The light-harvesting complexes (LHC) were isolated from the unicellular alga Mantoniella squumata (Prasinophyceae) by sucrose-density centrifugation. Beside the major LHC (11), a photosystem I complex was obtained that could be dissociated into a photosystem I core complex and an associated LHC I. In contrast to other chlorophyll b-containing antennae, both LHC I1 as well as LHC I were observed to be identical with respect to the following features: the molecular weights, the isoelectric points and the retention behavior on anion-exchange chromatography of the apoproteins, the pigment content and the absorption and fluorescence spectra. We conclude from these results that Mantonzella contains only one homogenous population of LHC, which cooperate with both photosystems not on the basis of specific recognition but on the simple basis of statistical interaction. This is the first report of a chlorophyll b-containing light-harvesting system without any subpopulations: therefore, it is suggested that it arises from a most primitive type of chlorophyll b-containing chloroplast.
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