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- ********************************************************
- * Antenna complexes alpha and beta subunits signatures *
- ********************************************************
-
- In photosynthetic bacteria the antenna complexes function as light-harvesting
- systems that absorb light radiation and transfer the excitation energy to the
- reaction centers. The antenna complexes are generally composed of two
- polypeptides (alpha and beta chains); two or three bacteriochlorophyll (BChl)
- molecules and some carotenoids [1,2].
-
- Both the alpha and the beta chains of antenna complexes are small proteins of
- 42 to 68 residues which share a three-domain organization. They are composed
- of a N-terminal hydrophilic cytoplasmic domain followed by a transmembrane
- region and a C-terminal hydrophilic periplasmic domain. In the transmembrane
- region of both chains there is a conserved histidine which is most probably
- involved in the binding of the magnesium atom of a bacteriochlorophyll group.
- The beta chains contain an additional conserved histidine which is located at
- the C-terminal extremity of the cytoplasmic domain and which is also thought
- to be involved in bacteriochlorophyll-binding.
-
- We have developed signature patterns for the alpha and for the beta subunits.
- These signature patterns include the conserved histidine residues.
-
- -Consensus pattern: [LIVFA]-x-[GASV]-[LIVFA]-x-[IV]-H-x(3)-[LIVM]-[STE]-
- [STNH]-x(1,3)-[STN]-W-[LIVMFYW]
- [The H binds BChl]
- -Sequences known to belong to this class detected by the pattern: ALL alpha
- chains.
- -Other sequence(s) detected in SWISS-PROT: NONE.
-
- -Consensus pattern: [EQ]-x(4)-H-x(5)-[AGS]-x(3)-[FY]-x(3)-[AG]-x(2)-[AV]-H-
- x(7)-P
- [The two H bind BChl]
- -Sequences known to belong to this class detected by the pattern: ALL beta
- chains, except for Ectothiorhodospira halochloris B800/830/1020 beta-2.
- -Other sequence(s) detected in SWISS-PROT: NONE.
-
- -Last update: June 1994 / First entry.
-
- [ 1] Wagner-Huber R., Brunisholz R.A., Bissig I., Frank G., Suter F., Zuber H.
- Eur. J. Biochem. 205:917-925(1992).
- [ 2] Brunisholz R.A., Zuber H.
- J. Photochem. Photobiol. B 15:113-140(1992).
-