The Photoactive Photosynthetic Reaction Center of a Rhodobacter sphaeroides Mutant Lacking 3-Vinyl (Bacterio)Chlorophyllide a Hydratase Contains 3-Vinyl Bacteriochlorophyll a

Rhodobacter sphaeroides mutant BF—lacking 3-vinyl (bacterio)chlorophyllide a hydratase (BchF)—accumulates chlorophyllide a (Chlide a) and 3-vinyl bacteriochlorophyllide a (3V-Bchlide a). BF synthesizes 3-vinyl bacteriochlorophyll a (3V-Bchl a) through prenylation of 3V-Bchlide a and assembles a novel reaction center (V-RC) using 3V-Bchl a and Mg-free 3-vinyl bacteriopheophytin a (3V-Bpheo a) at a molar ratio of 2:1. We aimed to verify whether a bchF-deleted R. sphaeroides mutant produces a photochemically active RC that facilitates photoheterotrophic growth. The mutant grew photoheterotrophically—implying a functional V-RC—as confirmed by the emergence of growth-competent suppressors of bchC-deleted mutant (BC) under irradiation. Suppressor mutations in BC were localized to bchF, which diminished BchF activity and caused 3V-Bchlide a accumulation. bchF expression carrying the suppressor mutations in trans resulted in the coproduction of V-RC and wild-type RC (WT-RC) in BF. The V-RC had a time constant (τ) for electron transfer from the primary electron donor P (a dimer of 3V-Bchl a) to the A-side containing 3V-Bpheo a (H(A)) similar to that of the WT-RC and a 60% higher τ for electron transfer from H(A) to quinone A (Q(A)). Thus, the electron transfer from H(A) to Q(A) in the V-RC should be slower than that in the WT-RC. Furthermore, the midpoint redox potential of P/P(+) of the V-RC was 33 mV more positive than that of the WT-RC. R. sphaeroides, thus, synthesizes the V-RC when 3V-Bchlide a accumulates. The V-RC can support photoheterotrophic growth; however, its photochemical activity is inferior to that of the WT-RC. IMPORTANCE 3V-Bchlide a is an intermediate in the bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchl a)-specific biosynthetic branch and prenylated by bacteriochlorophyll synthase. R. sphaeroides synthesizes V-RC that absorbs light at short wavelengths. The V-RC was not previously discovered because 3V-Bchlide a does not accumulate during the growth of WT cells synthesizing Bchl a. The levels of reactive oxygen species increased with the onset of photoheterotrophic growth in BF, resulting in a long lag period. Although the inhibitor of BchF is unknown, the V-RC may act as a substitute for the WT-RC when BchF is completely inhibited. Alternatively, it may act synergistically with WT-RC at low levels of BchF activity. The V-RC may broaden the absorption spectra of R. sphaeroides and supplement its photosynthetic ability at various wavelengths of visible light to a greater extent than that by the WT-RC alone.