Characterization of isolated photosystem I from Halomicronema hongdechloris, a chlorophyll f-producing cyanobacterium

Abstract

Halomicronema hongdechloris is a chlorophyll (Chl) f-producing cyanobacterium. Chl f biosynthesis is induced under far-red light, extending its photosynthetically active radiation range to 760 nm. In this study, PSI complexes were isolated and purified from H. hongdechloris, grown under white light (WL) and far-red light (FR), by a combination of density gradient ultracentrifugation and chromatographic separation. WL-PSI showed similar pigment composition as that of Synechocystis 6803, using Chl a in the reaction center. Both Chl a and f were detected in the FR-PSI, although Chl f was a minor component (~8% of total Chl). The FR-PSI showed a maximal fluorescence emission peak of 750 nm at 77 K, which is red-shifted ~20 nm compared to the 730 nm recorded from the WL-PSI. The absorption peaks of P700 for WLPSI and FR-PSI were 699 nm and 702 nm, respectively. The function of Chl f in FR-PSI is discussed.