“It is fascinating to understand how nature has combined different modules like Lego blocks within this large protein in order to gain new biological function. This enables the photosynthetic complex I to cross-talk with other photosynthetic proteins so that the energy from photosynthesis is used for pumping protons across the bacterial membrane and concentrating carbon”, says Ville Kaila, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University.
Plants and other photosynthetic organisms like algae and cyanobacteria use the energy of sunlight to build complex organic molecules. The process utilizes carbon dioxide (CO2) and water molecules as building blocks, which photosynthetic proteins convert into sugars and oxygen. First, the carbon dioxide gas must however be concentrated into bicarbonate, which requires an input of energy in the cell. Until now, the molecular principles of the proteins responsible for this process have remained unknown.
Using a combination of cryo-electron microscopy, biochemical experiments, and advanced computer simulations, the researchers were able to map the molecular principles by which this protein takes up electrons from photosynthesis and uses this to concentrate carbon dioxide in the cell membranes of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria were among the first photosynthetic organisms that evolved around 2.7 billion years ago. As CO2 concentrations drastically changed during this time period, the bacteria had to develop such specialized proteins to survive.
The protein module responsible for the CO2-conversion has a unique structure that no one has ever seen before.
“We were amazed to see how exotic chemical groups were positioned to enable the chemical conversion”, Ville Kaila says.
Follow this link to read the full coverage of Ville Kaila's research paper or read the full article.
