The localization of genes for ribosomal, cytochrome b6/f complex and photosystems I and II polypeptides on the chloroplast chromosome of Vicia faba.

Detailed studies of rearranged chloroplast genomes such as Vicia faba should give insights into the constraints governing the positional organization of the various gene clusters on the chloroplast chromosome. Seven polypeptide genes have already been mapped on the Vicia faba chloroplast genome (21, 22). In this report, ten additional chloroplast DNA-coded polypeptide genes have been mapped by heterologous hybridization. These genes include cytochrome b6 and subunit 4 of the cytochrome b6/f complex, the two P700 chlorophyll a apoproteins of photosystem I, the two chlorophyll a-binding proteins of photosystem II, cytochrome b559, the D2 polypeptide and two ribosomal proteins. The direction of transcription for five of these gene sequences has been established by utilizing 5' and 3' end specific gene probes. The genetic organization of the Vicia faba chloroplast genome was compared with the chloroplast maps of the standard conserved genome of spinach and the more rearranged genome of pea.