Efficient light harvesting by photosystem II requires an optimized protein packing density in Grana thylakoids.

ABSTRACT: A recently developed technique for dilution of the naturally high protein packing density in isolated grana membranes was applied to study the dependence of the light harvesting efficiency of photosystem (PS) II on macromolecular crowding. Slight dilution of the protein packing from 80% area fraction to the value found in intact grana thylakoids (70%) leads to an improved functionality of PSII (increased antenna size, enhanced connectivity between reaction centers). Further dilution induces a functional disconnection of light-harvesting complex (LHC) II from PSII. It is concluded that efficient light harvesting by PSII requires an optimal protein packing density in grana membranes that is close to 70%. We hypothesize that the decreased efficiency in overcrowded isolated grana thylakoids is

SUBMITTER: Haferkamp S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2878060 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature