KINETIC STUDIES ON THE STABILIZATION OF THE PRIMARY RADICAL PAIR P680+ Pheo- IN DIFFERENT PHOTOSYSTEM II PREPARATIONS FROM HIGHER PLANTS*

Abstract— The stabilization of the primary radical pair P680+ pheophytin (Pheo)^- through rapid electron transfer from Pheo to the special plastoquinone of photosystem II (PS II), Q_A, was analyzed on the basis of time-resolved (40 ps) UV-absorption changes detected in different PS II preparations from higher plants. Lifetime measurements of¹Chi* fluorescence by single photon counting and a numerical analysis of the redox reactions revealed (1) at exciton densities required for light saturation of the stable charge separation, annihilation processes dominate the excited state decay leading to very similar lifetimes of ¹Chi* in systems with open and closed reaction centers and (2) the difference of absorption changes induced by actinic flashes of comparatively high photon density in samples with open and photochemically closed reaction centers, respectively, provides a suitable measure of the rate constant of QA formation. Conclusion 2 was confirmed in PS II membrane fragments by measurements at three wavelengths (280 nm, 292 nm and 325 nm) where the difference spectrum of Q^-_A formation exhibits characteristic features. The numerical evaluation of the experimental data led to the following results: (1) the rate constant of Q^-_A formation was found to be (300 ± 100 ps)^-1 in PS II membrane fragments and PS II core complexes deprived of the distal and proximal antenna and (2) an iron depletion treatment of membrane fragments does not affect these kinetics. The implications of these results are briefly discussed in terms of the PS II reaction pattern.     

KINETIC ANALYSIS OF THE FLUORESCENCE INDUCTION IN 3-(3,4-DICHLOROPHENYL)-1,1-DIMETHYLUREA POISONED CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— The size of the area over the fluorescence rise curve of chloroplasts is a measure of the total number of quanta utilized in photosystem II during the fluorescence induction, while the growth of the area reflects the progress of photochemical events. In the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), the growth kinetics of the area are affected by the reoxidation of the primary acceptor Q ^- with stored oxidizing charges on the donor side of system II.
At low light intensities, a slow component of this back reaction may limit the steady state fluorescence emission. At higher intensities, however, the fluorescence rise is limited solely by photochemical events, although fast thermochemical reactions like the immediate recombination of photochemically separated charges may affect the efficiency of the photochemistry.
A kinetic analysis of the area growth at moderate light intensities revealed that it occurred in two first order phases which were described by the rate constants k _α and k _β. The biphasic nature suggested a sequential two-electron reduction of the primary acceptor Q , or the presence of two different types of photochemical centers in system II. The rate constants were light intensity dependent. They also were affected by changes in pH, by an addition of NH₂OH, or by a preillumination with short flashes prior to addition of DCMU. It is suggested that the pH of the medium, the presence of NH₂OH, and the flash induced state S_n of the water splitting enzyme, control the values of k _α and k _β by changing the rate constants of electron carrier interactions in the reaction center complex, with a resulting modification of the frequency of back reactions between the primary donor and the primary acceptor.     

DIURNAL VARIATIONS IN LUMINESCENCE IN Scenedesmus obtusiusculus (CHLOROPHYCEAE) INDUCED BY 3-(3,4-DICHLOROPHENYL)-1,1-DIMETHYLUREA

Abstract— Luminescence from synchronously cultured Scenedesmus obtusiusculus cells was measured with a high sensitivity photon counter. Recording of light emission was initiated 0.2 s after switching off actinic light. Luminescence decay was separated into two phases: one for decay to 10⁴ pulses s^-1, the other for decay from 10⁴ to 10³ pulses s^-1. Most photons are emitted during the rapid decay to 10⁴ pulses s^-l. Only small diurnal variations of the two phases could be observed in controls. Treatment with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) decreased both the total number of photons emitted and the time required to reach the 10⁴ pulses s^-1 level. No diurnal rhythmicity was induced by DCMU in the first phase but DCMU induced a pronounced diurnal variation in decay time in the second phase of luminescence parallelled by a periodicity in the number of photons emitted. The results indicate that DCMU interferes with the participation of PS I in luminescence. The chlorophyll alb ratio was constant during the life cycle of the cells. No relation could be observed between luminescence and the diurnal rhythmicity in photosynthesis that is characteristic for synchronized unicellular algae.     

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

Abstract- Upon laser photolysis of pheophytin-benzoquinone solutions in ethanol, transients due to the pheophytin triplet state (P_t), an exciplex (Pδ⁺ Qδ^-), the pheophytin cation radical (P⁺) and the semiquinone radical (Q^-) can be observed. Kinetic analysis indicates that the evolution of these transients at times longer than one microsecond is due to the decay of the exciplex with the concomitant formation of P⁺ and Q^-, reverse electron transfer to form P and Q, solvent oxidation by P⁺, and Q^- disproportionation. In support of the suggested solvent oxidation reaction, a large deuterium isotope effect is observed upon changing the solvent from methanol to its fully-deuterated counterpart. Comparisons are made between these results and those obtained with chlorophyll as described in the preceding paper.     

LASER PHOTOLYSIS OF 3-METHYLLUMIFLAVIN

Abstract— Using high-intensity actinic light, the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient from HCO^-₃-depleted chloroplasts shows a rapid initial rise (O → I) followed by a slow phase (I → P). In the presence of HCO^-₃, the O → I rise is delayed but the I → P phase is much more rapid. Using low-intensity actinic light, the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient from 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1 dimethylurea (DCMU)-treated chloroplasts is delayed in the presence of HCO^-₃. Bicarbonate increases the amount of delayed light emission from chloroplasts given 10 s illumination with weak blue light (0·4 W/m²). DCMU greatly increases the amount of delayed light seen in the presence of HCO^-₃ under these conditions but decreases the amount seen in the absence of HCO^-₃. It is suggested that HCO^-₃ may somehow form or stabilize, in the dark, a number of reaction centers corresponding to the S₁ state in the model of B. Forbush, B. Kok and M. McGloin ( Photochem. Photobiol. 14, 307–321, 1971).     

PICOSECOND FLUORESCENCE STUDY OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC MUTANTS OF Chlamydomonas reinhardii: ORIGIN OF THE FLUORESCENCE DECAY KINETICS OF CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— The fluorescence decay kinetics of photosynthetic mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardii which lack photosystem II (PS II), photosystem I (PS I), and both PS II and PS I have been measured. The PS II mutant strain8–36C exhibits fluorescence decay lifetime components of 53, 424 and 2197 ps. The fluorescence decay of a PS I mutant strain12–7 contains two major fluorescence decay components with lifetimes of 152 and 424 ps. The fluorescence decay of mutant strain C2, which lacks both PS II and PS I, is nearly single exponential with a lifetime of 2561 ± 222 ps. In simulations in which it is assumed that wild-type decays are a simple sum of the major decay components of the isolated parts of the photosynthetic unit as measured in the mutants, curves are obtained that fit the wild-type C. reinhardii fluorescence decay data when the absorption cross-sections of PS II and PS I are weighted approximately equally. The 89 ps lifetime component in the wild-type is an average of 53 and 152 ps components arising from excitation transfer to and trapping in PS I and PS II. The single step transfer time in PS I is estimated to be between 100 and 700 fs depending on assumptions about array size. We find that between two and four visits to the PS I reaction center are required before final trapping.     

STUDY OF LUMINESCENT FORMS OF THE URANYL ION

Luminescence spectra and luminescence decay kinetics of uranyl sulphate water and uranyl nitrate acetone solutions of different concentrations have been studied. Similar experiments have been done with uranyl sulphate powder under vacuum. It has been experimentally shown that the hydrolysis of uranyl sulphate in water takes place, and under low salt concentrations (0.1-4.0 times 10^-4 M) a luminescence of a basic form of the photoexcited ion with a tentative structure of UO₂OH⁺* has been observed. The luminescence of the acidic form UO⁺* has been observed under higher salt concentrations (1–4 times 10^-2 M) in water and under any salt concentration in acetone. The acidic form has the characteristic emission spectrum possessing vibrational structure. The luminescence concentrational quenching of both photoexcited uranyl forms and exciplex emission have not been observed. The effect of a number of organic quenchers and molecular oxygen on uranyl luminescence has been studied. There is no luminescence quenching by O₂ up to 2 times 10⁶ Pa (20 atm) pressure. The low effectiveness of energy transfer from the photoexcited uranyl forms has been explained in terms of strong steric screening of 5f-uranium (VI) orbital by oxygen atoms and by external filled up uranium electronic shells.     

DELAYED FLUORESCENCE AND THE REVERSAL OF PRIMARY PHOTOCHEMISTRY IN RHODOPSEUDOMONAS VIRIDIS

Abstract— Delayed fluorescence from chromatophores of the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis was measured at temperatures below 0°C. A component with a decay half-time of about 7 ms was found. Its intensity was directly proportional to the number of reaction centers in the P985⁺·A^- state. During prolonged illumination it faded as electrons moved forward along the electron transport chain from the primary acceptor, A, (P985⁺·A^-→P985⁺·A), and its decay in the dark paralleled the disappearence of the P985⁺ electron paramagnetic resonance absorption. The data suggest that this component of delayed fluorescence results from a direct reversal of the primary light reaction. While the rate of the P985⁺middot;A^-→P985·A reaction was almost independent of temperature, delayed fluorescence intensity displayed an apparent activation energy of 0°2 eV. It is concluded that the P985⁺·A^-→P985·A reaction proceeds by parallel radiative and nonradiative routes. The direct proportionality between delayed fluorescence and the concentration of P985⁺·A^- pairs seems to preclude an involvement of triplet-triplet annihilation or dependence of delayed fluorescence upon the variable prompt fluorescence yield.     

MECHANISMS OF THE PHOTOSENSITIZED OXIDATION OF TYRAMINE

Abstract— …According to the criteria of enhancement in D₂O and inhibition by sodium azide, the oxidation of tyramine photosensitized by methylene blue is largely a singlet oxygen or Type II process. Its quantum yield approximates 0.3 in D₂O at pH 10. There is a less efficient reaction not quenched by azide, which is assigned to a dye-substrate or Type I process. It gives rise to products with distinct bands at 320 and 285nm. Products of the Type I reaction are further oxidized by singlet oxygen and thereby compete with tyramine for this reagent. Kinetic parameters were estimated by computer simulation of the dependence of quantum yield on extent of reaction. The rate constant for reaction of O₂ (¹Δ_g) with tyramine was estimated to be 2.8 × 10⁸ M ^-1 s ^-1± 20% at pH 10. The reaction was also sensitized by hypericin in what appears to be a Type II process.     

PICOSECOND FLUORESCENCE AND ELECTRON TRANSFER IN PRIMARY PHOTOSYNTHETIC PROCESSES

Abstract. Under conditions that drive the reaction centers (RC's) into the "closed" state, the lifetime ( T ) of the fluorescence emitted by antenna molecules increases from 80 to 200 ps in PS I, from 300 to 600 ps in PS II, and from 200 to 500 ps in bacterial chromatophores. In Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides strain 1760-1, the decay curve for fluorescence from the RC's has a component with T ₂= 15 ps due to the bacteriochlorophyll of the RC, and a second component with T ₂= 250 ps due to bacteriopheophytin.
Data on electron transfer at low temperatures and under different redox conditions are analyzed. along with the ps fluorescence kinetics. The hypothesis is discussed that electron transfer in RC's is coupled to conformation changes in the interacting molecules.     

PARTICIPATION OF THE TWO PHOTOSYSTEMS IN LIGHT DEPENDENT HYDROGEN EVOLUTION IN Scenedesmus obliquus

Abstract— The H₂-photoproduction in the presence of dithionite measured in wild type and mutant cells of Scenedesmus obliquus demonstrates two sequential phases. In mutants showing only PS I activity phase 1 of H₂-photoproduction is visible with its core activity. When PS II is developed during greening, considerable activity is added to the core of phase I and phase II activity appears. Addition of DCMU reduces H₂-photoproduction by about 90%. The residual activity is completely attributed to the core of phase I. It was concluded that the core of phase I is dependent upon PS I only and can use sources different from water as electron donors. Phase II is dependent upon the capacity of PS II, a functioning photosynthetic apparatus and water as electron donor. The results are supported by studies of wavelength dependent activity of the two separate phases of H₂-photoproduction.     

DCMU-INDUCED STIMULATION OF PHOTOSYSTEM I ELECTRON TRANSPORT. INVOLVEMENT OF MEMBRANE STRUCTURAL CHANGES

DCMU-induced stimulation of the rate of photosystem I (PS I) electron transport in DCIPH₂→ MV photoreaction occurs through the action of DCMU on the rate-limiting step which contains the site of electron donation of DCIPH₂ (Ramanujam et al. , 1981). The magnitude of stimulation of the rate by 50 μ M DCMU decreased with increasing concentration of chlorophyll (Chl), implying that DCMU is stoichiometrically related to Chl with respect to the stimulation of the PS I rate.
DCMU-induced stimulation was sensitive to the ionic condition of the thylakoids, the effect being reduced at low cation concentration. Cation-induced scattering changes in thylakoid suspension were partially reversed by DCMU, and the percent Chl in the 10 K fraction of the thylakoid decreased upon addition of DCMU, indicating that grana structure is disrupted by DCMU. Hydroquinone-mediated reduction of cytochrome f in thylakoids in the dark was accelerated in the presence of DCMU. The DCMU effect was not observed in isolated PS I particles.
It is concluded that DCMU binds to the thylakoid membranes and brings about structural changes leading to unstacking of the thylakoids accompanied by an altered interaction of the electron transfer chain components with the added electron donor. This binding of DCMU must have an affinity lower than the well-known binding of DCMU to photosystem II (PS II), because the concentration required is markedly higher.     

CHEMILUMINESCENCE IN THE PROCESS OF OXIDATIVE RING-OPENING OF PURPUROGALLINQUINONES

Abstract— The oxidation of purpurogalline (PPG) by alkaline solution of H₂O₂ pH 9–11 at 298°K is accompanied by chemiluminescence (CL) in the spectral range 400–600 nm with the maximum at 500 nm and quantum yield about 10^-6. The optimal concentrations of reactants with respect to maximal intensity are: 2 × 10^-4 M PPG, 10^-2 M NaOH, 1 M H₂O₂. Activation energy calculated from the maximum intensity of CL is 8.1×0.4 kcal/mole. Light emission occurs only when OH-groups of the phenolic ring of PPG undergo oxidation and the blue anion of o -PPG-quinone is formed. The rate that determines step in the reaction associated with luminescence is the nucleophilic attack of OOH^- ion on the blue anion of o -PPG-quinone. In this exergonic step (-ΔH = 63 to 230kcal/mole) the o - and/or p -quinone ring is opened and carbonyl derivatives of α-tropolone are produced. They display fluorescence in the region 400–600 nm. The fluorescence spectrum of the reaction mixture after oxidation of PPG is very close to that of CL. It is likely that carbonyl derivatives of α-tropolone are emitters of CL.     

CHEMILUMINESCENCE IN THE OXIDATION OF 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE: EFFECTS OF LUCIGENIN, SCAVENGERS OF ACTIVE OXYGEN, METAL CHELATORS AND THE PRESENCE OF OXYGEN

Abstract— Maximum chemiluminescence in a system containing 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) and H₂O₂ required the addition of Fe²⁺:EDTA, oxygen, and lucigenin. In this system luminescence was strongly inhibited by catalase (91% inhibition) or 50 m M mannitol (83%), whereas superoxide dismutase or ascorbate did not significantly change the reaction rate. In the absence of lucigenin, 50 m M mannitol (78%), catalase (76%), or ascorbate (73%) inhibited strongly, while superoxide dismutase inhibited by 60%. Removing EDTA from the lucigenin-containing system caused a 79% decrease in luminescence, while the substitution of desferoxamine for EDTA decreased luminescence by 55%. In the presence of desferoxamine plus EDTA the luminescence increased by 30% in comparison with that seen with EDTA alone. Luminescence in the system containing 6-hydroxydopamine, H₂O₂, Fe²⁺:EDTA and lucigenin required the presence of oxygen (93% inhibition anaerobically), consistent with a mechanism involving reductive oxygenation of the lucigenin. It is concluded that luminescence in the presence of lucigenin involves a substantial contribution from H₂O₂ and Fe²⁺ mediated by a mannitol-sensitive intermediate (conceivably Fenton-derived hydroxyl radicals). In the absence of lucigenin, superoxide and an ascorbate-labile component are additional important participants in the process.     

INTENSITY AND TIME-DEPENDENCE OF THE CAROTENOID TRIPLET QUENCHING UNDER LIGHT FLASHES OF RECTANGULAR SHAPE IN CHLORELLA

Abstract— As is known the chlorophyll fluorescence of photosynthetizing plants is strongly quenched by carotenoid triplet states if the exciting light intensity is high enough (> 10 kW/m²). This light-induced quenching process was studied by measuring the relative yield of chlorophyll fluoresccncc excited with a pulsed argon laser at 20 C in light adapted algae as function of time (within lo μ s ) and exciting light intensity (<400 kW/m²). The experimental yield against time and yield against intensity curves have been adequately explained by a statistical model of Photosystem 2 (PS 2) units based upon the existence of freely moving excitons according to which the carotenoid triplet quenchers are randomly distributed and are perfect traps for excitons. Accepting the hypothesis that carotenoid triplet quenching occurs only in PS 2 units. it could be concluded that the height of the true zero level of PS 2 fluorescence is somewhat lower than the half value of the fluorescence level of the dark adapted state.     

QUENCHING OF CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE BY NITROBENZENE

Abstract—Nitrobenzene quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in ethanol has been investigated. Steady state relative quantum yields have been measured and fluorescence decay rates were determined using both nanosecond photon counting and picosecond pulses from a mode-locked Nd³⁺ glass laser.
The fluorescence decay is described by
1( t )= I ₀ exp (- t/τ−At^1/2 )
the form predicted for decay governed by the kinetics of the continuum model of diffusion controlled reactions. From the parameters of the fluorescence decay, the encounter distance is 5–7 A° the mutual diffusion coefficient is 0.62 × 10^--⁵ cm2s^-1± 12%.
Some of the fluorescence quenching is also attributed to static quenching by a nitrobenzene-chlorophyll, ground-state complex. The equilibrium constant for formation of this ground-state complex was determined to be 4.1 M ^-1. The combined dynamic and static quenching model allows calculation of quantum yields of fluorescence in good agreement with the experimentally determined quantum yields.     

THE COMPLEXITY OF THE FLUORESCENCE OF CHLORELLA PYRENOIDOSA

Abstract— The complexity of the room-temperature emission spectrum of Chlorella was investigated by a matrix analysis method. This approach revealed the presence of two independently fluorescent components in the short-wave region of the spectrum. These components, maximal at about 687 and 695 nm, appeared to correspond to the fluorescence of the bulk pigments of PS II and PS I respectively. The analysis was insensitive to the individual species within the photosystems. As such, other minor fluorescent species, usually observed at low temperatures, which presumably correspond to fluorescence from the trapping centres, did not appreciably complicate the analysis. The absorption spectra of the two photosystems were calculated from the fluorescence data. The results were similar to those that have been obtained by other workers from oxygen evolution and DCMU poisoning data but differed from those obtained by computer analysis of the absorption spectrum. Addition of reduced DCPIP was observed to reverse the increase in fluorescence yield and changes in the spectral distribution of emission taking place on poisoning the algae. The correlation between this and the catalysis of photophos-phorylation in aged or poisoned chloroplasts was noted. This correlation was tentatively interpreted as evidence for a direct interaction between the donor system and the photochemical apparatus associated with PS II, rather than with a member of the electron transport chain as is normally assumed.     

FLASH PHOTOLYSIS-ELECTRON SPIN RESONANCE STUDIES OF THE INTERACTION OF PHENAZINE METHOSULFATE WITH REACTION-CENTER PREPARATIONS FROM THE R-26 MUTANT OF RHODOPSEUDOMONAS SPHEROIDES*

Abstract— Using the technique of flash photolysis-electron spin resonance, we have shown, by means of a kinetic analysis, that phenazine methosulfate (PMS) interacts with reaction-center preparations from the blue-green mutant R26 of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides. At intermediate concentrations of PMS, biphasic decay kinetics of the P870⁺ ESR signal are observed demonstrating that the PMS radical interacts with reaction centers by a specific binding mechanism. With PMS bound to reaction centers, the P870⁺ ESR signal decays in ˜ 1 ms; whereas, in unbound reaction centers the decay is ˜ 120 ms. A model is proposed involving the interaction of PMS on the donor side of P870.     

STUDIES ON SOME INTERMEDIATES AND PRODUCTS OF THE PHOTOREDUCTION OF 9,10-ANTHRAQUINONE *,†

Abstract— The mechanism of the photoreduction of 9,10-anthraquinone (AQ) in alcohol and hexane has been studied by flash photolysis. The fluorescence spectrum of the photoproduct, 9,10-dihydroxy anthracene shows a large shift between hexane and ethanol. The quantum yields of photoreduction for AQ are solvent-dependent, the reaction between the solvent radical and AQ determining the quantum yield.
The absorption spectrum of the 9,10-anthrasemiquinone (AQH.) has a long-wavelength absorption band with peaks at 631 and 678 nm. The second-order decay constants for AQH. were estimated to be 1.3 × 10⁹, 6.7 × 10⁸ and 2.0 × 10⁸ M ^-1 sec^-1 in ethanol, 2-propanol and ethylene glycol, respectively.
A long-wavelength absorption band was observed for 9,10-anthrasemiquinone radical anion, having peaks at 776 and 860 nm; epsi;_max= 1900 at 776 nm. This spectrum is compared with the spectra of 9,10-dihydroxy anthracene mono- and di-anions. The 9,10-anthrasemiquinone radical anion was found to photoreduce quantitatively to 9,10-dihydroxy anthracene mono-anion with a quantum yield of 0.1.     

QUENCHING OF THE FLUORESCENCE OF 8-METHOXYPSORALEN BY PROTONS

Abstract— The quenching of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) fluorescence by protons was observed to occur at the diffusion controlled rates in aqueous solutions at room temperature. Enhanced basicity of 8-MOP in the excited state compared to the ground state is expected on theoretical grounds. The fluorescence yield. which we determined as 6.3 × 10^--⁴ at pH 1 is surprisingly low and indicative of extremely fast radiationless decay pathways. The fluorescence lifetime of 8-MOP in neutral aqueous solution is on the order of 1–2 ns.