Researchers studied a mutant barley lacking chlorophyll b to understand its chlorophyll-protein complexes better. By using specific detergents and buffers, they improved the resolution of these complexes. They found three main chlorophyll-a protein complexes in the mutant barley, with two representing the reaction center of photosystem 1 and one the reaction center of photosystem 2. The amount of chlorophyll associated with photosystem 1 was double that of photosystem 2, and the sodium deoxycholate method used could help study similar pigment complexes in other plants.