Evolution of the photosynthetic reaction center

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K21122
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Biophysics; Structural biochemistry
• Research Institution: Fukuoka University (2016-2017); Osaka University (2015)
• Principal Investigator: Mutoh Risa 福岡大学, 理学部, 助教 (10622417)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 光合成 / 反応中心 / X線結晶構造解析 / 電子スピン共鳴法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Type 1 Reaction Center (RC) is the simplest structures among 4 kinds of RCs. Phototrophs are classified into two groups, oxygenic phototrophs and anaerobic phototrophs, and they have each RC. Ｔhe structural and functional relationships in type 1 RCs remain poorly understood because of the difficulty with sample preparations due to their highly fragile properties against oxygenic air. I resolved the crystal structure of Type 1 RC at 3.2 Å resolution and found one new peptide which function is unknown. The existence of quinone molecules in Type 1 RC was unknown for long time. I identified RC contains 0.8 molecule quinones and found the electron density of quinones in the crystal structure.

Free Research Field

生物物理