Abstract
In green photosynthetic bacteria, the chlorosomal bacteriochlorophyll molecules are organized via self-assembly and do not require proteins to provide a scaffold for efficient light harvesting. Despite numerous investigations, a consensus regarding the spatial structure of chlorosomal antennae has not yet been reached. For the first time, we demonstrated by coherent femtosecond spectroscopy at cryogenic temperature that the very low-frequency (~101 cm−1) vibrations of bacteriochlorophyll c pigments in isolated Chloroflexus aurantiacus chlorosomes are sensitive to their oligomerisation extent which depends on the light intensity during the growth of the cell cultures. We explained this sensitivity in terms of the coupling of delocalised vibration modes of BChl c molecules aggregated into chains within their antenna unit building blocks. These findings, together with previously obtained spectroscopy and microscopy data, confirmed that the unit building blocks functioning within Chloroflexus aurantiacus chlorosomal antenna are built up from the rather short (2–5 BChl c pigments) quasi-linear chains. The approach presented here seems to be perspective since it directly reveals structural and dynamical properties of the oligomeric systems.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
