Date of Award:

5-1-1980

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Life Sciences:Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Jon Y. Takemoto

Committee

Jon Y. Takemoto

Committee

Elizabeth Boeker

Committee

Frederick Post

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protein components of the light harvesting complex of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. Two protein bands, polypeptides 15A and 15B, were isolated by preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular weight values of 9,400 daltons for polypeptide 15A and 9,304 daltons for polypeptide 15B were calculated by amino acid composition. Molecular weights were also determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Polypeptide 15A was estimated to have a molecular weight of 8,250 ± 10% daltons from 12% acrylamide gels and 9,350 ± 10% daltons from 15% acrylamide gels. Polypeptide 15B was estimated to have a molecular weight of 7,400 ± 10% daltons from 12% acrylamide gels and 7,050 ± 10% daltons from 15% acrylamide gels. Amino acid composition analysis showed high levels of neutral and nonpolar residues and low levels of cysteine and histidine of both 15A and 15B. Comparison of amino acid compositions of the two proteins showed differences in the levels of serine, alanine, and isoleucine.

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