Visualization of photosynthetic protein supercomplexes by single molecule analysis

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26660087
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied biochemistry
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: IFUKU KENTARO 京都大学, 生命科学研究科, 助教 (50359783)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 植物 / 葉緑体 / 光合成 / 電子顕微鏡解析 / 光化学系

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts, protein complexes involved in the photosynthetic electron transport form metastable or transient supercomplexes to function efficiently. To visualize such supercomplexes in the thylakoid membrane, a single molecule analysis using electron microscope has been performed. As a model system, the photosystem II complex from thermophilic cyanobacteria was analyzed by a cryo-electron microscopy equipped with a phase plate to build the quaternary structure. In addition, we isolated and analyzed the photosystem II－light harvesting antenna protein (PSII-LHCII) supercomplexes from the thylakoid membrane of a unicellular algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Free Research Field

植物分子生物学・生化学