sodium-bromide and sodium-thiocyanate

The LI818 gene from Chlamydomonas encodes a polypeptide that is related to the chlorophyll a/b-binding proteins (CAB) of higher plants and green algae. However, despite this relatedness, LI818 gene expression is not coordinated with that of cab genes and is regulated differently by light, suggesting a different role for LI818 polypeptide. We show here that, in contrast to CAB polypeptides, LI818 polypeptide is not tightly embedded into the thylakoid membranes and is localized in stroma-exposed regions. Moreover, during chloroplast development, LI818 polypeptide accumulates before CAB polypeptides. We also show that the LI818 polypeptide forms with certain chlorophyll a/c-binding proteins (CAC) from the haptophyte Isochrysis galbana and the diatom Cyclotella cryptica a natural group that is distinct from those constituted by CAB, CAC and the chlorophyll a/a-binding proteins (CAA). Such an association suggests a very ancient origin for this group of polypeptides, which predates the division of the early photosynthetic eukaryotes into green (chlorophyte), red (rhodophyte) and brown (chromophyte) algae. Possible roles for the LI818 polypeptide are discussed.

Topics: Algal Proteins; Alkalies; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Blotting, Western; Bromides; Chlamydomonas reinhardtii; Gene Expression Regulation; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Immune Sera; Light; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; Molecular Sequence Data; Mutation; Octoxynol; Photosynthesis; Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; Phylogeny; Plant Proteins; Rabbits; Recombinant Proteins; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Sodium Chloride; Sodium Compounds; Thiocyanates; Thylakoids

The topology of the Rieske protein of the cytochrome b6/f complex in thylakoids from spinach chloroplasts was examined by protease protection experiments as well as polypeptide extraction assays using solutions of chaotropic salts or alkaline pH. While neither thermolysin nor trypsin cleave any of the Rieske protein when added to the stromal side of the thylakoid membrane, proteinase K is capable of removing approximately four residues from its NH2-terminus. The protein is resistant to membrane extraction by 0.1 M Na2CO3 or 2 M NaBr but is quantitatively released by 0.1 M NaOH. Treatment of thylakoids with 2 M NaSCN leads to extraction of variable amounts of the protein, depending on the presence or absence of sucrose in the medium which apparently stabilizes the cytochrome complex. From these results we conclude that the Rieske protein is an integral component of the cytochrome complex which spans the thylakoid membrane with a single hydrophobic segment and is anchored predominantly by electrostatic interactions.

Topics: Blotting, Western; Bromides; Carbonates; Chloroplasts; Cytochrome b Group; Cytochrome b6f Complex; Electron Transport Complex III; Endopeptidase K; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Iron-Sulfur Proteins; Membrane Proteins; Plant Proteins; Protein Conformation; Sodium Compounds; Sodium Hydroxide; Spinacia oleracea; Temperature; Thermolysin; Thiocyanates; Trypsin

The intact Photosystem I core protein, containing the psaA and psaB polypeptides, and electron transfer components P-700 through FX, was isolated from cyanobacterial and higher plant Photosystem I complexes with chaotropic agents followed by sucrose density ultracentrifugation. The concentrations of NaClO4, NaSCN, NaI, NaBr or urea required for the functional removal of the 8.9 kDa, FA/FB polypeptide was shown to be inversely related to the strength of the chaotrope. The Photosystem I core protein, which was purified to homogeniety, contains 4 mol of acid-labile sulfide and has the following properties: (i) the FX-containing core consists of the 82 and 83 kDa reaction center polypeptides but is totally devoid of the low-molecular-mass polypeptides; (ii) methyl viologen and other bipyridilium dyes have the ability to accept electrons directly from FX; (iii) the difference spectrum of FX from 400 to 900 nm is characteristic of an iron-sulfur cluster; (iv) the midpoint potential of FX, determined optically at room temperature, is 60 mV more positive than in the control; (v) there is indication by ESR spectroscopy of low-temperature heterogeneity within FX; and (vi) the heterogeneity is seen by optical spectroscopy as inefficiency in low-temperature electron flow to FX. The constraints imposed by the amount of non-heme iron and labile sulfide in the Photosystem I core protein, the cysteine content of the psaA and psaB polypeptides, and the stoichiometry of high-molecular-mass polypeptides, cause us to re-examine the possibility that FX is a [4Fe-4S] rather than a [2Fe-2S] cluster ligated by homologous cysteine residues on the psaA and psaB heterodimer.

Topics: Bromides; Centrifugation, Density Gradient; Chlorates; Chlorophyll; Cold Temperature; Cross-Linking Reagents; Cyanobacteria; Digitonin; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Electron Transport; Glutaral; Kinetics; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; Molecular Weight; Octoxynol; Oxidation-Reduction; Photochemistry; Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; Photosystem I Protein Complex; Plant Proteins; Polyethylene Glycols; Sodium; Sodium Compounds; Sodium Iodide; Spectrophotometry; Thiocyanates; Urea