VECTORIAL ELECTRON TRANSPORT ACROSS LIPID VESICLE MEMBRANES DRIVEN BY TWO PHOTOREACTIONS. I. ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID AS AN ELECTRON DONOR via FLAVIN TRIPLET STATE IN THE INNER COMPARTMENT AND CYTOCHROME c AS AN ELECTRON ACCEPTOR FROM CHLOROPHYLL TRIPLET STATE IN THE OUTER COMPARTMENT

Negatively charged vesicle suspensions containing chlorophyll a (chl) dissolved in the lipid bilayer, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and/or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) enclosed in the inner compartment as electron sources and oxidized cytochrome c (cyt c[ox]) in the outer compartment as an electron acceptor have been studied using laser flash photolysis and steady-state irradiation methods. Cytochrome c initially quenches the chl triplet state (³chl) generating the chlorophyll cation radical (chi⁺′) in the membrane. Reverse electron transfer from cyt c(red) to chl^+. subsequently occurs in a kinetically biphasic reaction, with rate constants of 430 pT 30 and 21.9 pT 1.7 s^?1 for the fast and slow phases, respectively. In the absence of FMN, reduction of chl⁺′ by EDTA in the inner compartment can be observed during steady-state irradiation but not in a laser flash photolysis experiment. This is due to a low reaction yield, which is probably limited by the repulsive electrostatic interaction between EDTA and the negatively charged membrane. When FMN was enclosed together with EDTA in the inner Compartment, the reaction yield of vectorial electron transfer across the bilayer from EDTA to cyt c(oX) was increased by a factor of six during steadystate white light irradiation. Laser flash photolysis and steady-state irradiation experiments using red and blue light excitation have demonstrated that the enhancement mechanism involves the formation of fully reduced FMN by blue light-sensitized photooxidation of EDTA via the flavin triplet state, occumng simultaneously with red lightsensitized electron transfer to cyt c via the chlorophyll triplet state.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN PHOSPHOLIPID VESICLE BILAYERS: INSIDE VS OUTSIDE ASYMMETRY*

Abstract— We have determined triplet quenching efficiencies. radical yields and radical recombination kinetics in mixed chlorophyll (Chl)-egg phosphatidylcholine vesicle suspensions in the presence of electrically-charged electron acceptors located either in the external. continuous aqueous phase or within the internal aqueous volume of the vesicles. There was a marked asymmetry between these processes as to whether they occurred at the outer or inner bilayer-water interfaces. With methyl viologen (MV²⁺) as acceptor, 52 ± 4% of the total Chl triplet could be quenched from the inside. whereas only 16 ± 2% was quenchable from the outside. Approximately 35% of the triplet population was inacccssible to quenching by MV²⁺ from either inside or outside. Ouenching rate constants were higher from the outside than from the inside (2 × 10⁶M^?lS-^Ivs 1 × 10⁶M^?Is^?1). A similar pattern was obtained when anthraquinone disulfonate or ferricyanide were used as acceptors. Radical yields and recombination kinetics also displayed asymmetric behaviour. From the inside. only 4 ± 2% of the quenched triplets gave rise to separated radicals using MV²⁺ as acceptor, whereas from the outside the conversion yield was 32 ± 2%. The halftime for the Chl⁺ MV⁺ reaction was approximately 100 times longer at the outer surface than at the inner surface. We conclude the following: (a) Chl is distributed asymmetrically within the bilayer such that more triplet Chl is located within quenching distance of the interface at the inner surface than at the outer surface. Furthermore, an appreciable fraction of the triplet Chl is located sufficiently far from either interface so that quenching is not possible. (b) The mobility of Chl and quencher molecules is greater at the outer surface of the vesicles than at the inner surface.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED VECTORIAL ELECTRON TRANSPORT ACROSS PHOSPHOLIPID VESICLE BILAYERS: KINETICS AND MECHANISM*

Abstract— The characterization and kinetic analysis by laser Rash photolysis of an improved model system for observing chlorophyll a photosensitized electron transfer across a lipid bilayer membrane is described. In this system, the electron acceptor is a water-soluble naphthoquinone, S-(2-methyl-l,4-naphthoquinonyl-3)-glutathione (MGNQ) which is dissolved in the inner aqueous compartments of phospholipid bilayer vesicles, and the electron donor is glutathione (GSH) which is dissolved in the outer aqueous phase. Chlorophyll (Chl) is dissolved in the membrane. Oxidative quenching of the triplet state of Chl by the quinone at the inner surface of the vesicle produces the Chl⁺ and MGNQ^- radicals. Chi⁺ is reduced by GSH at the outer surface of the vesicle (k= 2.6 × 10⁶M^-1 s^-1) in competition with the recombination between Chl⁺. and MGNO^- (k= 2.5 × 10³ S^-1). It is shown that a kinetic mechanism involving competition between recombination, electron transfer across the bilayer, and reduction by donor at the opposite surface can quantitatively account for the decay of Chl⁺. Electron transport across the bilayer is postulated to occur by a two-step mechanism involving electron exchange between Chl and Chl⁺ within the lipid monolayer (k= 3.2 × 10⁶ M^-1 s^-1) and across the bilayer. The rate constant for the latter exchange process approaches 10⁴ s^-1 as the concentration of Chl in the bilayer increases. Under appropriate conditions, approximately 20% of all photons absorbed by the vesicle system result in electron transfer across the mcmbrane from GSH to MGNQ.     

DIRECT OBSERVATION OF ELECTRON TRANSFER ACROSS A LIPID BILAYER: PULSED LASER PHOTOLYSIS OF AN ASYMMETRIC VESICLE SYSTEM CONTAINING CHLOROPHYLL,METHYL VIOLOGEN AND EDTA*

Abstract— Suspensions of vesicles composed of chlorophyll a (Chi) and phospholipid that were asymmetric with respect to aqueous solutions of methyl viologen (MV₂₊), an electron acceptor, and EDTA, an electron donor, were investigated using both flash and steady-state photolysis techniques. It was shown that Chl-photosensitized electron transfer occurred across the walls of the vesicles from EDTA to MV₂₊. Flash photolysis indicated that MV₂₊ dissolved in the interior aqueous compartments of the vesicles oxidized only those triplet excited state Chi molecules that were dissolved in the inner monolayers of the vesicle walls. The resultant radical products, Chi₊ and MV₊, recombined with a halftime of the order of 10_-4s. EDTA, added externally to the vesicles, competed effectively with MV₊ as a reducing agent for Chl₊. This places a lower limit of 10₄ s_-1 on the rate constant for transmembrane electron transfer. Compartmentalization by the vesicle wall of the competing pathways for the reduction of Chi₊ resulted in a nonlinear dependence of the rate constant of Chl₊ decay on EDTA concentration. The magnitude of the rate constant of electron transfer through the membrane and the way that the kinetics of Chl₊ decay depended on the concentration of Chi in the membrane strongly suggest that the electron transfer occurred by electron exchange between Chi and Chl₊.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS IN LIPID VESICLES:ENHANCEMENT IN YIELD OF VECTORIAL ELECTRON TRANSFER ACROSS THE BILAYER FROM REDUCED CYTOCHROME c TO OXIDIZED FERREDOXIN BY ADDITION OF VALINOMYCIN PLUS POTASSIUM ION

Chlorophyll photosensitized electron transfer across a vesicle bilayer from reduced cytochrome c in the inner compartment to oxidized ferredoxin in the outer compartment, using propylene diquat as a mediator, has been investigated using both steady-state and laser flash photolysis methods. One of the factors limiting the quantum yield is the transmembrane potential, which is formed during sample preparation and is increased by the electron transfer process across the membrane bilayer. This limitation can be diminished by the incorporation of valinomycin into the bilayer in the presence of potassium ion. The overall quantum yield can be approximately doubled (up to a total of 22% based on the chlorophyll triplet which is quenched, and 2.8% based on the absorbed quanta) by valinomycin addition. Another quantum yield limitation arises from the accumulation of oxidized cytochrome c in the inner aqueous compartment, which is formed as a consequence of the transbilayer electron transport process and can quench triplet chlorophyll on the inner side of the vesicle. The chlorophyll cation radical generated in this way can participate in the electron exchange equilibrium between chlorophyll molecules located within the bilayer, and thus inhibit electron flow from inside to outside. This acts to limit the extent of cytochrome c oxidation to less than or equal to 50% of the original amount.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER VESICLE SYSTEMS: EFFECTS OF CHOLESTEROL ON RADICAL YIELDS AND KINETIC PARAMETERS*

Abstract The quenching of the triplet state of chlorophyll a (Chl) by asymmetrically located electron acceptors was examined in vesicle systems containing egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and 0–50 mole % cholesterol. The incorporation of cholesterol had two main effects: (1) the distribution of Chl within the vesicle wall shifted from one favoring the inner monolayer to one favoring the outer monolayer, and (2) the Chi molecules (both ground and excited states) became more accessible to water and to the quencher molecules. This latter property was probably due to the creation of space between the phospholipid head groups by insertion of cholesterol. These phenomena required cholesterol concentrations in excess of 15 mol %. In general, the addition of cholesterol caused increases in the apparent bimolecular rate constant for triplet quenching, in the probability that quenching produced radicals, and in the rate of radical recombination. Some of the specific effects of cholesterol depended upon whether or not the quencher molecules were amphiphilic.     

VECTORIAL ELECTRON TRANSPORT ACROSS LIPID VESICLE MEMBRANES DRIVE BY TWO PHOTOREACTIONS. II. PHOTOCHEMICAL REGENERATION OF REDUCED CYTOCHROME c BY FLAVIN TRIPLET STATE AND ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID IN THE INNER COMPARTMENT AND REDUCTION OF FERREDOXIN BY CHLOROPHYLL TRIPLET STATE IN THE OUTER COMPARTMENT

We have attempted to mimic natural photosynthesis with regard to the photogeneration of a powerful reductant, using a negatively charged lipid bilayer vesicle system incorporating two photoreactions sensitized by a flavin analog (flavin mononucleotide [FMN]) and chlorophyll (chl) in their respective triplet states. Ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in the inner aqueous compartment was used as a sacrificial electron donor to the FMN triplet, and ferredoxin in the outer aqueous compartment served as the final electron acceptor (mediated via triplet electron transfer chain in this multicomponent system to be elucidated. By itself, EDTA does not function as an effective donor to membran-bound oxidized chl (chl^+.), which is formed by electron transfer from triplet chl to the viologen follwed by transbilayer electron migration. This is a consequence of electrostatic repulsive interactions with the negatively charged membrane. This limitation is avoided when FMN is used as a photomediator between EDTA and chl^+.. The overall reaction is dramatically increased in rate by enclosing cytochrom c together with EDTA and FMN in the inner compartment. The rate constant of the key step in the reaction, i.e. elctron transfer from reduced cytochrome c, generated via photoreduction by the FMN/EDTA system, to chl^+. is increased 20-fold over that obtained with cytochrome c alone as the elctron donor. One of the important constraints that limited the net electron transfer across the bilayer to 50% of the added cytochrome, i.e. inhibition by oxidized cytochrome c formed in the inner compartment, is avoided by the inclusion of the second photoreaction in this system, thus allowing photoreduction of all of the added ferredoxin to be achieved. This system provides a model for a photochemical energy storage process that utilizes two photorections operating in series resulting in electron flow across a lipid bilayer membrane.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS IN LIPID BILAYER VESICLES: GENERATION OF PROTON GRADIENTS ACROSS THE BILAYER COUPLED TO QUINONE REDUCTION AND HYDROQUINONE OXIDATION

Abstract— A chlorophyll-containing small unilamellar lipid bilayer vesicle system with a sulfonated quinone molecule (MQS) in one aqueous compartment and a sulfonated hydroquinone molecule (H₂QS) in the other has been investigated, using laser flash photolysis and steady-state irradiation, as a means of storing light energy in the form of a proton gradient across the lipid bilayer. Under optimal conditions, an efficiency of 39% based on the chlorophyll triplet state quenched has been achieved for vectorial electron transfer across the bilayer; this corresponds to a quantum yield of 23% based on absorbed photons. As a consequence of irradiation by a single laser flash, 0.2 μ M of protons were taken up by quinone reduction (MQS → H₂MQS) in the outer compartment. The same number of protons were released in the inner compartment by hydroquinone oxidation (H₂QS → QS). Since the volume occupied by the vesicles was only 1/1000 of the total volume of the sample, the local concentration of protons in the inner compartment was 1000 times larger ( i.e. ≅ 200 μ M ), resulting in the generation of an appreciable proton gradient across the bilayer.     

ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS OCCURRING UPON LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSIS OF PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER SYSTEMS CONTAINING CHLOROPHYLL,BENZOQUINONE AND CYTOCHROME c-I. NEGATIVELY-CHARGED VESICLES*

Abstract— In negatively-charged lipid bilayer vesicles prepared in deionized water from egg phosphatidylcholine and 25 mol % of α-eleostearic acid, and containing chlorophyll a, benzoquinone, and cytochrome c, primary electron transfer after a laser flash occurred principally from chlorophyll triplet to benzoquinone, and to a smaller extent from chlorophyll triplet to oxidized cytochrome c. Several secondary electron transfer reactions occurred subsequent to this. The most rapid of these was electron transfer from reduced cytochrome c, which was bound to the outer surface of the negatively-charged vesicle, to chlorophyll cation radical (k= 3.9 times 10³ s^-1). Subsequent to this, the cation radical was reduced by benzoquinone anion radical (k= 1.6 times 10² s^-1>) and bound oxidized cytochrome c was reduced by the remaining anion radical which was expelled into the aqueous phase by the negative charge on the vesicle surface. This latter reaction occurred at the membrane-solution interface with an observed rate constant (k= 60 s^-1) two orders of magnitude smaller than cytochrome oxidation. Net reduced cytochrome c was produced in this process. The reduced cytochrome c was slowly reoxidized by benzoquinone (k= 17 s^-1) and the system was returned to its original state. When the vesicle system was made slightly basic by adding tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane, the rates of both the reverse electron transfer between chlorophyll cation radical and benzoquinone anion radical (k= 5 times 10² s^-1) and the oxidation of reduced cytochrome c by chlorophyll cation radical (k= 9.4 times 10³ s^-1) were accelerated. The rate of reduction of oxidized cytochrome c by benzoquinone anion radical remained approximately the same.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN PHOSPHOLIPID VESICLE SYSTEMS: COMPARISON OF INSIDE-OUTSIDE ASYMMETRY BETWEEN LARGE AND SMALL UNILAMELLAR VESICLES*

Abstract— We have determined the chlorophyll triplet quenching efficiencies, the chlorophyll cation radical yields and the conversion efficiencies of chlorophyll triplet to radical in large and small unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles (LUV and SUV, respectively) in the presence of electrically-charged electron acceptors (ferricyanide and oxidized cytochrome c) located in either the inner or outer aqueous compartments of the vesicles. Both types of vesicles displayed inside-outside asymmetry, although the properties were reversed. Triplet quenching in SUV was more efficient when ferricyanide was located within the vesicle interior, whereas the reverse was true in LUV. When ferricyanide was located on the outside of the vesicles, the extent of triplet quenching in LUV was about two times that in SUV and the amount of cation radical formed in LUV was about two times that in SUV. Under these conditions, the conversion efficiencies of chlorophyll triplet to radical were 12.2% for LUV and 8.5% for SUV. With cytochrome c as an electron acceptor in negatively charged vesicles (25 mol per cent dixhexadecylphosphate incorporated) similar results were obtained. Again, the triplet quenching and radical yield inside-outside asymmetry properties were reversed between the two types of vesicles, and radical formation efficiencies when cyt c was located outside the vesicles were higher in LUV (11.7%) than in SUV (4.2%). We conclude that the inside-outside asymmetric photochemical behavior of unilamellar phosphatidylcholine vesicles is influenced by factors in addition to the difference in radius of curvature between the inside and outside surfaces. It is suggested that transmembrane electrostatic potentials may be involved. Furthermore, in the present system the properties of LUV were more favorable to photochemical electron transfer product formation than those of SUV.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER VESICLE SYSTEMS: CORRELATIONS BETWEEN KINETIC PARAMETERS AND SOLUBILITIES OF VIOLOGEN ACCEPTORS *

Abstract— Twelve viologens (quaternary 4,4′-bipyridinium ions) are investigated as electron acceptors in vesicle suspensions containing chlorophyll-a (Chl) using laser flash photolysis. The structures of the viologens, which determine how they and their reduced radicals partition between the water and bilayer membrane phases, are systematically varied in order to probe the effects of acceptor solubility on the kinetics of photosensitized electron transfer reactions. The effectiveness of the viologens as quenchers of the Chl triplet excited state increases as they become less soluble in water, because the viologens are more likely to be incorporated into the membrane, but the efficiency of radical formation decreases and the rate of the reverse electron transfer reaction increases. The data obtained with a homologous series of di-alkyl viologens are analyzed quantitatively using a kinetic model which includes the partition coefficients of the viologens and their radicals. For the most part, the reactivities of the viologen species are proportional to their concentrations in the membrane phase, but the locations and mobilities of the viologens in the membrane phase also have to be considered. In order for the Chl and viologen radicals to separate efficiently. the viologen radical has to be able to diffuse from the membrane to the water phase at a rate that competes effectively with reverse electron transfer within the radical pair complex (> 10⁵ s^?1).     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN CONDENSED MEDIA—I. TRIPLET STATE QUENCHING AND ELECTRON TRANSFER TO QUINONE IN CELLULOSE ACETATE FILMS*

Chlorophyll-a was incorporated into cellulose acetate films and the triplet state decay kinetics and electron transfer from triplet to p-benzoquinone in aqueous solution was studied using laser flash photolysis and EPR. The triplet was found to decay by first order kinetics with a rate constant which was independent of Chl concentration. The triplet yield, however, was concentration dependent. These properties are due to quenching which occurs only at the singlet state level. In the presence of quinone, the triplet is quenched and, when the quinone is in an aqueous solution in contact with the film, Chl cation radical (C^±) as well as the semiquinone anion radical (Q^±) can be observed. The C decays by second order kinetics with a rate constant of 1.5 × 10⁶M^-1 s^-1. Although triplet conversion to radicals is slightly lower in the films as compared to fluid solutions (? 3 times), the lifetimes of the radicals are greatly increased (? 10³ times).     

SPINACH PLASTOCYANIN AS AN ELECTRON ACCEPTOR FROM MEMBRANE-BOUND CHLOROPHYLL TRIPLET STATE IN POSITIVELY CHARGED LIPID BILAYER VESICLES*

Spinach plastocyanin is bound to egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing 5–25 mole percent dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride (DODAC) via electrostatic interactions in a 50 mM betaine medium (pH=6.5). This was demonstrated by both gel filtration experiments and kinetic results using laser flash photolysis. Under those conditions, oxidized plastocyanin can function as a direct electron acceptor from membrane-bound triplet chlorophyll to produce chlorophyll cation radical and reduced plastocyanin. The fraction of chlorophyll triplet which is quenched by oxidized plastocyanin increases, and the yield of electron transfer products also increases, with an increase in the magnitude of the positive charge on the vesicles. Product decay and rise halftimes decrease with an increase in the mole percent of DODAC⁺ incorporated into egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles. However, both of these halftimes are independent of oxidized plastocyanin concentration. Even though ～50% of the Chi triplets were quenched, no electron transfer product formation was observed in 5 mM phosphate buffer (pH=7.0). Under similar conditions in betaine, approximately 13% of the Chi triplets could be converted into products.     

ENERGY TRANSFER STUDIES ON CRYPTOMONAD BILIPROTEINS

Abstract. Fluorescence techniques of various types have been used to study the light-gathering and energy transfer modes for various cryptomonad biliproteins (phycocyanin or phycoerythrins). Analysis of fluorescence polarization and absorption data demonstrates that each cryptomonad biliprotein is composed of at least two distinct types of absorbing chromophore, each attached to the protein through covalent linkages to different polypeptide chains. Examination of the fluorescence emission spectra as a function of excitation at several wavelengths demonstrates that only one of these absorbing chromo-phores is responsible for the fluorescence. This behavior is consistent with a known phenomenon whereby photons are gathered by more than one chromophore and then after radiationless energy transfer are emitted by only one chromophore. Application of Förster dipole-dipole energy transfer theory is made to the study of the mode by which energy absorbed by biliproteins migrates to Chl a. The spectral overlap integral between phycocyanin (Chroomonas sp.) and Chl a is 7.13 ± 10^-10cm⁶mol^-1and between phycocyanin and Chl c₂ 0.25 ± 10^-10cm⁶mol^-1. This large difference in overlap suggests, although does not prove, that phycocyanin might transfer energy directly to Chl a without a Chl c₂ intermediary. The cryptomonad phycoerythrins may also use this method but a Chl c₂ intermediate could not be ruled out for them. Radiationless energy transfer among homogeneous biliproteins is shown to be feasible. All these calculations are based on in vitro spectra and the interpretations extrapolated to the cellular situation, and these tentative conclusions are reached without knowledge of other factors, such as chromophore-chro-mophore orientation and distance, which could greatly influence the energy transfer scheme.     

ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS OCCURRING UPON LASER FLASH PHOTOLYSIS OF PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER SYSTEMS CONTAINING CHLOROPHYLL,BENZOQUINONE AND CYTOCHROME c-II. ELECTRICALLY NEUTRAL AND POSITIVELY-CHARGED VESICLES*

Abstract— The primary and secondary electron transfer reactions which occurred upon laser flash photolysis of electrically neutral and positively-charged lipid bilayer vesicles containing chlorophyll, benzoquinone and cytochrome c were determined by time-resolved difference spectral and kinetic measurements, and compared with previous results obtained with negatively-charged vesicles (Y. Fang and G. Tollin, Photochem. Photobiol. 1988). The extent to which oxidized cytochrome c could function as an electron acceptor from triplet state chlorophyll, and reduced cytochrome c could act as an electron donor to chlorophyll cation radical, decreased from negatively-charged to electrically neutral to positively-charged vesicles, in agreement with expectations based on changes in the ability of cytochrome c to bind to the bilayer. In all three types of vesicles, cytochrome c reduction by benzoquinone anion radical occurred in the aqueous phase.     

PHOTOINDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER IN A CAROTENOBUCKMINSTERFULLERENE DYAD

A carotenoid-fullerene dyad has been synthesized by condensing a carotenoid amine with an acid group attached to C₆₀ by a cyclopropane-based linkage. The lowest excited singlet state of the fullerene is strongly quenched by electron transfer from the carotenoid moiety to generate the charge-separated species Car⁺-C₆₀^.-. In CS₂ solution Car⁺-C₆₀^.- has a rise time of 0.8 ps and decays by charge recombination in 534 ps. Light absorbed by either chromophore produces a high yield of Car⁺-C₆₀^.-, which implies that internal conversion in the carotenoid is negligible. The lowest triplet level in the dyad is localized on the carotenoid and is populated in low yield from the charge-separated species. The sensitization of singlet oxygen by the fullerene component is effectively curtailed in the dyad.     

THE CONTRIBUTION OF RHODOSPZRZLLUM RUBRUM FERREDOXIN II TO IN VIVO EPR SIGNALS AND ITS ROLE IN ELECTRON TRANSPORT

Evidence is presented that Fd II, an iron-sulfur protein containing 4 irons and 4 acid-labile sulfurs, is responsible for a number of signals previously reported detectable in cells of R. rubrum. When oxidized, Fd II exhibits a g = 2.012 EPR signal which is readily detected in R. rubrum cells. In our hands, Fd II is photochemically reduced to an EPR-silent product contrary to the results of other investigators. However. in the presence of reducing agents. the reduced form is apparently denatured upon freezing. The denatured form exhibits EPR signals similar to some also previously observed in whole cells. Fd II catalyzes the ascorbate-DCPIP linked photoreduction of NAD with R. rubrum chromatophores even in the presence of an inhibitor which suppresses the formation of pH and emf gradients. This result raises the possibility of a role for Fd II in non-cyclic electron transport in R. rubrum.     

CHLOROPHYLL a AND CAROTENOID AGGREGATES AND ENERGY MIGRATION IN MONOLAYERS AND THIN FILMS

Abstract— The spectra of absorption, fluorescence and excitation of monolayers and thin films containing chlorophyll a together with a carotenoid (cis-β-carotene, trans-β-carotene, fucoxanthin, or zeaxanthin), were measured at — 196°C. The concentration ratios used, (Chl)/(Car), were 6:1, 4:1, 3:1, 2:1, 1:1 and 1:3, and the area densities, 3·70, 2·55, 1·76, 0·71, 0·37 and 0·17 nm²/pigment molecule. In dilute monolayers, (3·70 nm²/molecule), with a constant concentration ratio (Chl)/(Car) = 3:1, evidence of three β-carotene forms, with absorption bands at 460, 500 and 520 nm (C₄₆₀, C₅₀₀ and C₅₂₀), and of a chlorophyll a form with an absorption band at 669–672 (Chl_669–672) was found. On increasing the density to 0·2–0·3 nm²/molecule, a conversion of C₄₆₀ and C₅₂₀ into C₅₀₀, was observed, and several more additional (probably more strongly aggregated) chlorophyll a forms appeared, with absorption bands at 672–733 nm. With excess carotene [(Chi)/(Car) = 1:3] the forms C₄₆₀, C₅₀₀, C₅₂₀ and Chl_669–672 were present even in the most dense films (0·2–0·3 nm²/molecule). The same was found with other carotenoids: if one of the pigments was in excess, aggregated forms of the other tended to disappear. In the transfer of energy from carotenoids to chlorophyll a, C₅₀₀ was found to be the main donor. In layers with a concentration ratio (Chl)/(Car) = 3:1, the efficiency of transfer was less than 10 per cent at the lowest density used (3·70 nm²/molecule); it increased to 50 per cent, as the density was increased to 0·20 nm²/molecule. When the relative concentration of the carotenoid was increased to (Chl)/(Car) = 1:1, the efficiency of energy transfer dropped to 25 per cent even at 0·20 nm²/molecule. It seems that the efficiency of energy transfer between carotene molecules (prior to its transfer to chlorophyll a) is low, and effective transfer occurs only between β-carotene and immediately adjacent chlorophyll a molecules.     

Voltammetry of immobilized cytochrome c on novel binary self-assembled monolayers of thioctic acid and thioctic amide modified gold electrodes

Horse heart cytochrome c (cyt c) was adsorbed on the binary self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) composed of thioctic acid (T-COOH) and thioctic amide (T-NH₂) at gold electrodes via electrostatic interaction. The cyt c adsorbed on the modified gold electrode exhibited well-defined reversible electrochemical behavior in 10 mM phosphate buffer solution (PBS, pH 7.0). The surface concentration (Γ) of electroactive species, cyt c, on the binary SAMs was higher than that in single-component SAMs of T-COOH, and reached a maximum value of 9.2 × 10⁻¹² mol cm⁻² when the ratio of T-COOH to T-NH₂ in adsorption solution was of 3:2, and the formal potential (E^0′=(E_pa+E_pc)/2) of cyt c was −0.032 V (vs. Ag|AgCl (3 M NaCl)) in a 10 mM PBS. The interaction between cyt c and the binary SAMs made the E^0′ shift negatively when compared with that of cyt c in solution (+0.258 V vs. NHE, i.e., +0.058 V vs. Ag|AgCl (3 M NaCl)). The fractional coverage of bound cyt c was a 0.64 theoretical monolayer. The standard electron transfer rate constant of cyt c immobilized on the binary SAMs was also higher than that on single-component SAMs of T-COOH, and the maximum value of 15.8 ± 0.6 s⁻¹ was obtained when the ratio of T-COOH to T-NH₂ in adsorption solution was at 3:2. The results suggest that the electrode modified with the binary SAMs functions better than the electrode modified with single-component SAMs of T-COOH.     

ELECTRON TRANSFER FROM PHOTOEXCITED SINGLET AND TRIPLET BACTERIOPHEOPHYTIN—II. THEORETICAL

Abstract— A previous paper showed that collision of the first excited singlet state of bacteriopheophytin (Bph*) and p-benzoquinone (Q) returns Bph* to the ground state; however, excited triplet (Bph⁺) and quinone on collision produce the radical ions, (Bph⁺) and (Q^?). This paer rationalizes these findings by first estimating the half cell potentials Bph⁺/Bph* and Bph⁺/Bph^T, the energy for the various collision complexes, and the energy of the charge separated ions Bph⁺+ Q? and then estimating the rates for conversion among these various states. Thus it is estimated that the complexes [Bph*Q] or [Bph^TQ], live ?5 ps before dissociating. This is long enough for electron transfer to occur, producing the singlet and triplet charge transfer complexes, [Bph⁺Q?]^S or [Bph⁺Q?]^T, either of which could separate to Bph⁺+ Q? in ?230ps. In the singlet case, quenching by reverse charge transfer [Bph⁺Q?]^S→[Bph Q] occurs more rapidly than ion separation; however, the analogous triplet process, [Bph⁺Q?]^T→ [Bph Q], is spin forbidden, so that ion separation competes successfully with quenching. Spin scrambling, [Bph⁺Q?]^S? [Bph⁺Q?]^T, is estimated to be slow, as this explanation requires. In the bacterial photosynthetic reaction center, the initial electron transfer from an excited singlet state of the bacteriochlorophyll dimer complex (BB)* to bacteriopheophytin, giving [(BB⁺)(Bph?)]^S, successfully leads to ion separated species (i) because reverse charge transfer [(BB⁺)(Bph?)]^S→ [(BB)(Bph)] is slowed by a fairly large Franck-Condon energy, ΔE? lev, which is difficult to convert from electronic to vibrational degrees of freedom and (ii) because of the rapid subsequent electron transfer from (Bph⁺) to another acceptor X.