Distribution and dynamics of electron transport complexes in cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 1857; no. 3; pp. 256 - 265
• Main Author: Liu, Lu-Ning
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.03.2016; Elsevier Pub. Co
• Subjects: bacteria; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; biosynthesis; Cyanobacteria; Cyanobacteria - enzymology; electron transfer; Electron transport; Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins - metabolism; engineering; fuel production; Membrane protein; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Photosynthesis; Photosynthesis - physiology; plasticity; Protein distribution; Protein dynamics; Respiration; Supramolecular complex; Thylakoid membrane; thylakoids; Thylakoids - enzymology; Membrane protein; Cyanobacteria; Thylakoid membrane; Protein dynamics; Electron transport; Photosynthesis; Protein distribution; Respiration; Supramolecular complex
• ISSN: 0005-2728; 0006-3002; 1879-2650
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.11.010

The cyanobacterial thylakoid membrane represents a system that can carry out both oxygenic photosynthesis and respiration simultaneously. The organization, interactions and mobility of components of these two electron transport pathways are indispensable to the biosynthesis of thylakoid membrane modules and the optimization of bioenergetic electron flow in response to environmental changes. These are of fundamental importance to the metabolic robustness and plasticity of cyanobacteria. This review summarizes our current knowledge about the distribution and dynamics of electron transport components in cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes. Global understanding of the principles that govern the dynamic regulation of electron transport pathways in nature will provide a framework for the design and synthetic engineering of new bioenergetic machinery to improve photosynthesis and biofuel production. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Organization and dynamics of bioenergetic systems in bacteria, edited by Conrad Mullineaux. •Cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes carry out both oxygenic photosynthesis and respiration.•Electron transport components are located in the thylakoid membrane and functionally coordinate with each other.•Distribution and dynamics of electron transport components are physiologically regulated in response to environmental change.