Crystal Structure of a Multilayer Packed Major Light-Harvesting Complex: Implications for Grana Stacking in Higher Plants

摘要

Dear Editor, Grana thylakoids in plants comprise multiple,tightly appressed thylakoid membranes in the chloroplast,which greatly increase the area-to-volume ratio and significantly improve the ability of chloroplasts to capture light.Grana layers are stacked and interact through the stromal surface of proteins embedded in the grana membranes,mainly photo-system (PS) Ⅱ components,including the core complexes,the minor light-harvesting complexes (Lhcb4,b5,and b6) as well as the major light-harvesting complex (LHClI).Among them,LHCII,which is the most abundant membrane protein on Earth and accounts for approximately one-third of the total protein in plant thylakoids,is reported to play an essential role in grana stacking.