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Phycobilisomes of wild type and pigment mutants of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803

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Abstract

Mutants affected in their pigment content and in the structure of their phycobilosomes (PBS) were isolated in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 by enriching a population with the inhibitor p-hydroxymercuribenzoate. Three of these mutants, PMB 2, PMB 10 and PMB 11, with original phenotypes, are described. Applying several criteria of analysis (77K absorption and fluorescence, protein electrophoretic patterns, electron microscopy), it was possible to assign the component polypeptides to each substructure of the phycobilisome. The model structure obtained fits with those described in other species PMB 10 and PMB 11, completely lacking PC, are the first source of pure PBS cores available, in which no contamination by residual PC can be feared, and are thus particularly interesting for further biochemical studies. The capacity of genetic transformation of Synechocystis PCC 6803 by chromosomal DNA makes this system very convenient for the analysis of the regulation of synthesis of the PBS constituents.

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Abbreviations

PSI, PSII:

photosystems I, II

PBS:

phycobilisomes

PC:

phycocyanin

APC:

allophycocyanin

APC-B:

alophycocyanin B

PE:

phycoerythrin

PEC:

phycoerythrocyanin

WT:

wind type

Chl:

chlorophyll

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Photosynthèse, CNRS, F-91190, Gif sur Yvette, France

    K. Elmorjani & P. Sebban

  2. Laboratoire de Cytophysiologie Végétale, Ecole Normale Supérieure, F-75231, Paris Cedex 05, France

    J. -C. Thomas

Authors
  1. K. Elmorjani
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  2. J. -C. Thomas
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  3. P. Sebban
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Present address: Service de Physiologie Microbienne Institut Pasteur, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, F-75724 Paris Cedex 15, France

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Elmorjani, K., Thomas, J.C. & Sebban, P. Phycobilisomes of wild type and pigment mutants of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803. Arch. Microbiol. 146, 186–191 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402349

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402349

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