lipid and protein/protein interaction is obtained by means of fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy at the air/water interface in combination with film balance experiments. It is shown that a homogeneous distribution of functional proteins can be achieved. This can be transformed into a regular pattern-like distribution by inducing a phospholipid phase transition. Although the LHCP preferentially partitions into the fluid lipid phase, it decreases the lateral pressure necessary to crystallize the lipid. This is probably due to an increase in order of the fluid phase. A pressure-induced conformation change of the LHCP is detected via a drastic change in fluorescence yield. A highly efficient energy transfer from LHCP to the reaction center is observed. This proves the quantitative reconstitution of both types of proteins and indicates protein aggregation also in the monolayer.

• Item Type: Article
• Collections: Biology
• Subjects: 500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
• Language: English