Modified bacterial reaction centers

Struck, A., Müller, A. and Scheer, Hugo (1991): Modified bacterial reaction centers. 4. The borohydride treatment reinvertigated: comparison with selective exchange experiments at binding sites BA,B and HA,B. In: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics, Vol. 1060, No. 3: pp. 262-270

Abstract

Pigments of borohydride-treated reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides R 26 and Rhodopseudomonas viridis were analyzed by HPLC with polychromatic detection. In both species, pigment composition and contents were unchanged. Reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R26 were prepared in which bacteriochlorophylls (BA,B) and bacteriopheophytins (HA,B) were exchanged with their potential borohydride products reduced at C-31. [3-Hydroxyethyl]-BChl a exchanges selectively into the BA,B pockets, and 31-OH-BPh a to the HA,B pockets. Stable reaction centers are obtained in both cases. A comparison of the absorption and circular dichroism spectra of reaction centers after exchange with 31-OH pigments, and of borohydride-modified reaction centers, reveal distinct differences. It is concluded that during borohydride reduction none of the pigments is chemically modified or extracted from the reaction centers.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Keywords: Photosynthesis; Reaction center; Pigment exchange; Pigment-protein interaction; Borohydride modification Bacteriochlorophyll; Bacteriopheophytin
• Faculties: Biology
• Subjects: 500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology