Spinach Major
Light-Harvesting Complex |
The Light Harvesting Complex-II (LHC-II),
as it's name implies, is a major light-harvesting complex of photosystem II. In green plants this is the major solar energy collector, and is the most prevalent and essential membrane protein in chloroplasts. It is located in the thylakoid membrane and binds half of the thylakoid chlorophyll molecules. Each monomer of this trimer is made up of 232 amino acids, 13-15
chlorophyll As and
chlorophyll B molecules, 3-4 caretonoids, and 1 bound phospholipid.
When selecting the links below, reorient
the structure to the original orientation if you manually moved it.
Wire Frame
Cartoon Structure and Space-fill
looking at the plane of the membrane
Notice the alpha helices are located in the middle of the molecule
Cartoon Structure and Space-fill
looking down the plane of the
membrane
Notice the alpha helices running through the membrane plane
PROTEIN SUBUNITS
Subunit 1
(red)
Subunit 2
(orange)
Subunit 3
(green)
All subunits
Chlorophylls/Cartinoids on one of the subunits
This shows both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, as well as the carotenoids. Notice that the molecule is largely made up of chlorophyll and caretonoids, and the protein just seems to be there to support them.
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