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The PucC protein of Rhodobacter capsulatus mitigates an inhibitory effect of light-harvesting 2 α and β proteins on light-harvesting complex 1

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Abstract

Rhodobacter capsulatus contains lhaA and pucC genes that have been implicated in light-harvesting complex 1 and 2 (LH1 and LH2) assembly. The proteins encoded by these genes, and homologues in other photosynthetic organisms, have been classified as the bacteriochlorophyll delivery (BCD) family of the major facilitator superfamily. A new BCD family phylogenetic tree reveals that several PucC, LhaA and Orf428-related sequences each form separate clusters, while plant and cyanobacterial homologues cluster more distantly. The PucC protein is encoded in the pucBACDE superoperon which also codes for LH2 α (PucA) and β (PucB) proteins. PucC was previously shown to be necessary for formation of LH2. This article gives evidence indicating that PucC has a shepherding activity that keeps the homologous α and β proteins of LH1 and LH2 apart, allowing LH1 to assemble properly. This shepherding function was indicated by a 62% reduction in LH1 levels in ΔLHII strains carrying plasmids encoding pucBA along with a C-terminally truncated pucC gene. More severe reductions in LH1 were seen when the truncated pucC gene was co-expressed in the presence of C-terminal PucC::PhoA fusion proteins. It appears that interaction between truncated PucC::PhoA fusion proteins and the truncated PucC protein disrupts LH1 assembly, pointing towards a PucC dimeric or multimeric functional unit.

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Abbreviations

BCD:

Bacteriochlorophyll delivery

BChl:

Bacteriochlorophyll a

ICM:

Intracytoplasmic membrane system

LH1:

Light-harvesting complex 1

LH2:

Light-harvesting complex 2

RC:

Reaction centre

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by NSERC grants to J.T.B. and A.S.L., and NSERC PGS-M and UBC UGF scholarships to P.R.J.

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Author notes

  1. Heidi N. LeBlanc

    Present address: Medarex, Inc, 521 Cottonwood Dr, Milpitas, CA, 95035, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2350 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z3

    Paul R. Jaschke, Heidi N. LeBlanc & J. Thomas Beatty

  2. Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL, Canada, A1B 3X9

    Andrew S. Lang

Authors
  1. Paul R. Jaschke
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  2. Heidi N. LeBlanc
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  3. Andrew S. Lang
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  4. J. Thomas Beatty
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Correspondence to J. Thomas Beatty.

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Jaschke, P.R., LeBlanc, H.N., Lang, A.S. et al. The PucC protein of Rhodobacter capsulatus mitigates an inhibitory effect of light-harvesting 2 α and β proteins on light-harvesting complex 1. Photosynth Res 95, 279–284 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-007-9258-x

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