Primary light harvesting system: phycobilisomes and associated membranes. Progress report, January 1, 1976--December 31, 1976

Technical Report · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7342757

Gantt, E

Phycobilisomes, which function as light harvesting antennae in red and blue-green algae, are structured for maximum energy transfer from the phycobiliproteins to chlorophyll in the photosynthetic lamellae. An immunoelectron microscopic procedure was devised by which it was possible to show that allophycocyanin is located on the photosynthetic membrane, but apparently is not a structural component thereof. Location of allophycocyanin on the membrane is significant because it facilitates the energy transfer to chlorophyll. In attempts at reconstitution of phycobilisomes, from isolated phycobiliproteins, it was found that association of these pigments is more complex than had thus far been inferred from in vitro studies. In reconstituting complexes of phycocyanin and phycoerythrin, the previous apparent confirmational state of each protein was very important. Several allophycocyanin fms, derived from phycobilisomes, similarly showed absorption, fluorescence and sedimentation behavior which suggested minor but significant changes in the state of confirmation and or aggregation.

• Research Organization: Smithsonian Institution, Rockville, Md. (USA). Radiation Biology Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7342757
• Report Number(s): ORO-4310-7
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200* -- Biochemistry
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
BIOMASS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CELL MEMBRANES
CHLOROPHYLL
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUORESCENCE
HETEROCYCLIC ACIDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LUMINESCENCE
MEMBRANES
MICROSCOPY
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANOIDS
PHYCOCYANIN
PHYTOCHROMES
PIGMENTS
PLANTS
PORPHYRINS
RADIATIONS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEDIMENTATION
VISIBLE RADIATION