绿藻假根羽藻色素-蛋白复合物的分离及其特性研究

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)和蔗糖密度梯度超速离心方法分离了假根羽藻(Bryopsis corticulans)的色素-蛋白复合物,并对其特性进行分析。结果表明:采用PAGE分离得到7条色素-蛋白复合物带,分别是CPⅠa1、CPⅠa2、CPⅠ、LHCP₁、LHCP₂、CPa、LHCP₃₊₃,和2条游离色素(free pigment,FP)FCa、FC。用改进的不连续蔗糖密度梯度离心法分离到五条带。区带Ⅰ是FP;区带Ⅱ主要是小分子量的PSⅡ捕光复合物LHCP₃₊₃;区带Ⅲ以PSⅡ捕光复合物的聚集体LHCP1为主,区带Ⅱ和Ⅲ的吸收光谱中除了Chla外,还含有大量的Chlb和管藻黄素,是管藻黄素-Chla/b-蛋白质复合物;区带Ⅳ在PAGE中只显示一条带,光谱中有Chlb吸收肩峰,含有66和56kDa两种多肽,是较小的PSⅠ复合物CPⅠa。     

The Chlorophyll-Protein Complexes Resolved from Ultrasonically Broken Thylakoid Memb-ranes of Blue-Green Algae

When the thylakoid membranes of blue-green algae were broken by ultrasonic vibrations and subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at 4℃, six green zones were resolved. They were designated as CPIa, CPlb, CPI; CPal, CPa2, and FC. The absorption spectrum of CPI had a red maximum at 674 nm and a peak in the blue at 435 nm. It was identified as PS chlorophyll a-protein Complex, but was contaminated with minor PSⅡ which was implied by the appearance of fluorescence emission peak at 680 nm besides the main one at 725 nm at 77 K. The spectral properties of CPIa and CPlb were similar to that of CPl. The absorption spectra of CPa1 and CPa2 were similar, both having red maxima at 667 nm and peaks in the blue at 431.5 nm. Their fluorescence emission had the same peaks at 684 nm at 77 K indicating that they belonged to PSⅡ. It was recognized that CPal of 47 kD is the reaction center complex of photosystem Ⅱ and CPa2 of 40 kD is the internal antenna complex of photosystem Ⅱ. The spectral characteristics of the chlorophyll-protein complexes resolved by ultrasonic method were similar to those of the same complexes resolved by SDS solubilization, except the absorbance positions of CPa1 and CPa2 in the blue peak and the red one which shifted to blue about 3–5 nm. It was calculated that in thylakoid membranes of blue-green algae 40.93% chlorophyll was in PSⅠ, while 38.78% of chlorophyll in PSⅡ. The difference of chlorophyll contents between PSⅠ and PSⅡ was only 2.15%. Concerning the fact that minor PSⅡ compound remained in the part of PSⅠ zones, it might be concluded that the distribution of chlorophyll between PSⅠ and PSⅡ in blue-green algae was equal. This result was in agreement with the hypothesis that PSⅠ and PSⅡ operates in series in photosynthetic electron transport.     

Comparative Study of Chlorophyll-Protein Complexes of Thylakoids of Bryopsis and Spinacia

properties, pigment compositions, Chl a/b ratios and apparent molecular weights of chlorophyll-protein complexes were compared between spinach and a marine green alga, Bryopsis corticulans. The results are as follows: 1. Ten chlorophyll-protein complexes were resolved from spinach thylakoid membranes solubilized by SDS in a final SDS/Chl weight ratio of 10:1, and subjected to SDS-PAGE with 11% resolution gel. CPIa 1–3 and CPI belonged to photosystem Ⅰ, and the rest to phorosystem Ⅱ. The maximum absorption of CPIa2, CPIas and CPI were all at 674nm, but that of CPIa1 at 670nm, and those of LHCII and D2 at 670 and 673nm, respectively. Chlorophyll ia PSⅡ was 63% of the total. In PSⅡ, most of chlorophyll was in LHCII which contained 86% of the chlorophyll in PSⅡ. In PSⅠ, chlorophyll in CPla was 72% of the total. Chlorophyll a was the main pigment in PSⅠ components which have Chl a/b ratio over 15. 2. Eight chlorophyll-protein complexes were isolated from B. corticulans with a SDS/Chi weight ratio of 8:1 and 8% resolution gel. The maximum absorption of CPIa, CPI, LHCII and D2 were respectively at 671nm, 673nm, 669nm and 664nm. PSⅡ contained 77% of the total chlorophyll. LHCII chlorophyll was 95% of the PSⅡ chlorophyll. CPI held 77% of PSⅠ chloro~ phyll. There was more chlorophyll b in Bryopsis complexes, especially in LHCI1 (Chl a/b< 0.8). The molecular weights of Bryopsis complexes were higher than those of the spinach complexes. Bryopsis LHCII contained siphoxanthin and siphothin, the marked pigments of Siphohales, as functional pigments. The above results revealed three points of difference between these two plants. Firstly, Chl a is the main pigment in spinach, whereas in Bryopsis the main pigments are Chl b and siphoxanthin. This is in accordance with the suggestion that plants may change their pigment composition to adapt light regime in the environment during evolution. Secondly, in Bryopsis, chlorophyll is concentrated in photosystem Ⅱ, but in spinach chlorophyll is shared evenly by two photosystems. Finally, CPI in Bryopsis contained the major part of chlorophyll in PSⅠ, yet in spinach CPIa is the superior.     

Mechanism of Change in the Cation-Induced Excitation Energy Distribution Between PSⅡ and PS Ⅰ in the Chloroplast Membrane from Zostera marina

The interrelations between thylakoid polypeptide components and Mg2+-induced Chl a fluorescence and thylakoid surface charge changes were investigated in Zostera marina chloroplasts treated with Ca2+ and trypsin. It was observed that: 1. The increase of Mg2+- induced PS Ⅱ fluorescence intensity was closely related to the decrease of Mg2+-induced surface charge density of the thylakoid membrane in the normal chloroplast; 2. Removal of the 32～34 kD polypeptides of the thylakoid surface by Ca2+ extraction of the chloroplast did not affect the Mg2+-induced phenomena; 3. If the Ca2+-treated chloroplast was further digested by trypsin to remove the 26 kD polypeptide of the membrane surface, the Mg2+-induced phenomena disappeared completely. These results clearly indicated that the 26 kD polypeptide of thylakoid surface is the specific acting site of the cation that induced these two correlated phenomena in the chloroplast from Zostera marina. The mechanism on the regulating effect of the cation on excitation energy distribution between PS Ⅱ and PS Ⅰ was discussed.     

Chlorophyll-Protein Complexes of Blue-Green Algae Isolated by a New Gel Electrophoresis System with High Resolving Power

At least 13 chlorophyll bands from the thylakoid membranes of blue-green algae could be clearly resolved by SDS-PAGE employing a new improved procedure. They were designated as CPIa, CPIb, CPIc, CPId, CPIe, CPIf, CPIg, CHIh, CPal, CPa2, CPa3, CPa4 and FC. 8 chlorophyll-protein complexes, CPIa-CPIh, had the same absorption spectrum at 676 nm in the red and 436 nm in the blue region. They belonged to the chlorophyll-protein complexes of PS Ⅰ. 4 chlorophyll-protein complexes, CPal-CPa4, had a red absorption peak at 670­672 nm and a blue one at 436 nm. Their fluorescence emission peak at 77K was at 685 nm. They were chlorophyll-protein complexes of PS Ⅱ.     

Characterization of a New Chlorophyll-Protein Complex and Studies on Some Properties of Other Chlorophyll-Containing Bands

1. The chlorophyll-protein complexes of sun plant spinach and shade plants Malaxis monophyllos (L.) Sw. and Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jacques were resolved by SDS-PAGE at lower temperature (2—4 ℃). Besides 8 chlorophyll-containing bands Ⅰa, Ⅰb, Ⅰc, Ⅱa, Ⅱb, Ⅱc, Ⅲ and Ⅳ mentioned in our previous paper (Chu et al., 1980), three more small chlorophyll-containing bands were also observed. Among these small bands Ⅱa which often appeared between Ⅰc and Ⅱa looked like a oligomer of LHCP complex according to its properties in colour, absorption spectrum and fluorescence emission etc. 2. When electrophoresis was carried out at lower temperature (2—4 ℃), the quantity of free pigments (Ⅲ) was obviously lower, while the relative quantities of LHCP Ⅱa, Ⅱb and PS Ⅱ’s band (Ⅳ) were apparently higher than those carried out at higher temperature (12—15 ℃). At lower temperature three bands of Ⅰ could be resolved in shade plants M. monophyllos and C. comosum, and at higher temperature there was only one band of Ⅰ (Ⅰc). But at higher temperature three bands of Ⅰ could be resolved in sunflower. 3. The percentage of LHCP complexes of shade plant M. monophyllos in total amount of chlorophyll (57%) was obviously higher than that of sun plant spinach (43%). The percentage of complexes Ⅰ of sun plant spinach in amount of total chlorophyll (27%) was obviously higher than that of shade plant M. monophyllos (14%). The relative quantity among three bands of Ⅰ in different Plants is different. 4. The chl a/b ratio of LHCP bands of shade plants were lower than that of corresponding bands of sun plants. The chl a/b ratio of Ⅱa of M. monophyllos was 1.1, Ⅱc, 1.2; but that of Ⅱa of spinach was 1.4, Ⅱc, 1.66.     

The Effect of Cadmium on Photosystem II in Spinach Chloroplasts

Cadmium ions, as an environmental pollution factor, significantly inhibited the photosynthesis especially, photosystem Ⅱ activity in isolated spinach chloroplasts. The presence of 5 mmol/l Cd2+ inhibited the O2-evolution to 53%. Cd2+ reduced the activity of photoreduction of DCIP and the variable fluorescence of chloroplasts and PSⅡ preparation. The inhibited DCIP photoreduction activity could only be restored slightly by the addition of an artificial electron donor of PSII, DPC, and the inhibited variable fluorescence could not be obviously recovered by the addition of NH2OH, another artificial electron donor of PSⅡ. It is considered that, besides the oxidizing side of PSI1, Cd2+ could also inhibit directly the PSⅡ reaction center. The inhibitory effect of Cd2+ on the whole chain electron transport (H2O→MV) was more serious than on O2-evolution (H2O→DCMU). It is suggested that the oxidizing side of PSⅡ is not the only site for Cd2+ action. There may be another site inhibited by Cd2+ in the electron transport chain between PSⅠ and PSⅡ.     

Organization of the photosynthetic units,and onset of electron transport and excitation energy distribution in greening leaves

The development and organization of the Photosynthetic units follow a step-wise assembly process. First the core complexes of the PSI and PSII units are formed, followed by their light-harvesting components; then an assembly process of these components into supramolecular structures takes place. Parallel to this, the control of excitation energy distribution between the two photosystems is established. This control is attributed to the modulation of the PSI unit effective cross section, which is possible only when LHC-I is formed and assembled into CPIa. Parallel to the formation of PSI and PSII, the electron carriers are synthesized and the electron transport chain is assembled. The number of PSII units operating per electron transport chain remains constant throughout development and equal to that of the mature chloroplast, but the number of PSI units per chain varies with PSII unit size. During development, when the rate of Chla synthesis is low, relative to the other thylakoid components, or is completely stopped, then the newly formed or preexisting LHC-I and LHC-II proteins are digested and their Chla is used for the formation of PS core complexes.     

Mg2+对生长在不同光强下的小麦叶绿体光合功能的影响

研究结果表明,Mg~(2+)对生长在不同光强度下的小麦叶绿体光合功能有不同影响。与生长在低光强(2×10~8勒克斯)下的小麦叶绿体相比,Mg~(2+)更加明显地降低从生长在高光强(2×10~4勒克斯)下的小麦所分离的叶绿体的吸收光谱在红区和蓝区的吸收峰值;但它更大幅度地提高后者在低温(77K)下的PSⅡ相对荧光产量(F_(687))与PSⅠ相对荧光产量(F_(742))的比值,PSⅡ活性和PSⅡ原初光能转化效率。实验结果证明,更高的光强度可能有利于叶绿体形成更多可流动的LHC-Ⅱ和LHC-Ⅰ。     

Steady-state polarized light spectroscopy of isolated Photosystem I complexes

Monomeric and trimeric Photosystem I core complexes from the cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 and LHC-I containing Photosystem I (PS I-200) complexes from spinach have been characterized by steady-state, polarized light spectroscopy at 77 K. The absorption spectra of the monomeric and trimeric core complexes from Synechocystis were remarkably similar, except for the amplitude of a spectral component at long wavelength, which was about twice as large in the trimeric complexes. This spectral component did not contribute significantly to the CD-spectrum. The (77 K) steady-state emission spectra showed prominent peaks at 724 nm (for the Synechocystis core complexes) and at 735 nm (for PS I-200). A comparison of the excitation spectra of the main emission band and the absorption spectra suggested that a significant part of the excitations do not pass the red pigments before being trapped by P-700. Polarized fluorescence excitation spectra of the monomeric and trimeric core complexes revealed a remarkably high anisotropy (0.3) above 705 nm. This suggested one or more of the following possibilities: 1) there is one red-most pigment to which all excitations are directed, 2) there are more red-most pigments but with (almost) parallel orientations, 3) there are more red-most pigments, but they are not connected by energy transfer. The high anisotropy above 705 nm of the trimeric complexes indicated that the long-wavelength pigments on different monomers are not connected by energy transfer. In contrary to the Synechocystis core complexes, the anisotropy spectrum of the LHC I containing complexes from spinach was not constant in the region of the long-wavelength pigments, and decreased significantly below 720 nm, the wavelength where the long-wavelength pigments on the core complexes start to absorb. These results suggested that in spinach the long-wavelength pigments on core and LHC-I are connected by energy transfer and have a non-parallel average Q_y(0-0) transitions.Abbreviations PS Photosystem - P Primary donor - Chl chlorophyll - LHC light-harvesting complex - CD circular dichroism - LD linear dichroism - BisTris 2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxy-methylpropane-1,3-diol - RC reaction center     

Effects of Light intensity on Photosynthetic Characteristics of Wheat Seedling

The contents of pigments and chlorophyll-protein complexes, fluorescence characteristics and electron transport rate were compared for wheat seedlings grown under different light intensities. Leaves of wheat seedlings grown under low-light intensity (2 klx) had lower chlorophyll and carotenoid contents on leaf area or fresh weight basis, a lower ratio of chlorophyll a/b, lower CPIa and CPI contents in photosynthetic membranes than those of wheat seedlings grown under high-light intensity (20 klx). However, the LHCP content in photosynthetic membranes was higher in the former. The kinetic studies of fluorescence induction showed that wheat seedlings grown under low-light intensity possessed a bigger photosynthetic unit, lower PSⅡ activity and lower efficiency of primary energy conversion than those grown under high-light intensity. Moreover. lower electron transport rate was found in the chloroplasts of the former.     

Independent effects of magnesium ions on energy-transfer processes in chloroplasts

The effect of removal of Mg²⁺ on the fluorescence properties of LHCP-PS-II has been examined by different methods: (a) by titration with the artificial quenchers of chlorophyll fluorescence, m-dinitrobenzene and DBMIB (2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone); (b) as a function of wavelengths absorbed preferentially by LHCP, compared with wavelengths relatively enriched in PS II absorbed light; (c) by measurement of the fluorescence induction parameters as a function of the Mg²⁺ concentration or the excitation wavelength (i.e., light absorbed preferentially by LHCP or relatively enriched in PS II absorbed wavelengths). The following conclusions are drawn. (a) In the presence of magnesium ions, energy-transfer coupling between LHCP and PS II is tight, which argues against the idea of a weakly coupled population of LHCP molecules. (b) On lowering the Mg²⁺ concentration of a chloroplast suspension: (1) the increased spillover of energy to PS-I involves virtually all LHCP-PS-II entities and not just a part, which is strongly quenched; (2) there is a decrease in LHCP-PS-II energy-transfer coupling and this occurs only at low Mg²⁺ concentrations (below 0.5 mM). This process therefore seems distinct from the spillover interaction; (3) the rate constant for energy transfer to PS-II reaction centers decreases and this seems independent of the decreased LHCP-PS-II energy coupling.     

Fluorescence decay kinetics of mutants of corn deficient in photosystem I and photosystem II

The fast fluorescence decay kinetics of two photosynthetic mutants of corn (Zea mays) have been compared with those of normal corn. The fluorescence of normal corn can be resolved into three exponential decay components of lifetime 900–1500 ps (slow), 300–500 ps (middle) and 50–120 ps (fast), the yields of which are affected by light intensity and Mg²⁺ levels. The Photosystem II-(PS II)-defective mutant hcf-3 has similar decay lifetimes (approx. 1200, 450 and 100 ps) but is not affected by light intensity, reflecting the absence of PS II charge recombination. However, yields do respond to Mg²⁺ in a fashion typical of normal corn, which may be correlated with the presence of normal levels of light-harvesting chlorophyll a + b complex (LHCP). The PS I mutant hcf-50 also shows three-component decay kinetics. In conjunction with the results on the LHCP-deficient mutant of barley presented in a recent paper (Karukstis, K.K. and Sauer, K. (1984) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 766, 148–155), these data suggest that the slow component of normal chloroplasts is kinetically controlled by the decay processes of the LHCP and that the energy comes from one of two sources: (a) charge recombination in the reaction centre or (b) energy transferred within or between LHCP units only. The fast component appears to originate from both PS I and PS II. The complex response of the middle component to cations and light intensity, and its presence in all of the mutants, suggests that it also may have multiple origins.     

The detection,isolation and characterization of a light-harvesting complex which is specifically associated with Photosystem I

10% of the chlorophyll associated with a ‘native’ Photosystem (PS) I complex (110 chlorophylls/P-700) is chlorophyll (Chl) b. The Chl b is associated with a specific PS I antenna complex which we designate as LHC-I (i.e., a light-harvesting complex serving PS I). When the native PS I complex is degraded to the core complex by LHC-I extraction, there is a parallel loss of Chl b, fluorescence at 735 nm, together with 647 and 686 nm circular dichroism spectral properties, as well as a group of polypeptides of 24-19 kDa. In this paper we present a method by which the LHC-I complex can be dissociated from the native PS I. The isolated LHC-I contains significant amounts of Chl b (Chl $\text{a}\text{b ? 3.7}$). The long-wavelength fluorescence at 730 nm and circular dichroism signal at 686 nm observed in native PS I are maintained in this isolated complex. This isolated fraction also contains the low molecular weight polypeptides lost in the preparation of PS I core complex. We conclude that we have isolated the PS I antenna in an intact state and discuss its in vivo function.     

Influences of Blue and Red Light on the Photosynthetic Apparatus of Chlorella kessleri*

In white light of 33.2 μmol . m^?2 . s^?1 oxygen evolution of Chlorella kessleri is about 30 % higher after growth in blue light than after growth in red light of the same quantum fluence rate. When determined by the light-induced absorbance change at γ 820 nm, blue light-adapted cells possess about 60% more reaction centres per total chlorophyll in photosystem II. Correspondingly, the cells exhibit about 30% more Hill activity of PS II. Conversely, red light-adapted cells contain relatively more reaction centres and higher electron flow capacities of photosystem I. The distribution of total chlorophyll among the pigment-protein complexes, CPI, CPIa, CPa, and LHC II, corresponds to these data. There is more chlorophyll associated with the light-harvesting complex of PS II, LHC II, in cells under blue light conditions, but more chlorophyll bound to both complexes of PS I, CPI and CPIa, in cells under red light conditions. The respective ratios of chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b of all complexes are identical for blue and red light-adapted cells. This results in a higher relative amount of chlorophyll b in blue light-adapted cells. Total carotenoids per total chlorophyll are increased by 20% in red light-adapted cells. Their distribution among the pigment-protein complexes is unknown, however the ratios of lutein, neoxanthin and violaxanthin extractable from LHC II are different in blue (32.1:35.9:32.0) and in red (51.4:26.7:21.9) light-adaptod cells.     

Thylakoid membrane protein phosphorylation leads to a decrease in connectivity between Photosystem II reaction centers

The room-temperature fluorescence induction transients from stroma-free chloroplast membranes (in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) have been analyzed to determine the effects of membrane protein phosphorylation on the connectivity between Photosystem (PS) II centers. Chloroplast membranes which have been incubated in the light with ATP exhibit: (1) a decrease in the variable fluorescence as a function of the initial fluorescence, (2) a shift from a sigmoidal to an exponential fluorescence induction curve, and (3) a reduced amount of the fast () component of the induction transient. These phenomenona are completely reversible by dark incubation of the samples (leading to protein dephosphorylation). We conclude that connectivity between PS II centers is reduced as a function of thylakoid membrane protein phosphorylation. This may in turn be the mechanism which increases the amount of absorbed excitation energy available to PS I.     

Structure and Function of Chloroplast Membrane II. The Effects of Potassium and Magnesium Ions on the Absorption Spectrum and Photosystem II Function of Two Types of Chloroplast Me-mbranes

After exposing etiolated wheat seedlings to intermittent light (cycle of 2 min. light, 118 min. dark) for 24 hr., we obtained an incompletely developed chloroplast membrane. It was then compared with a completely developed chloroplast membrane obtaining from wheat seedlings grown under normal light-dark regime. We investgated the effect of various cations and their concentrations on the absorption spectrum and the photosystem Ⅱ function of the above two types of chloroplast membranes. A similar effect of potassium and magnesium ions on the absorption spectra of completely developed chloroplast membrane was observed. They decreased the absorption peak values at both the red and blue regions of the chloroplast membrane in the same manner. The degree of decrease in the peak value is proportional to ion concentration. But in the incompletely developed chloroplast membranes similar phenomenon was not observed. In the presence of K+ and Mg2+ of various concentrations, the absorptionn peaks at the red region overlapped almost completely, and these at the blue region only changed slightly with ion concentrations. DCIP photoreduction rate of the two types of chloroplast membranes was stimulated by the addition of K+ and Mg2+ in various concentrations. But the degree of stimulation in the two types of membranes was quite different. In the presence of l00 mM KCl or 5.0 mM MgCl2, DCIP photoreduction rate of completely developed chloroplast membranes was enhanced by 76.8% and 68.9% respectively, whereas in incompletely developed chloroplast membranes it was only increased by 56.3% and 36.4% respectively. The causes of the effects of cations on the absorption spectrum and the photosystem Ⅱ function of two types of chloroplast membranes were discussed.     

Photosynthetic Functions of Rice Improved by 2,3-eroxypropionate

The photosynthetic functions of rice were obviously improved by pretreatment with 150 ppm 2,3-epoxypropionate. The activity of Photosystem Ⅱ (PSⅡ) and the efficiency of primary conversion of light energy of PSⅡ detected either with intact leaves or chloroplasts were enhanced by pretreatment of 2,3-cpoxypropionate. Electron transport rate of PSⅡ, Photosystem Ⅰ (PSⅠ) and the whole chain in chloroplasts were higher than those in untreated ones. It was also confirmed that the capacity of excitation energy distribution between PSⅡ and PSI which was regulated by Mg2+ or phosphorylation of chloroplast membrane proteins in pretreated rice was larger than that in the control. From these results it can be predicted that 2,3-epoxypropionate will have some prospect for practical application to rice production.     

Membrane phosphorylation leads to the partial detachment of the chlorophyll a/b protein from Photosystem II

The hypothesis that the chlorophyll fluorescence decline due to membrane phosphorylation is caused principally by the detachment and removal of LHCP from the LHCP-PS II matrix is examined. It is demonstrated that when membranes are phosphorylated in the dark (a) the fluorescence decline is greater when excited by light enriched in wavelengths absorbed mainly by LHCP (475 nm) than when excited by light absorbed to a large extent also by the PS II complex (435 nm), (b) titration with different artificial quenchers of chlorophyll fluorescence is unchanged after the phosphorylation-induced fluorescence decline, and (c) the F_v/F_m ratio does not change after the phosphorylation-induced fluorescence decline. These data indicate that it is indeed principally LHCP that interacts with the quencher (PS I presumably). This interaction involves a small fraction of the total PS II-coupled LHCP, which becomes functionally detached from the LHCP-PS II matrix.     

The major light-harvesting complex of Photosystem II: aspects of its molecular and cell biology

The light-harvesting complex of photosystem II (LHC II) contains one major (LHC IIb) and at least three minor chlorophyll-protein components. The apoproteins of LHC IIb (LHCP) are encoded by nuclear genes and synthesized in the cytoplasm as a higher molecular weight precursor(s) (pLHCP). Several genes coding for pLHCP have been cloned from various higher plant species. The expression of these genes is dependent upon a variety of factors such as light, the developmental stage of the plastids and the plant. After its synthesis in the cytoplasm, pLHCP is imported into plastids, inserted into thylakoids, processed to its mature form, and assembled into LHC IIb. The pathway of assembly of LHC IIb in the thylakoid membranes is currently being investigated in several laboratories. We present a model that gives some details of the steps in the assembly process. Many of the steps involved in the synthesis and assembly are dependent on light and the stage of plastid development.Abbreviations PS Photosystem - LHC II Light-harvesting complex of PS II - LHCP Apoproteins of LHC IIb - pLHCP Precursor of LHCP - PAGE Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis