The 17-propionate function of (bacterio)chlorophylls: biological implication of their long esterifying chains in photosynthetic systems
Tamiaki, Shibata, Mizoguchi (2007) The 17-propionate function of (bacterio)chlorophylls: biological implication of their long esterifying chains in photosynthetic systems Photochem Photobiol (IF: 2.5) 83(1) 152-62Abstract
Molecular structures of (bacterio)chlorophylls [= (B)Chls] in photosynthetic apparatus are surveyed, and a diversity of the ester groups of the 17-propionate substituent is particularly focused on in this review. In oxygenic photosynthetic species including green plants and algae, the ester of Chl molecules is limited to a phytyl group. Geranylgeranyl and farnesyl groups in addition to phytyl are observed in (B)Chl molecules inside photosynthetic proteins of anoxygenic bacteria. In main light-harvesting antennas of green bacteria (chlorosomes), a greater variety of ester groups including long straight chains are used in the composite BChl molecules. This diversity is ascribable to the fact that chlorosomal BChls self-aggregate to form a core part of chlorosomes without any specific interaction of oligopeptides. Biological significance of the long chains is discussed in photosynthetic apparatus, especially in chlorosomes.
Links
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16776548http://dx.doi.org/10.1562/2006-02-27-IR-819
