Preparative isolation and characterization of the B875 complex from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1

Abstract

We have developed a simple and efficient method, using a mixed detergent system of sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton X-100, for the preparative isolation of theB875 complex from Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1. As a bonus, the method allows the preparation of both the B875 and B800-850 complexes from the same batch of chromatophores. The preparations are spectrally pure, as indicated by absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The latter method suggests that the Qy band of the B875 complex is due to weakly interacting bacteriochlorophyll molecules. Protein and pigment analysis shows that the B875 complex contains 2 mol of bacteriochlorophyll and 2 mol of sphaeroidene per mol of apoprotein (12 266 g), whereas the B800-850 complex contains 3 mol of bacteriochlorophyll and 1 mol of sphaeroidene per mol of apoprotein (11 497 g). While these stoichiometries are in accord with currently accepted models, they disagree with their published experimental basis. Phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl glycerol, and diphosphatidyl glycerol were found to be present in the B875 complex.