Response of membrane protein to the environment: the case of photosynthetic Reaction Centre

The role of the environment on the function and structure of enzymes is discussed in the case of the photosynthetic Reaction Centre (RC) reconstituted in proteoliposomes. The reconstitution procedure is illustrated in detail and the effect of the bilayer upon the activity of the enzyme is discussed. The combined use of ENDOR spectroscopy and flash photolysis clearly demonstrate that the enzyme isolation procedure induces some structural changes, relative to the native state, that are completely reversible once the protein is reconstituted in the phospholipid bilayer.