Presence and significance of minor antenna components in the energy transfer sequence of the green photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus

Antenna components in the energy transfer processes of a green photosynthetic bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus were spectrally investigated by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy at −196°C on intact cells. Besides major antenna components so far reported, three minor components were resolved; those were Bchl c located at 785 nm, the baseplate Bchl a at 819 nm and Bchl a in the B808-866 complex at 910 nm. The last component was assigned to a longer wavelength antenna closely associated with a reaction center. An additional Bchl c fluorescence component was kinetically suggested to be present, which can be an energy donor to a major Bchl c. Presence of these minor components was signified in terms of (1) increase in the spectral overlap integral and (2) adjustment of the direction of dipole moments in the energy transfer sequence of intact cells.