The phycobilisomes: an early requisite for efficient photosynthesis in cyanobacteria

Authors

  • Niraj Kumar Singh Shri A. N. Patel PG Institute (M. B. Patel Science College Campus), Anand, Sardargunj, Anand - 388001, Gujarat, India
  • Ravi Raghav Sonani BRD School of Biosciences, Sardar Patel Maidan, Vadtal Road, Post Box No. 39, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar 388 120, Anand, Gujarat, India
  • Rajesh Prasad Rastogi BRD School of Biosciences, Sardar Patel Maidan, Vadtal Road, Post Box No. 39, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar 388 120, Anand, Gujarat, India
  • Datta Madamwar BRD School of Biosciences, Sardar Patel Maidan, Vadtal Road, Post Box No. 39, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar 388 120, Anand, Gujarat, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2014-723

Keywords:

protein, phycobiliproteins, chromophores, linker polypeptide, complementary chromatic adaptation

Abstract

Cyanobacteria trap light energy by arrays of pigment molecules termed “phycobilisomes (PBSs)”, organized proximal to "reaction centers" at which chlorophyll perform the energy transduction steps with highest quantum efficiency. PBSs, composed of sequential assembly of various chromophorylated phycobiliproteins (PBPs), as well as nonchromophoric, basic and hydrophobic polypeptides called linkers. Atomic resolution structure of PBP is a heterodimer of two structurally related polypeptides but distinct specialised polypeptides- a and ß, made up of seven alpha-helices each which played a crucial step in evolution of PBPs. PBPs carry out various light dependent responses such as complementary chromatic adaptation. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the recent progress in this field and to highlight the new and the questions that remain unresolved.

Published

2015-02-20

How to Cite

Singh, N. K., Sonani, R. R., Rastogi, R. P., & Madamwar, D. (2015). The phycobilisomes: an early requisite for efficient photosynthesis in cyanobacteria. EXCLI Journal, 14, 268–289. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2014-723

Issue

Section

Original articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)