Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.

Structural Isomerism

Structural Isomerism

Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can...

Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Protein Complexes with Interchangeable Parts

Groups of proteins may form a complex where each protein in this complex has a different role in the overall execution of the complex’s function. Often some of the proteins in the complex can be replaced by a closely related variant to give a complex that contains many of the same components yet is functionally distinct.
The SCF ubiquitin ligase is a protein complex of five individual proteins. This complex attaches ubiquitin to other target proteins to mark them for degradation. In order...

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes

Crystal Field Theory
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...

Additional Subnuclear Structures

Additional Subnuclear Structures

The eukaryotic nucleus is a double membrane-bound organelle that contains nearly all of the cell’s genetic material in the form of chromosomes. It is rightly called the “brain” of the cell as it shoulders the responsibility of responding to various physiological processes, stress, altered metabolic conditions, and other cellular signals.
The nucleus contains many membrane-less subnuclear organelles or nuclear bodies, such as nucleoli, Cajal bodies, speckles,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Immediate splenectomy down-regulates the MAPK-NF-κB signaling pathway in rat brain after severe traumatic brain injury.

The journal of trauma and acute care surgery·2013

Same author

Novel TRPM6 mutations in familial hypomagnesemia with secondary hypocalcemia.

American journal of nephrology·2013

Same author

A novel technique of modified continuous blanket suture for amniotic membrane fixation in severe ocular surface diseases.

JAMA ophthalmology·2013

Same author

[Clinical manifestations, therapeutic response to tyrosinase inhibitor and RET gene activating mutation in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia 2B].

Zhonghua yi xue za zhi·2013

Same author

A hypomorphic lsd1 allele results in heart development defects in mice.

PloS one·2013

Same author

Spectroscopic study of the light-harvesting CP29 antenna complex of photosystem II--part I.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2013

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 7, 2026

$Studying the Supramolecular Organization of Photosynthetic Membranes within Freeze-fractured Leaf Tissues by Cryo-scanning Electron Microscopy$

Studying the Supramolecular Organization of Photosynthetic Membranes within Freeze-fractured Leaf Tissues by Cryo-scanning Electron Microscopy

Published on: June 23, 2016

Structures of Photosynthetic Supramolecular Complexes.

Zhenfeng Liu¹, Xin You², Mei Li¹

¹State Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; and College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China;

Annual Review of Biophysics

|February 5, 2026

Summary

Structural biology reveals how photosynthetic complexes assemble into supercomplexes. These structures are crucial for understanding energy conversion, electron flow, and carbon fixation in plants and bacteria.

Keywords:

assembly mechanism cryo-electron microscopy electron transport energy transfer photosynthesis supramolecular complex

More Related Videos

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro

Published on: April 8, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 7, 2026

$Studying the Supramolecular Organization of Photosynthetic Membranes within Freeze-fractured Leaf Tissues by Cryo-scanning Electron Microscopy$

Studying the Supramolecular Organization of Photosynthetic Membranes within Freeze-fractured Leaf Tissues by Cryo-scanning Electron Microscopy

Published on: June 23, 2016

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Synthesis and Characterization of Supramolecular Colloids

Published on: April 22, 2016

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro

Directed Assembly of Elastin-like Proteins into defined Supramolecular Structures and Cargo Encapsulation In Vitro

Published on: April 8, 2020

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Structural Biology
Photosynthesis Research

Background:

Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy through complex biological processes.
Photosynthetic complexes can form supramolecular assemblies to enhance function and regulation.
Understanding these structures is key to deciphering energy transfer and carbon fixation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review advancements in structural biology of photosynthetic supramolecular complexes.
To highlight insights gained from cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies.
To discuss the implications for understanding photosynthesis, electron flow, and carbon fixation.

Main Methods:

Review of structural biology studies, focusing on cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
Analysis of structural data for various photosynthetic supramolecular complexes.
Integration of findings related to light-harvesting complexes, photosystems, and associated enzymes.

Main Results:

Detailed architectures of NADH dehydrogenase-like (NDH) complex and PSI-NDH supercomplex revealed.
Insights into the assembly and repair mechanisms of photosystem II (PSII).
Understanding the regulation of ATP synthase and carbon fixation pathways.

Conclusions:

Structural biology provides critical frameworks for understanding molecular mechanisms in photosynthesis.
Cryo-EM has significantly advanced our knowledge of photosynthetic supercomplexes.
Emerging directions promise further breakthroughs in photosynthetic research.