Supramolecular Architecture and Function of Photosynthetic Units in Chloroplasts

光合单位的形成正在监测中， 叶绿体在受控条件下发育。 的 四种不同的Chl a和Chl B- 在PSII的捕光复合物中含有多肽 正在通过定量光系统复合物进行研究， 原位测量叶绿素天线的尺寸和组成， 与多肽亚基组成和免疫印迹的相关性 分析. 此外，起源，生理意义 和三种新的低分子量蛋白质的功能（12-19 kDa区域）正在研究中。 这些都是丰富的， 类囊体膜在组装/发育的PSU，但 在成熟的叶绿体中基本上不存在。 实验 设计用于分离三种新蛋白质， 形成针对相应多肽的抗体。 随后的研究将调查免疫交叉- 反应性、化学交联和这些的定位 类囊体膜中的蛋白质。 太阳能，地球上所有生物能源的最终来源 这个星球，通过吸收化学物质转化为化学形式， 在绿色植物的光合作用单位中，由叶绿素产生的光。 本研究旨在阐明 这个单位在绿色植物叶绿体，并提供 关于光合作用的组装/组织的信息 单位 它将导致对光利用的理解， 生物能量转换过程。

The formation of the photosynthetic unit is being monitored in chloroplasts developing under controlled conditions. The assembly and organization of four distinct Chl a and Chl b- containing polypeptides in the light-harvesting complex of PSII are being studied by quantitation of photosystem complexes, measurement of the Chl antenna size and composition in situ, correlation with polypeptide subunit composition, and immunoblot analysis. In addition, the origin, physiological significance and function of three novel low molecular-weight proteins (12-19 kDa region) are being studied. These are abundant in the thylakoid membrane during the assembly/development of the PSU but are largely absent from the mature chloroplast. Experiments are designed for the isolation of the three novel proteins and for the formation of antibodies against the respective polypeptides. Subsequent research will investigate the immunological cross- reactivity, chemical cross-linking and localization of these proteins in the thylakoid membrane. Solar energy, the ultimate source of all biological energy on this planet, is converted to chemical form through absorption of light by chlorophyll in the photosynthetic unit of green plants. This research is elucidating the architecture and function of this unit in green plant chloroplasts and is providing information on the assembly/organization of the photosynthetic unit. It will lead to an understanding of light utilization in a biological energy conversion process.