A preparative method for the isolation of the 43 kDa, 47 kDa and the D1-D 2-Cyt b 559 species directly from thylakoid membranes.

Using the non-ionic detergent dodecyl-β-D-maltoside we have developed a preparative method for the isolation of the 43 kDa, 47 kDa and D1-D2-Cyt b 559 species directly from thylakoid membranes. In contrast to previous procedures the photosynthetic membrane was exposed only to one mild detergent and that resulted in more stable preparations. The isolated species were examined spectroscopically and it was found that even under these mild conditions the D1-D2-Cyt b 559 did not retain the primary quinone QA.