Membrane-Bound Bacteriophytochrome-Like Complex of Phototrophic Purple Non-Sulfur Bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris

Abstract

A pigment-protein complex of yellow color with absorption maxima at 682 and 776 nm, characteristic for bacteriophytochromes, was isolated from the photosynthetic membranes of the purple bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Zinc-induced fluorescence of the complex indicated the presence of the biliverdin chromophore covalently bound to the protein. The parameters of low-temperature fluorescence (λ excitation at 680 nm, λ emission at 695 nm) indicated the ability of the complex to undergo photoconversion. These data, as well as the kinetics of accumulation of the red (Pr)-form on far red light, allowed the complex to be classified as a bacteriophytochrome-like complex with its localization in the photosynthetic membranes of Rps. palustris.