Chlorosome antenna complexes from green photosynthetic bacteria

• Published in: Photosynthesis research Vol. 116; no. 2-3; pp. 315 - 331
• Main Authors: Orf, Gregory S, Blankenship, Robert E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01.10.2013; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Antennas (Electronics); Bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; Bacteria - ultrastructure; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Proteins - chemistry; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Bacteriochlorophylls; Bacteriochlorophylls - chemistry; Bacteriochlorophylls - metabolism; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; biosynthesis; chemistry; Chlorophyll; energy; Life Sciences; light harvesting complex; light intensity; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes - metabolism; metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Monomolecular films; mutation; Organelles; Organelles - metabolism; Organelles - ultrastructure; Photobiology; Photosynthesis; photosynthetic bacteria; Pigments; Plant Genetics and Genomics; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; protein aggregates; Review; SOLAR ENERGY; ultrastructure; Green bacteria; Bacteriochlorophyll; Chlorosome; Light-harvesting complex; Bio-hybrid solar cells
• ISSN: 0166-8595; 1573-5079; 1573-5079
• DOI: 10.1007/s11120-013-9869-3

Chlorosomes are the distinguishing light-harvesting antenna complexes that are found in green photosynthetic bacteria. They contain bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c, d, e in natural organisms, and recently through mutation, BChl f, as their principal light-harvesting pigments. In chlorosomes, these pigments self-assemble into large supramolecular structures that are enclosed inside a lipid monolayer to form an ellipsoid. The pigment assembly is dictated mostly by pigment–pigment interactions as opposed to protein–pigment interactions. On the bottom face of the chlorosome, the CsmA protein aggregates into a paracrystalline baseplate with BChl a, and serves as the interface to the next energy acceptor in the system. The exceptional light-harvesting ability at very low light conditions of chlorosomes has made them an attractive subject of study for both basic and applied science. This review, incorporating recent advancements, considers several important aspects of chlorosomes: pigment biosynthesis, organization of pigments and proteins, spectroscopic properties, and applications to bio-hybrid and bio-inspired devices.