Widespread Distribution of Some Minor Chlorophyll-Protein Complexes in Some Plants and Algae

Abstract

The use of the non-ionic detergent octyl .beta.-D-glucoside has allowed the demonstration in spinach of a chlorophyll a + b-protein complex of apparent MW 29 kilodaltons (Camm and Green). Complexes analogous to this one can be demonstrated in Spinacia oleracea, Hordeum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Vicia faba, Zea mays, Helianthus annuus, Glycine max, Polystichum munitum, Mnium insigne, Psilopilum nudum, and in the siphonaceous green alga Acetabularia mediterranea. These complexes are clearly distinguishable from the light harvesting complex on the basis of the chlorophyll a/b ratio, apparent molecular weight and polypeptide composition. Most plants surveyed contained 2, not 1, minor chlorophyll a complexes and the chlorophyll a complex of Photosystem I.