[Molecular organization of bacteriochlorophyll in the light-converging B850 complex of purple bacteria]

The light-harvesting bacteriochlorophyll-protein complex B850 has been isolated from two species of purple bacteria, Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Chromatium minutissimum. Absorption and fluorescence spectra at 20 degrees and--196 degrees C of this complex were registered. Second derivatives of the absorption spectra, Stepanov's relation and computer curve analyses in terms of asymmetrical Gaussian components show that absorption spectra consist of five and fluorescence spectra--of three components. These components were analysed in terms of exciton interaction among bacteriochlorophyll molecules. Data obtained were used for building-up of the molecular model of the complex.