Architectures of photosynthetic RC-LH1 supercomplexes from Rhodobacter blasticus

The reaction center-light-harvesting complex 1 (RC-LH1) plays an essential role in the primary reactions of bacterial photosynthesis. Here, we present high-resolution structures of native monomeric and dimeric RC-LH1 supercomplexes from Rhodobacter (Rba.) blasticus using cryo-electron microscopy. The RC-LH1 monomer is composed of an RC encircled by an open LH1 ring comprising 15 αβ heterodimers and a PufX transmembrane polypeptide. In the RC-LH1 dimer, two crossing PufX polypeptides mediate dimerization. Unlike Rhodabacter sphaeroides counterpart, Rba. blasticus RC-LH1 dimer has a less bent conformation, lacks the PufY subunit near the LH1 opening, and includes two extra LH1 αβ subunits, forming a more enclosed S-shaped LH1 ring. Spectroscopic assays reveal that these unique structural features are accompanied by changes in the kinetics of quinone/quinol trafficking between RC-LH1 and cytochrome bc₁. Our findings reveal the assembly principles and structural variability of photosynthetic RC-LH1 supercomplexes, highlighting diverse strategies used by phototrophic bacteria to optimize light-harvesting and electron transfer in competitive environments.