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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

QUINONES AS MEDIATORS OF ELECTRON TRANSFER FROM MEMBRANE-BOUND CHLOROPHYLL TO CYTOCHROME c IN THE AQUEOUS PHASE IN LIPID BILAYER VESICLES: SYNERGISTIC ENHANCEMENT OF CYTOCHROME c REDUCTION BY LIPOPHILIC/ HYDROPHILIC QUINONE PAIRS

Laser flash photolysis has been used to determine the kinetics of cytochrome c reduction by chlorophyll triplet state in negatively-charged lipid bilayer vesicles, as mediated by quinones. Large synergistic enhancements in the yield of reduced cytochrome were obtained using a pair of quinones, one of which was lipophilic (e.g. benzoquinone, 2,6-di-f-butylbenzoquinone) and the other of which was hydrophilic (e.g. l,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate). The mechanism was shown to involve initial quenching of the triplet by the membrane-associated quinone to form chlorophyll cation radical and quinone anion radical. An interquinone electron transfer process followed this reaction, which occurred at the membrane-water interface, and greatly facilitated electron transport from within the bilayer to the aqueous phase. This process formed the basis of the synergistic effect. Cytochrome c reduction occurred in the water phase by reaction with the anion radical of the hydrophilic quinone. Finally, the reduced cytochrome was reoxidized by a slow reaction with chlorophyll cation radical. Under the most favorable conditions, we estimate that the quantum yield of conversion of triplet quenching events to reduction of cytochrome approached unity. The lifetime of the reduced protein and oxidized chlorophyll could be as long as 140 ms, under the best conditions. This system has properties which are thus quite favorable for solar energy conversion in a biomimetic process.     

KINETICS OF CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS IN PHOspHOLIPID BILAYER VESICLES

Abstract The effects of electrostatic surface charge and valinomycin addition in the presence of K* on the kinetics and the inside-outside asymmetry properties of light-induced electron transfer reactions between chlorophyll triplet state and benzoquinone, ferricyanide and methyl viologen in large unilamellar vesicles have been investigated using laser flash photolysis. Modifying the surface charge of the bilayers by incorporating charged surfactants or decreasing the ionic strength of the suspending medium caused large changes in the dynamics of the electron transfer reactions, which could be interpreted in terms of electrostatic interactions between reactants, products and membrane components, and the existence of a spontaneous transmembrane electrical potential corresponding to an excess of negative charge at the outer surface of the vesicle bilayer. The presence of valinomycin had more specific effects on these reactions, which were consistent with an electrostatic influence of the presence of the positively-charged K⁺-valinomycin complex within the bilayer on the dynamics of only those triplet quenching and radical formation and decay processes which occur in this region of the vesicle structure.     

SPINACH FERREDOXIN REDUCTION BY MEMBRANE-BOUND CHLOROPHYLL TRIPLET STATE VIA A DIQUAT MEDIATOR

Abstract Laser flash photolysis experiments have shown that the diquat analog containing a propylene bridge (PDQ²⁺), when electrostatically bound to negatively-charged vesicles containing chlorophyll, is able to mediate the rapid reduction ( k = 1.1 × 10⁵ s^-1) of spinach ferredoxin via electron transfer quenching of triplet state chlorophyll. The kinetics of formation and decay of reduced ferredoxin are consistent with a mechanism involving complex formation between oxidized ferredoxin and vesicle-bound PDQ²⁺. Under optimal conditions, approximately 15% of the quenched triplets yield reduced ferredoxin. This process is a model for soluble ferredoxin reduction which occurs in green plant photosystem I, and results in an appreciable storage of electromagnetic energy in the reaction products.     

REDOX PROTEINS AS ELECTRON ACCEPTORS FROM CHLOROPHYLL TRIPLET STATE IN LIPID BILAYER VESICLES: KINETICS OF REDUCTION OF MEMBRANE RECONSTITUTED CYTOCHROME c OXIDASE MEDIATED BY 2,5-DI-t-BUTYL BENZOQUINONE AND CYTOCHROME c

Laser flash photolysis was used to determine the kinetics of electron transfer between membrane-bound triplet chlorophyll (3C), cytochrome c (cyt c) located in the external water phase, and vesicle-reconstituted cytochrome c oxidase (CCO). 2,5-Di-t-butyl benzoquinone (2,5 TBQ) was used as an electron transfer mediator between 3C and cyt c. A light-induced cyclic electron transfer sequence between the redox components was observed (3C----2.5 TBQ----cyt c----CCO----C+.). Under optimum conditions of membrane surface charge and ionic strength, the overall efficiency of CCO reduction (based on 3C generated by the laser flash) was 14%. Under the anaerobic conditions used, CCO reoxidation (occurring via electron transfer to C+.) was quite slow (halftime approx. 1 s at 75 mM ionic strength). The multicomponent system displayed a high level of stability, as indicated by its ability to undergo many cycles of reduction and reoxidation without any apparent degradation of the components. These results demonstrate the feasibility of constructing complex electron transfer chains, including both soluble and membrane-bound redox proteins, in artificial lipid bilayers, whose properties can be readily controlled by manipulating parameters such as ionic strength and membrane composition.     

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.     

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.     

Energy transfer from C-phycocyanin to phthalocyanine metal complex in reverse micelles

A new mimic system of photosynthetic apparatus was constructed from C-phycocyanin and phthalocyanine zinc. C-PC was solubilized in the reverse micelles of non ionic surfactant Tween-80, cosurfactant pentanol, and solvent cyclohexane, in which the overall concentration of surfactant was 20% (w/v) and the mass ratio of Tween-80 to pentanol was 4:1. When the molar ratio of water to Tween-80 (R_w)≥9.0, the characteristic properties of C-PC were maintained. When it was excited, the energy transfer from C-PC to phthalocyanine zinc took place. The energy transfer efficiency was only related with the concentration of phthalocyanine, but not that of C-PC. Furthermore, the energy transfer was roughly in keeping with Perrin formulation, which indicated that the energy transfer took place approximately through dipole-dipole interaction in rigid system. The radii of the quenching sphere were calculated from the experimental results. For example, when the concentration of phthalocyanine zinc was 2.10 × 10~(-4) mol/     

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.     

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 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.     

LASER PHOTOLYSIS STUDIES OF QUINONE REDUCTION BY CHLOROPHYLL a IN ALCOHOL SOLUTION

Upon laser photolysis of chlorophyll-quinone solutions in ethanol, transients due to the chlorophyll triplet state (C_t), the chlorophyll cation radical (C⁺) and the semiquinone radical (Q^-) can be observed. The rise of Q^- parallels the decay of C_t. demonstrating the precursor role of the triplet. The decay of C⁺ is second order, consistent with reverse electron transfer, and has a rate constant which is independent of quinone potential, and an activation energy of 14kJ/mol due mainly to the temperature dependence of solvent viscosity. Triplet quenching and C⁺ yield are found to decrease with decreasing quinone potential.     

CHLOROPHYLL PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN CONDENSED MEDIA—II. TRIPLET STATE QUENCHING AND ELECTRON TRANSFER TO QUINONE IN LIPOSOMES*

The fate of excitation energy and electron transfer to quinones within Chl-a-containing phosphatidyl choline liposomes has been investigated. The bilayer membrane of the liposome stabilizes the Chl triplet state, as evidenced by a three-fold increase in the lifetime over that observed in ethanol solution. The relative triplet yield follows the relative fluorescence yield, indicative of quenching at the singlet level. Triplet state lifetimes are markedly shortened as the Chl concentration is increased, demonstrating that quenching occurs at the triplet level as well. This process is shown to be due to a collisional de-excitation. In the presence of quinones, the Chl triplet reduces the quinone resulting in production of long-lived electron transfer products. The percent conversion of Chl triplet to cation radical when benzoquinone is employed as acceptor is approximately 60 ± 10%, which is slightly less than in ethanol solution (70 ± 10%). The lifetime of the radical, however, can be as much as 1900 times longer. With respect to potentially useful photochemical energy conversion, the magnitude of this increased lifetime is far more significant than is the decreased radical yield.     

Control of phase behavior and properties of vesicle gels by admixing ionic surfactants to the nonionic surfactant Brij 30

The effect of the addition of two cationic surfactants of different chain length (decyl and dodecyl trimethylammonium bromide, DeTMABr and DTMABr, respectively) and one anionic surfactant of identical chain length (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) on phase behavior, structure, and macroscopic properties of a bilayer forming nonionic surfactant (Brij 30) has been investigated by means of phase studies, rheology, turbidity measurements, dynamic light scattering, and freeze-fracture transmission electron microscopy. We concentrated on DTMABr because of the generically similar behavior for the other ionic surfactants. It is found that already very small amounts of added ionic surfactant have a very pronounced effect on the phase behavior of these systems. The pure nonionic surfactant forms bilayers and has a tendency for the formation of vesicles which becomes enhanced by charging the bilayer through the incorporation of the ionic surfactant. The presence of the ionic surfactant leads to much more viscous systems, which already at a total surfactant concentration of 150 mM become gel-like. For a given surfactant concentration, the elastic properties of the gels increase largely upon the addition of ionic surfactant. This effect is strongly synergistic, requiring only very small amounts of added ionic surfactant, and the elastic properties pass through a maximum for a content of ionic surfactant of about 3-5 mol %. This behavior can be explained in a self-consistent way by a simple rheological model and by combining it with light scattering data. For the addition of larger amounts, the elastic properties decrease again and the formed vesicles become structurally less defined as one is leaving the range of conditions for forming well-defined vesicles, which are required for forming elastic vesicle gels.     

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.     

LIGHT-INDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER REACTIONS BETWEEN CHLOROPHYLL AND QUINONE IN LIPOSOMES: RADICAL FORMATION AND DECAY IN NEGATIVELY AND POSITIVELY CHARGED VESICLES*

Abstract— The incorporation of relatively small amounts (≤ 20 mol%) of a negatively charged surfactant into otherwise electrically neutral phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing chlorophyll in the presence of benzoquinone has been shown to produce large effects on radical formation and decay as measured by laser flash photolysis. When salt ions are present in the aqueous phase, increasing the level of negative surfactant leads to a small increase in radical yield, followed by a larger decrease in radical yield. When the salt concentration is low, increasing the negative surfactant concentration leads to a suppression of the fast radical recombination process, an increase in slow radical decay and, at the highest surfactant concentration, an approximately 35% increase in total radical yield. An analysis of these effects is given in terms of the influence of a negative electrostatic field on radical pair stabilization and recombination, radical pair separation and expulsion of the acceptor radical anion from the vesicle. The incorporation of relatively small amounts (≤ 20 mol%) of a positively charged surfactant into egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC) vesicles containing chlorophyll and benzoquinone also produces large effects on radical formation and decay. When the electrolyte concentration in the suspending aqueous medium is high, radical yields are decreased as the surfactant concentration is increased, without any appreciable effect on decay kinetics. When deionized water is used, the slow recombination component of the decay is specifically suppressed by the presence of the positive surfactant, whereas the fast decay component decreased and then increased in amount as the surfactant concentration is increased. In all cases, however, the total radical yield is less than in pure EPC vesicles. These results can be understood in terms of the influence of a positive electrostatic field on radical pair separation and acceptor radical anion mobility. When equimolar amounts of both positively and negatively charged surfactants are incorporated into EPC vesicles, the radical yields and decay kinetics are relatively unaffected, but a large effect is observed on the radical difference spectrum. This may be a consequence of clustering of oppositely charged molecules within the bilayer surface.     

Metalloprotein association,self-association,and dynamics governed by hydrophobic interactions: simultaneous occurrence of gated and true electron-transfer reactions between cytochrome f and cytochrome c(6) from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Noninvasive reconstitution of the heme in cytochrome c(6) with zinc(II) ions allowed us to study the photoinduced electron-transfer reaction (3)Zncyt c(6) + cyt f(III) --> Zncyt c(6)(+) + cyt f(II) between physiological partners cytochrome c(6) and cytochrome f, both from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The reaction kinetics was analyzed in terms of protein docking and electron transfer. In contrast to various protein pairs studied before, both the unimolecular and the bimolecular reactions of this oxidative quenching take place at all ionic strengths from 2.5 through 700 mM. The respective intracomplex rate constants are k(uni) (1.2 +/- 0.1) x 10(4) s(-1) for persistent and k(bi) (9 +/- 4) x 10(2) s(-1) for the transient protein complex. The former reaction seems to be true electron transfer, and the latter seems to be electron transfer gated by a structural rearrangement. Remarkably, these reactions occur simultaneously, and both rate constants are invariant with ionic strength. The association constant K(a) for zinc cytochrome c(6) and cytochrome f(III) remains (5 +/- 3) x 10(5) M(-1) in the ionic strength range from 700 to 10 mM and then rises slightly to (7 +/- 2) x 10(6) M(-1), as ionic strength is lowered to 2.5 mM. Evidently, docking of these proteins from C. reinhardtii is due to hydrophobic interaction, slightly augmented by weak electrostatic attraction. Kinetics, chromatography, and cross-linking consistently show that cytochrome f self-dimerizes at ionic strengths of 200 mM and higher. Cytochrome f(III) quenches triplet state (3)Zncyt c(6), but its dimer does not. Formation of this unreactive dimer is an important step in the mechanism of electron transfer. Not only association between the reacting proteins, but also their self-association, should be considered when analyzing reaction mechanisms.