Structural and functional relationship of photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers

The structure of reaction centers (RCs) was modified with various sulfhydryl reagents. It was found that mercurial reagents, especially p-chloromercuribenzenesulfate (pCMBS), inhibit Q$\sb{\rm B}$ function in RCs from Rhodobacter sphaeroides and Rhodobacter capsulatus, but not in Rhodopseudomonas viridis. By comparison of the protein sequences and structures of RCs of three species, it was suggested that Cys$\sp{\rm L108}$ in Rb. sphaeroides (Cys$\sp{\rm L109}$ in Rb. capsulatus) is the best candidate for the mercurial reagents to inhibit Q$\sb{\rm B}$ function. And a mechanism was suggested. By construction of a mutant of Rb. sphaeroides, in which Cys$\sp{\rm L108}$ was changed to serine using site-directed mutagenesis, this suggestion was strongly supported by the absence of any mercurial reagent effect on this mutant.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biophysics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Gao, Jiliang

Contributors dc:contributor

• Wraight, Colin A.

• Biology, Molecular
• Chemistry, Biochemistry
• Biophysics, General

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1991 Gao, Jiliang

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9124416
(UMI)AAI9124416

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/22147