The photosynthetic electron transport chain and the assembly of protein complexes in the thylakoids of cyanobacteria (IMAGE)
Caption
Photosynthesis takes place in the thylakoid membranes, where several large protein complexes capture light and transfer electrons from photosystem II (PSII) to photosystem I (PSI). The oxidation of water by PSII releases oxygen and protons, whilst the transfer of electrons enables the production of NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate – a key coenzyme in cellular metabolism). The proton gradient generated across the membrane is used by ATP synthase to produce ATP. The panels above illustrate the organisation of thylakoids within the cell. The table shows, for each complex, the approximate number of subunits of which it is composed, as well as the number of assembly proteins – that is, the auxiliary factors necessary for their formation, maturation and correct insertion into the membrane.
Credit
University of Liège / L.Hambücken
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