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Updated: Aug 4, 2026

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae
Published on: October 10, 2014
Requirements for different combinations of the extrinsic proteins in specific cyanobacterial photosystem II mutants
1Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. julian.eaton-rye@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Abstract:
The crystallographic data available for Photosystem II (PS II) in cyanobacteria has now provided complete structures for loop E from CP43 and CP47 as well as the extrinsic subunits PsbO, PsbU and PsbV. Protein interactions between these subunits are essential for stable water splitting and there is evidence that the binding of PsbU facilitates optimal energy transfer from the phycobilisome. Interactions between PsbO and CP47 may also play a role in dimer stabilization while loop E of CP43 contributes directly to the water-splitting reaction. Recent evidence also suggests that homologs of PsbP and PsbQ play key roles in cyanobacterial PS II, and under nutrient-deficient conditions PsbQ appears essential for photoautotrophic growth.
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