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The 17‐Propionate Function of (Bacterio)chlorophylls: Biological Implication of Their Long Esterifying Chains in Photosynthetic Systems †
Author(s) -
Tamiaki Hitoshi,
Shibata Reiko,
Mizoguchi Tadashi
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1562/2006-02-27-ir-819
Subject(s) - chlorosome , photosynthesis , bacteriochlorophyll , chemistry , anoxygenic photosynthesis , biogenesis , molecule , stereochemistry , biochemistry , organic chemistry , phototroph , gene
Molecular structures of (bacterio)chlorophylls [=(B)Chls] in photosynthetic apparatus are surveyed, and a diversity of the ester groups of the 17‐propionate substituent is particularly focused on in this review. In oxygenic photosynthetic species including green plants and algae, the ester of Chl molecules is limited to a phytyl group. Geranylgeranyl and farnesyl groups in addition to phytyl are observed in (B)Chl molecules inside photosynthetic proteins of anoxygenic bacteria. In main light‐harvesting antennas of green bacteria (chlorosomes), a greater variety of ester groups including long straight chains are used in the composite BChl molecules. This diversity is ascribable to the fact that chlorosomal BChls self‐aggregate to form a core part of chlorosomes without any specific interaction of oligopeptides. Biological significance of the long chains is discussed in photosynthetic apparatus, especially in chlorosomes.