Biomaterial Database

Effect of plastocyanin and phycocyanin on the photosensitivity of chlorophyll-containing bilayer membranes. 1979

S S Chen, and D S Berns

Photovoltaic effects were studied in bilayer membranes constructed from phosphatidyl choline, monogalactosyl diglyceride, chlorophyll alpha and beta-carotene. It was demonstrated that the biliprotein C-phycocyanin enhanced the photosensitivity of these membranes. Plastocyanin, an important photosynthetic electron transfer protein, was also found to be effective in enhancing the membrane photovoltage. The C-phycocyanin and plastocyanin were effective on opposite sides of the membrane. Plastocyanin operates to transfer electrons into the membrane, while C-phycocyanin directs electron transfer from the membrane. Membranes containing monogalactosyl diglyceride were found to be extremely stable and were most susceptible to enhancement of photosensitivity by introduction of the proteins. The plastocyanin and C-phycocyanin when used together appeared to operate synergistically.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008027	Light	That portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared range.	Light, Visible,Photoradiation,Radiation, Visible,Visible Radiation,Photoradiations,Radiations, Visible,Visible Light,Visible Radiations
D008564	Membrane Potentials	The voltage differences across a membrane. For cellular membranes they are computed by subtracting the voltage measured outside the membrane from the voltage measured inside the membrane. They result from differences of inside versus outside concentration of potassium, sodium, chloride, and other ions across cells' or ORGANELLES membranes. For excitable cells, the resting membrane potentials range between -30 and -100 millivolts. Physical, chemical, or electrical stimuli can make a membrane potential more negative (hyperpolarization), or less negative (depolarization).	Resting Potentials,Transmembrane Potentials,Delta Psi,Resting Membrane Potential,Transmembrane Electrical Potential Difference,Transmembrane Potential Difference,Difference, Transmembrane Potential,Differences, Transmembrane Potential,Membrane Potential,Membrane Potential, Resting,Membrane Potentials, Resting,Potential Difference, Transmembrane,Potential Differences, Transmembrane,Potential, Membrane,Potential, Resting,Potential, Transmembrane,Potentials, Membrane,Potentials, Resting,Potentials, Transmembrane,Resting Membrane Potentials,Resting Potential,Transmembrane Potential,Transmembrane Potential Differences
D008567	Membranes, Artificial	Artificially produced membranes, such as semipermeable membranes used in artificial kidney dialysis (RENAL DIALYSIS), monomolecular and bimolecular membranes used as models to simulate biological CELL MEMBRANES. These membranes are also used in the process of GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION.	Artificial Membranes,Artificial Membrane,Membrane, Artificial
D010713	Phosphatidylcholines	Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDIC ACIDS in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a CHOLINE moiety.	Choline Phosphoglycerides,Choline Glycerophospholipids,Phosphatidyl Choline,Phosphatidyl Cholines,Phosphatidylcholine,Choline, Phosphatidyl,Cholines, Phosphatidyl,Glycerophospholipids, Choline,Phosphoglycerides, Choline
D010798	Phycocyanin	The metal-free blue phycobilin pigment in a conjugated chromoprotein of blue-green algae. It functions as light-absorbing substance together with chlorophylls.	C-Phycocyanin,C Phycocyanin
D010860	Pigments, Biological	Any normal or abnormal coloring matter in PLANTS; ANIMALS or micro-organisms.	Biological Pigments
D010940	Plant Proteins	Proteins found in plants (flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, etc.). The concept does not include proteins found in vegetables for which PLANT PROTEINS, DIETARY is available.	Plant Protein,Protein, Plant,Proteins, Plant
D010970	Plastocyanin	A copper-containing plant protein that is a fundamental link in the electron transport chain of green plants during the photosynthetic conversion of light energy by photophosphorylation into the potential energy of chemical bonds.	Plastocyanine,Silver Plastocyanin,Plastocyanin, Silver
D002338	Carotenoids	The general name for a group of fat-soluble pigments found in green, yellow, and leafy vegetables, and yellow fruits. They are aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 4 terpene subunits.	Carotenes,Carotenoid,Tetraterpene Derivatives,Tetraterpenes,Carotene,Derivatives, Tetraterpene
D002734	Chlorophyll	Porphyrin derivatives containing magnesium that act to convert light energy in photosynthetic organisms.	Phyllobilins,Chlorophyll 740