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Three‐dimensional architecture of phycobilisomes from Nostoc flagelliforme revealed by single particle electron microscopy
Author(s) -
Yi Zhi-Wei,
Huang Hui,
Kuang Ting-Yun,
Sui Sen-Fang
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.05.033
Subject(s) - phycobilisome , allophycocyanin , nostoc , electron microscope , crystallography , chemistry , biophysics , photochemistry , cyanobacteria , biology , phycocyanin , optics , physics , bacteria , genetics
Phycobilisomes are protein complexes that harvest light and transfer energy to the photo system. Here, the three dimensional structure of intact phycobilisomes from Nostoc flagelliforme is studied by a combination of negative stain electron microscopy and cryo‐electron microscopy. Results show that the intact phycobilisomes are composed of a tricylindrical core and six rods. Each allophycocyanin cylinder presents a double‐layered structure when viewed from the side and a triangular shape when viewed from the top. These characteristics indicate that allophycocyanin trimers in the intact phycobilisomes are arranged into hexameric oligomers in a parallel manner.