Research Demonstrates Diverse Photosynthetic Proteins in Algae
Light harvesting complex (LHC) proteins function in photosynthesis by binding chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid molecules that absorb light and transfer the energy to the reaction center Chl of the photosystem. There has been extensive research works on the LHCs of plants and chlorophytes that bind Chl a and b. Diverse biochemical functions, expression patterns and amino acid sequences of these proteins have been delineated. However, LHCs that typically bind Chl a and c, and that are widely distributed in Chl c-containing and other algae are less studied family of LHC’s.
Researchers have recently reconstructed a phylogeny of LHCs from Chl c containing algae and related lineages using data from recent sequencing projects to give ~10-fold larger taxon sampling. The phylogeny indicates that individual taxa possess proteins from multiple LHC subfamilies and that several LHC subfamilies are found in distantly related algal lineages. The analysis provides a strikingly different picture of LHC diversity than previous analyses of LHC evolution. Individual algal lineages possess proteins from multiple LHC subfamilies.
More info about the research work
