REVIEW: Methods of Isolation of Reaction Center Preparations from Photosynthetic Purple Bacteria

N. I. Zakharova^* and I. Yu. Churbanova

School of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899 Russia; fax: (095) 939-1238; E-mail: inna@biophys.msu.ru

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received May 26, 1999; Revision received August 30, 1999

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Various modern methods of isolation of functionally active membrane complexes of the reaction centers (RC) from photosynthetic purple bacteria are reviewed. Special attention is given to the methods of RC isolation from bacteria which are widely used in experimental practice. The analysis includes the main steps of RC isolation, evaluation of purity of the resultant preparation, and characterization of its functional activity. Besides description of conventional methods of RC isolation based on ion-exchange chromatography and hydroxyapatite chromatography, some other methods such as affinity chromatography and high-performance chromatography at high and fine pressure are also considered.

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KEY WORDS: purple bacteria, reaction centers, chromatophores, hydroxyapatite, affinity chromatography, high-performance chromatography at high and fine pressure

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