A LASER FLASH SPECTROSCOPY STUDY OF THE KINETICS OF ELECTRON TRANSFER FROM SPINACH PHOTOSYSTEM I TO SPINACH AND ALGAL FERREDOXINS

Laser flash absorption spectroscopy has been used to investigate the kinetics of electron transfer from P700 in Photosystem I (PSI)-enriched particles from spinach to the ferredoxins from spinach and the green alga Monoraphidium braunii. Very similar behavior for the interaction of both ferredoxins with the PSI complex was observed, although the algal ferredoxin appears to be slightly more effective as an electron acceptor. For both proteins, a non-linear protein concentration dependence of the rate constant for reduction was obtained, indicating complex formation preceding electron transfer. Estimates of 3 times 10⁷M^?1 s^?1 and 140–180 s^?l were obtained from these data for the second order rate constants for complex formation, and the limiting first order rate constants for electron transfer, respectively. At neutral pH, a biphasic dependence of the rate constant for ferredoxin reduction on the concentration of NaCl or MgCl₂ was observed. This was interpreted in terms of the electrostatic interactions which occur between ferredoxin and the PSI membrane. In addition, magnesium cations appear to play a specific role in the interaction between PSI and ferredoxin. Thus, the addition of these ions under optimal conditions induces a 6-f-old increase in the electron transfer reaction rate constant, compared with a 2-f-old increase in the presence of an optimal amount of NaCI. This cannot be explained as arising from ionic strength effects. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a direct measurement of the rate constant for the reduction of ferredoxin by the PSI complex has been reported.