[Study of aggregation of chlorophyll and its analogs in artificial pigment--protein complexes]

Investigations of synthetic pigment-protein complexes by the spectral methods showed that during chlorophyll complex formation with casein self-assembly of different pigment packing that are analogous to the system of their native forms according to spectral properties, takes place. Under the condition of the links between protein and methylchlorophyllide, the latter has slighter and pheophytin has greater tendency to aggregation that chlorophyll. The conclusions are based on our results and data on the nature of chlorophyll-protein interaction and structure of spectral forms of pigment. Monomers are fixed on the protein by the coordination of Mg atoms. Oligomers are fixed electrostatically by polar sides of porphyrin cycles free of pigment-pigment interaction. Dimers and chlorophyll-water aggregates are fixed hydrophobically by phytol residuals.