N-terminal methylation of the core light-harvesting complex in purple photosynthetic bacteria

Several core light-harvesting complexes from both sulfur and non-sulfur purple photosynthetic bacteria have been identified to be methylated at the N-terminal alpha-amino group of beta-polypeptides by using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Monomethylation has been confirmed for the N-terminal alanine residues of the beta-polypeptides from Rhodospirillum rubrum, Thermochromatium tepidum and Chromatium vinosum, but not for the beta-polypeptide from Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The modification appears to be related with the amino acid sequence and charge distribution in the N-terminal end. Some common features and possible functions are discussed.