Abstract
The development of chlorosomes and their pigmentation were studied by growing Chloroflexus aurantiacus strain Ok-7o-fl first under conditions under which BChl c-synthesis is low (50°C, 2000 lux and 30°C, 1500 lux) and subsequently under conditions promoting high BChl c-synthesis (50°C, 400 lux). Electron microscopic observations on and chemical analyses of isolated cell components showed that in BChl c-depleted cells chlorosome-like structures (“chlorosome bags”) are attached to fragments of cytoplasmic membranes. These chlorosome bags exhibit a periodic fine structure caused by the construction of the baseplates of the chlorosomes. The baseplates are closely attached to the cytoplasmic membrane, they are rich in phospholipids and apparently contain a 790 nm-BChl a-complex. Chlorosome bags of BChl c-depleted cells always contain a limited amount of light-harvesting pigment complexes (BChlc, γ- and β-carotene). The light-harvesting system is restored (50°C, 400 lux) by first refilling the existing chlorosome bags before cell division takes place.
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Abbreviations
- BChl:
-
Bacteriochlorophyll
- LH:
-
Light-harvesting complex
- RC:
-
Reaction center
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Schmidt, K., Maarzahl, M. & Mayer, F. Development and pigmentation of chlorosomes in Chloroflexus aurantiacus strain Ok-70-fl. Arch. Microbiol. 127, 87–97 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428011
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428011