Structural insights into energy regulation of light-harvesting complex CP29 from spinach

Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2011 Mar;18(3):309-15. doi: 10.1038/nsmb.2008. Epub 2011 Feb 6.

Abstract

CP29, one of the minor light-harvesting complexes of higher-plant photosystem II, absorbs and transfers solar energy for photosynthesis and also has important roles in photoprotection. We have solved the crystal structure of spinach CP29 at 2.80-Å resolution. Each CP29 monomer contains 13 chlorophyll and 3 carotenoid molecules, which differs considerably from the major light-harvesting complex LHCII and the previously proposed CP29 model. The 13 chlorophyll-binding sites are assigned as eight chlorophyll a sites, four chlorophyll b and one putative mixed site occupied by both chlorophylls a and b. Based on the present X-ray structure, an integrated pigment network in CP29 is constructed. Two special clusters of pigment molecules, namely a615-a611-a612-Lut and Vio(Zea)-a603-a609, have been identified and might function as potential energy-quenching centers and as the exit or entrance in energy-transfer pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Energy Transfer
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / chemistry*
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / chemistry*
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / metabolism
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism
  • Protein Conformation
  • Spinacia oleracea / chemistry*
  • Spinacia oleracea / metabolism

Substances

  • CP29 light harvesting complex
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex
  • Plant Proteins