Structure of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides light-harvesting 1 beta subunit in detergent micelles.

The light harvesting 1 antenna (LH1) complex from Rhodobacter sphaeroides funnels excitation energy to the photosynthetic reaction center. Our ultimate goal is to build up the structure of LH1 from structures of its individual subunits, much as the antenna can self-assemble from its components in membrane-mimicking detergent micelles. The beta subunit adopts a nativelike conformation in Zwittergent 3:12 micelles as demonstrated by its ability to take the first step of assembly, binding BChl a.