KINETIC STUDIES ON CHEMILUMINESCENCE OF CHLOROPLASTS INDUCED BY CHANGES IN ION CONCENTRATION

Abstract— Acid-base, acid-, and salt-induced chemiluminescences of chloroplasts were investigated in relation to their dependences upon several time parameters:

• 1 The dependence of the three chemiluminescences on the preillumination time was similar; the luminescences rose to a maximum and then decayed to a steady-state This behaviour depends on the preillumination level and the length of the dark time following the preillumination. Analysis of the above indicates the formation of quenching entities during the preillumination which react with the luminescence precursors mainly in the dark. In contrast, the delayed light measured after 22 msec from the preillumination, showed a much slower but smooth rise to the steady-state with no subsequent drop.
• 2 During the dark period following preillumination the ability of the system to chemi-luminescence decayed with a first order rate.
• 3 During emission the above chemiluminescences decayed with a first order law. The total emission in different experiments was also proportional to the maximum emission, in agreement with a first order law of decay.
• 4 The comparison of the kinetic behaviour of the three types of chemiluminescence indicates common precursors of luminescence for at least the acid-base and the salt types. The delayed emission at 22 msec however, seems to have separate precursors than the three chemiluminescences.

     

EXCITATION OF CHLOROPLASTS INDUCED BY PHENYLACETALDEHYDE

Abstract Chloroplasts promote a slow oxygen consumption by phenylacetaldehyde. The latter elicits a sustained red emission and induces reduction of tetrazolium blue. Addition of horseradish peroxidase greatly increases both O₂ uptake and the initial light emission, but has little or no effect upon the reduction of tetrazolium blue. These results indicate that chlorophylls in chloroplasts can be efficiently excited in the absence of light.     

OXYGEN QUENCHING OF CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE IN CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— Three phases of chlorophyll a fluorescence quenching by O₂ are observed in green plants. The effects of various inhibitors on photosynthetic partial processes in chloroplasts were investigated in attempts to (1) localize the O₂-quenching sites and (2) assess possible physiological significance of O₂-quenching. Our results localize the most sensitive (and presumably functionally important) phase to a site between plastoquinone and the photosystem I acceptor, chlorophyll (P₇₀₀), possibly plastocyanin. It is suggested that PC may transfer electrons to oxygen in addition to P₇₀₀.     

激光诱导钡的原子与离子荧光光谱研究

许多作者报导了在 ICP 和火焰等原子化系统中钡的原子和离子荧光检测,并将其应用于光谱分析.但有关钡的荧光光谱特性研究报道较少.本工作以空心阴极灯作为原子化器,利用连续波染料激光器研究了钡的原子与离子荧光,观察了各种因素对钡荧光信号强度的影响,测量了不同类型的原子和离子荧光,研究了所观察到的反常信号产生的机理.实验中用全谱线的氩离子激光器(南京电子管厂,362型,约5W)泵浦 R6G 染料激光器。在570—815nm 范围产生可调谐激光.典型的光谱带宽约0.1GHz.激光束经调制后用透镜聚     

FLUORESCENCE INDUCTION IN ALGAE AND CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract —The first phases of the fluorescence transient elicited by illumination of dark-adapted algae or isolated chloroplasts (biphasic rise φ_***v - φ_I - _P) have previously been shown to be controlled by two quenchers: Q , the primary acceptor of Photosystem 2 interacting with the secondary acceptor pool A ; and R , a non-photochemical quencher which goes into a non-quenching state as A is reduced.
The dependence of the kinetics of φ decay after illumination upon the redox state of A was studied. It is suggested that some of the centres are in a disconnected state, where electron transfer between Q and A is hindered, the amount of such centres being correlated to the reduction state of A . The implications of this hypothesis on the problem of the variation of the Q-A 'equilibrium constant' under different experimental conditions, and on Murata's 'weak light effect' are discussed.
The effect of 3-(3,4 dichlorophenyl)-1,1 dimethylurea (DCMU) on R is shown to depend upon the redox state of A . A DCMU-induced shift of the midpoint potential of R may account for this dependence.
Evidence is given suggesting that the transient reduction of A which occurs in algae during the φ_I-φ_P rise is controlled by an induction process on the acceptor side of Photosystem 1.     

FLUORESCENCE DECAY KINETICS and CHARACTERISTICS OF BIMOLECULAR EXCITON ANNIHILATION IN CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— The decay profiles of the fluorescence of dark-adapted spinach chloroplasts (0^A°C) excited with single 30 ps 532 nm laser pulses of varying intensities were measured with a low-jitter streak camera system. By comparing the decay profiles of the fluorescence at low and high laser fluences, i.e. in the absence and presence, respectively, of dynamic bimolecular exciton-exciton annihilation effects, the duration of such dynamic annihilation events can be estimated. A simple model suggests that the influence of bimolecular annihilation events on the fluorescence decay kinetics should disappear within a time interval corresponding to the low intensity, unimolecular lifetime of the exciton population which is subject to exciton-exciton annihilation. The low intensity fluorescence decay profiles are characterized by three to four lifetimes (Reviewed by A. R. Holzwarth, Photochem. Photobiol. 43,707–725, 1986); it is shown here that only the shortest fluorescence components are subject to exciton annihilation, since the kinetics of the fluorescence decay are influenced by annihilations only within the initial 150–200 ps time interval after the excitation pulse. The amplitudes (but not the decay kinetics) of the longer-lived fluorescence components are decreased at high levels of laser pulse excitations, suggesting that these components are derived from the shorter-lived fluorescence decay components. The implications of these results are*discussed within the contexts of current models of the fluorescence in chloroplasts.     

TIME-RESOLVED FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA OF TRYPTOPHAN IN MONOMERIC GLUCAGON*

Abstract— The fluorescence decay of tryptophan-25 in monomeric glucagon at pH 8.2 was measured at a series of emission wavelengths using pulsed laser excitation and single photon counting techniques. Double exponential kinetics were consistently observed, with time constants 3.26 and 1.11 ns. This allowed the steady-state emission spectrum to be resolved into two components with differing intensities but similar emission maxima near 350 nm. Decay parameters were almost unchanged in the presence of 5.5 M guanidinium chloride. The dual emission is thought to reflect different conformers of the indole ring or of the peptide chain.     

CCD阵列检测-激光诱导荧光光度法测定食品中锌

利用自行组装的激光诱导荧光 CCD阵列检测器 计算机联用装置 ,建立了测定食品中锌的灵敏方法。在乙酸 乙酸铵缓冲溶液 (pH 4 )中 ,Zn(Ⅱ )与SCN- 、若丹明B(RhB)反应生成Zn SCN RhB配合物 ,经乙醚萃取后 ,在激发波长 5 32nm和发射波长 5 80nm进行荧光强度测定。研究了表面活性剂对Zn SCN RhB配合物荧光强度的影响 ,优化了荧光反应及食品样品的处理条件 ,并用于食品试样中锌的测定。方法的检出限为 4ng·ml- 1,加标回收率为 90 .0 %～ 110 .0 % ,相对标准偏差为 2 .0 %～ 9.7% ,能满足食品卫生检验的要求。     

SPECTRAL CHANGES IN CHLOROPLASTS DURING AGING

The spectral properties of photosynthetic and accessory pigments of chloroplasts can change significantly over the course of an experiment which may last a couple of hours. As chloroplasts age at room temperature, there are decreases in absorbance at 708, 678, 510, 484, 465 and 432 nm. Chlorophylls absorbing at long wavelength (708 nm) and carotenoids (510 nm) are most sensitive to the aging process. The decrease in absorbance at 510 nm could indicate that aging results in a decrease in electrical potential across the thylakoid membrane.     

ANALYSIS OF MICROSECOND FLUORESCENCE YIELD AND DELAYED LIGHT EMISSION CHANGES AFTER A SINGLE FLASH IN PEA CHLOROPLASTS: EFFECTS OF MONO- AND DIVALENT CATIONS

Abstract. New results are presented on the effects of mono- and divalent cations on concurrent changes in the microsecond yields and kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence and delayed light emission, and the light saturation curve for the latter at 100 μs, following a 10 ns flash at 337 nm. (1) The fluorescence yield increases exponentially from 3 to 30 μs (lifetime, τ, 6.4 ± 0.6/μs), and decays biphasically between 50 and 800μs. (2) The delayed light emission decays biphasically with two exponential phases: fast phase, T= 7–10μs, and slow phase, T= 33–40μs. (3) The light saturation curve for 100μs delayed light emission is satisfactorily represented by a one-hit Poisson saturation curve. (4) Addition of 5 mM NaCl to salt-depleted chloroplasts decreases (by as much as 40%) the yields of μs fluorescence and delayed light emission, and the subsequent addition of 5mM MgCl₂ increases the yields (≤2 × over samples with only NaCl). (5) The fluorescence yield rise and delayed light emission decay kinetics are independent of low concentrations of cations. The lifetime of the fast phase of fluorescence decay changes from ?90μs to ?160μs, when Na⁺ or Na⁺+ Mg²⁺ are added. Based on a detailed analysis presented in this paper, the following conclusions regarding the effects of low concentrations (few mM) of mono-and divalent cations in sucrose-washed chloroplasts at room temperature are made: (a) Na⁺ decreases (?6%) and Mg²⁺ increases (? 20% compared with the Na⁺ sample) the sensitization of photosystem II photochemistry: this effect is small, but significant. (b) Na⁺ increases and Mg²⁺ decreases the efficiency for radiationless transitions in singlet excited Chl a in the antenna and closed reaction center of PS II; this includes non-radiative energy transfer to PS I, intramolecular intersystem crossing and internal conversion. The ratio of the sum of the rate constants for radiationless transitions to that for fluorescence increases by ? 2-fold upon the addition of Na⁺, and is completely reversed by the addition of Mg²⁺. (c) The rate constant for the re-oxidation of Q^- decreases (about 50%) in the presence of Na⁺ or Na⁺+ Mg²⁺. These conclusions imply that cations produce multiple changes in the primary photoprocesses of PS II at physiological temperatures. It is proposed that these changes are mutually independent and can co-exist.     

FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA OF BLOWFLY METAXANTHOPSINS

Abstract— The main visual pigment of blowflies (xanthopsin, Vogt, 1983 Z. Naturforsch. 38c ,329–333) photoconverts into two thermostable metaxanthopsin states M and M'(e.g. Stavenga et al. , 1984 Photochem. Photobiol. 40 ,653–659). The fluorescence spectra of the two photoproducts were studied by microspectrofluorometry in vivo. The emission spectra of M and M'are very similar and peak at 660 nm. The excitation spectra of M and M'have peak wavelengths at Λ_max ' 584 nm and = 568 nm respectively.     

ABSORPTION AND FLUORESCENCE SPECTRA OF CHLOROPHYLL-a IN POLAR SOLVENTS AS A FUNCTION OF TEMPERATURE

Abstract— Absorption and fluorescence spectra of chlorphyll-a in aqueous alcohol were determined as a function of temperature between 173° and 293°K. From a comparison of these spectra with ones obtained in pure methanol, it is suggested that changes in molecular association occur within aggregates of chlorophyll-a in aqueous-alcoholic solution induced by variation of the dielectric constant. The latter varies over a wide range in aqueous alcohol as a function of temperature.     

A COMPARISON OF THERMALLY INDUCED CHANGES IN SONICATED PHOSPHOLIPID AND SURFACTANT VESICLES BY MEANS OF INTRA-MOLECULAR EXCIMER-FORMING PROBE

Abstract The molecule (1,l'-dipyrenyl)-methyl ether (dipyme) was used for monitoring the bilayer fluidity of surfactant and sonicated phospholipid vesicles. In the latter systems, the observed transition temperatures ( Tc ) are identical with those found by different methods. Surfactant vesicles prepared from dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) and dihexadecylphosphate (DHP) molecules manifest a similar fluidity of their bilayers as those of sonicated phospholipid vesicles below their Tc. However, unlike in phospholipid vesicles, there was no significant change of the bilayer structure above Tc observed in surfactant vesicles. DHP vesicles formed in pure water provide a different solubilization site for dipyme than those prepared in a buffer solution. Such sites are characterized by a relatively high local concentration of the probe and the appearance of the blue shifted spectrum of the excimer.     

PICOSECOND FLUORESCENCE KINETICS IN SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS AT LOW TEMPERATURE

Abstract— At 77 K the fluorescence from spinach chloroplasts excited using picosecond mode-locked laser pulses at 620 nm is made up of 5 separate kinetic components. Three of these are predominant at short wavelengths. between 650 and 690 nm, and they appear to correspond to the 3 decay phases seen at room temperature. The 2 new components. a 100 ps rise and a 3000 ps decay, characterize the longer (730–770 nm) wavelength fluorescence. The temperature dependence of the kinetic components of the long wavelength fluorescence shows that the 3000 ps decay accounts for essentially all of the large increase in fluorescence yield observed at low temperature. Furthermore, it appears that this increase does not result entirely from an increase in the fluorescence lifetime, as has been proposed. The dependences of these 2 new components (the 100 ps rise and 3000 ps decay) on emission wavelength and temperature are similar enough to suggest they have a common origin, presumably the chlorophyll pigment component C705. The amplitudes (yield/lifetime) of these 2 phases are approximately equal, and they are opposite in sign. Thus. we see evidence of time-resolved excitation transfer from those pigment molecules that absorb the 620 nm radiation to those that give rise to the long wavelength fluorescence at low temperature.     

PERMEABILITY AND STRUCTURAL CHANGES INDUCED BY PHYTOCHROME IN LIPID VESICLES

Abstract— This paper describes a method for rapidly monitoring early changes in electrolyte permeability induced by phytochrome from salt-loaded liposomes. The method allows for the continuous monitoring of low-level ion efflux from liposomes by measuring the conductivity of a liposome suspension medium which has osmotic and chemical potentials that promote a slow. passive efflux of the compartmented electrolytes. The addition of the far-red absorbing form of phytochrome (Pfr) to this system at 20°C immediately produces efflux rates which are 2–3 times greater than if the red-absorbing form (Pr) is added. This differential effect is not evident at 4°C and varies with the lipid composition of the liposomes. Under conditions in which Pfr induces a 2-fold greater change in the electrolyte permeability of liposomes than Pr. only about 18% more ¹²⁵I-labeled Pfr than ¹²⁵I-labeled Pr binds to the liposomes. At equimolar concentrations. the photochromic small peptide of phytochrome (60 000 dalton monomer) and the more native'large'phytochrome (120000 dalton subunits) induced equivalent changes in the electrolyte permeability of liposomes. No differential leakage of ATP, glucose, or trvpsin from liposomes was observed after Pr and Pfr reacted with vesicles enclosing these substances. The Pfr form of phytochrome promoted greater turbidity in liposome suspensions and a greater degree of aggregation and/or vesiclc fusion than Pr. The kinetics of these changes suggested that they were not the hasis of the differential permeability effects of Pr and Pfr.     

LASER PULSE EXCITATION STUDIES OF THE FLUORESCENCE OF CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract. The fluorescence yield, φ, as a function of single picosecond laser pulse intensity was experimentally studied in spinach chloroplasts and for chlorophyll a in ethyl ether solution. The progressive decrease in φ with increasing incident intensity for in vivo chlorophyll was found to be adequately explained within the context of continuum bimolecular kinetics with a singlet-singlet fusion rate constant of γ=5×^-9cm^-3s^-1 at room temperature. We discuss qualitatively how the fluorescence quantum yield depends on the duration and intensity of the incident pulse. The identity of φ vs l (the number of absorbed quanta) curves at the emission maxima of 685 nm and 735 nm for single picosecond pulse mode of excitation is explained within the context of Butler's tripartite model of the fluorescence of chloroplasts at 77 K. Various models relating γ to the singlet exciton diffusion coefficient and the Förster energy transfer rate are used to infer lower bounds to these physical parameters. Predictions and supporting experimental evidence for the tripartite model are discussed.