2.4-Å structure of the double-ring <i>Gemmatimonas phototrophica</i> photosystem.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35171663.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abk3139 and PMC identifier 8849296.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC.
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Abstract
Phototrophic Gemmatimonadetes evolved the ability to use solar energy following horizontal transfer of photosynthesis-related genes from an ancient phototrophic proteobacterium. The electron cryo-microscopy structure of the <i>Gemmatimonas phototrophica</i> photosystem at 2.4 Å reveals a unique, double-ring complex. Two unique membrane-extrinsic polypeptides, RC-S and RC-U, hold the central type 2 reaction center (RC) within an inner 16-subunit light-harvesting 1 (LH1) ring, which is encircled by an outer 24-subunit antenna ring (LHh) that adds light-gathering capacity. Femtosecond kinetics reveal the flow of energy within the RC-dLH complex, from the outer LHh ring to LH1 and then to the RC. This structural and functional study shows that <i>G. phototrophica</i> has independently evolved its own compact, robust, and highly effective architecture for harvesting and trapping solar energy.