THE ROLE OF CYCLIC ELECTRON FLOW AROUND PHOTOSYSTEM I and EXCITATION ENERGY DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN THE PHOTOSYSTEMS UPON ACCLIMATION TO HIGH IONIC STRESS IN Dunaliella salina

Abstract— The distribution of excitation energy between the two photosystems in the halophylic alga Dunaliella salina has been analyzed under ionic stress. In the transition from state 1 to state 2, it was found that a, the absorption cross-section of photosystem (PS) I increased from 42 to 49% until an equal distribution between PS I and PS II was obtained in state 2. Acclimation of the algae to different salt concentrations did not change the fractions of light absorbed in PS II and PS I, but slowed down the transition time from state 1 to state 2. A large increase in ΔpH induced fluorescence quenching was observed which was abolished by the uncoupler nigericin. Photoacoustic quantum yield spectra of energy storage indicated a larger energy storage at 700 nm induced upon stress. The additional ΔpH quenching of fluorescence and the additional quantum yield of energy storage at 700 nm, in the stressed algae, are consistent with the operation of a cyclic, energy-storing pathway in PS I which is uncoupler sensitive.     

PICOSECOND TRANSIENT BEHAVIOR OF REACTION-CENTER PARTICLES OF PHOTOSYSTEM I ISOLATED FROM SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS. ENERGY AND ELECTRON TRANSFER UPON SINGLE AND MULTIPLE PHOTON EXCITATION

Abstract— Both [15-¹³C] and [14-¹³C] all-trans-retinals were synthesized. Bacteriorhodopsin containing [14-¹³C]retinal as a chromophore, when solubilized with octyl-β-D-glucoside, showed characteristic resonances at 125 and 118 ppm from tetramethyl silane. The former was assigned to the signal from free retinal and the latter from protonated Sehiff base. When the bacteriorhodopsin was denatured in sodium dodecyl sulfate, the signal at 118 ppm disappeared, while the signal at 125 ppm rather increased.
In the case of bacteriorhodopsin containing [15-¹³C]retinal, when solubilized with Triton X-100, a characteristic resonance at 169 ppm was distinguishable as a shoulder peak superimposed on the broad signal of carbonyl carbons and it was assigned to the signal from the protonated Sehiff base. The other signal observed at 191 ppm was from free retinal.
These results suggested that the Sehiff base of bacteriorhodopsin is protonated in the dark.     

PHOTOLESIONS IN DNA UPON 193 nm EXCITATION

Aqueous solutions of plasmid (pBR322 and pTZ18R) and calf thymus DNA were excited by 20 ns laser pulses at 193 nm. The quantum yields of single- and double-strand break formation, interstrand cross-links, locally denatured sites, (6–4)photoproducts and biological inactivation (Φ_ssb, Φ_dsb, Φ_icl, Φ_ids, Φ_6–4 and Φ_ina, respectively) were measured. The quantum yields are virtually independent of intensity, demonstrating a one-quantum process. The obtained values in aerated neutral solution in the absence of additives are Φ_ssb= 1.5 × 10^--³, Φ_dsb, = 0.06 × 10^--³ (dose: 10–200 J m^-2), Φ_icl=Φ_Ids= 0.1 × 10³ and Φ_6–4= 0.5 × 10^--³ Both Φ_ssb and Φ_dsb decrease strongly with increasing concentrations of TE buffer (0.01–10 m M ). Biological inactivation of the pTZ18R plasmid was determined from the transformation efficiency of Escherichia coli bacteria strains AB1157, AB1886 uvr and A82480 uvr rec; the Φ_ina values are 1.4 × 10³, 2.1 × 10³ and 3 × 10^--³, respectively. The monoexponential survival curves in all cases show that a single damage site leads to inactivation (one single hit). The biological consequences of different photoproducts are discussed.     

FLUORESCENCE OF MELANIN-DEPENDENCE UPON EXCITATION WAVELENGTH AND CONCENTRATION

Abstract— An introduction to the fundamental characteristics of synthetic melanin fluorescence is presented. The particular difficulties associated with the detection and reduction of the relatively weak signal are discussed and a technique is described for correcting the fluorescence spectra for attenuation of the excitation and emission beams. Spectra are reported for the excitation wavelength range 340–400 nm and an emission range of 360–560 nm. The concentration dependence of the corrected fluorescence signal is examined and is shown to be linear. The variation of the fluorescence spectra with excitation wavelength suggests a two-component fluorescence, for the wavelength range studied. The presence of an isosbestic point in the spectra is used to identify the fluorophores as components of a reaction equilibrium. The possible relationship of this equilibrium to that associated with the melanin photo ESR is discussed     

ON THE ORIGIN OF LASER-SPECIFIC LUMINESCENCE UPON PULSED-LASER EXCITATION OF BENZOPHENONES IN FREONS†

–Excimer laser excitation (308 nm) of benzophenone in Freon-113, as well as in Freon-11, results in an intense emission with λ_max at approx. 530 nm in addition to triplet phosphorescence. This emission is shown to result from an excited free radical bearing the diphenylmethylene moiety which is generated in a two-photon process and which luminesces upon sensitization by the benzophenone triplet. On the basis of its spectroscopic properties and the chemical nature of the system, it is suggested that the fluorescer in this system may be the hypochlorite radical, Ph₂COCl.     

PHOTOREACTIVITY OF ISOLATED PHOTOSYSTEM I PARTICLES UPON COMBINATION WITH ARTIFICIAL LIPID MEMBRANES OR TRITON X-100 MICELLES*

Abstract— PS-I particles isolated according to Shiozawa et al. (1974) show increased rates of O₂-_- and H ⁺-uptake with ascorbate as electron donor upon combination with an artificial vesicular lipid membrane. The amount of increase varies depending on the reconstitution procedure used. Combination of PS-I particles with Triton X-100 micelles increases these photochemical activities even more. The observed proton uptake in PS-I lipid vesicles is not caused by the well-known proton gradient found in thylakoid membranes, since lipid vesicles containing extracted leaf Chl show the same activities and uncouplers have no effect. Because these phenomena are also caused by solubilized Chl, it is concluded that there is no obvious correlation with PS-I activity. Proton uptake most probably is caused by oxidation of ascorbate by either singlet oxygen, superoxide or OH-radicals formed in the light. Experimental results are obtained which indicate that Chl in lipid catalyzes formation of superoxide and singlet oxygen. However, it is not clear whether superoxide formation is caused by direct electron transport from excited Chl to oxygen or by a secondary reaction. Diphenylcarbazone disproportionation has been reported as a specific photosystem I reaction. However, PS-I lipid vesicles and Chl-lipid-Triton X-100 mixtures oxidize DPCN at comparable rates, showing that the reaction is not specific for PS-I. Cations stimulate DPCN disproportionation in Chl-lipid-Triton X-100 mixtures but do not affect the rate of P700 photooxidation at all. Therefore it is suggested that Gross and Greniers (1978) conclusion that cation regulation of PSI electron flow (studied by DPCN disproportionation of PS-I particles in Triton X-100 micelles) provides a fine tuning mechanism for energy transfer, has to be reevaluated.     

HOMOGENEOUS PHOTOBLEACHING OF CHLOROPHYLL HOLOCHROMES IN A PHOTOSYSTEM I REACTION CENTER COMPLEX

Chlorophyll (Chl) photobleaching and P700 photodegradation were followed simultaneously in a P700 Chi a-protein complex (Chl a /P700 < 35). During strong illumination, the photobleaching kinetics of the bulk Chl corresponded with that of P700 photodegradation. The absence of a blue shift of the absorption maximum at 678 nm after photobleaching indicated the simultaneous degradation of all Chl holochromes and the absence of long wavelength-absorbing energy traps that would protect P700 against excess light energy. It was deduced that in the P700 reaction center core complex, the excitons are uniformly distributed amongst the Chl holochromes, which decreases the deleterious effects of excess light energy on P700 and protects the photosystem against photoinhibition.     

LIGHT-ABSORPTION AND ELECTRON-TRANSPORT BALANCE BETWEEN PHOTOSYSTEM II AND PHOTOSYSTEM I IN SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS

Abstract— The distribution of absorbed light and the turnover of electrons by the two photosystems in spinach chloroplasts was investigated. This was implemented upon quantitation of photochemical reaction centers, chlorophyll antenna size and composition of each photosystem (PS), and rate of light absorption in situ. In spinach chloroplasts, the photosystem stoichiometry was PSIIJPSII_α/PSII_β/PSI= 1.3/0.4/1.0. The number (N) of chlorophyll (a+b) molecules associated with each PS was N(PSII_α)/N(PSII_β)/N(PSI)=230/100/200, i.e. about 65% of all Chl is associated with PSII and about 35% with PSI. Light absorption by PSII in vivo is selectively attenuated at the molecular, membrane and leaf levels, (a) The rate of light absorption by PSII was only 0.85 that of PSI because of the lower rate of light absorption by Chl b as compared to Chl a (approximately 80% of all Chl b in the chloroplast is associated with PSII). (b) The exclusive localization of PSII_α in the membrane of the grana partition regions and of PSI in intergrana lamellae resulted in a differential “sieve effect” or “flattening of absorbance” by the photosystems in the two membrane regions. Due to this phenomenon, the rate of light absorption by PSII was lower than that of PSI by 15-20%. (c) Selective filtering of sunlight through the spinach leaf results in a substantial distortion of the effective absorbance spectra and concomitant attenuation of light absorption by the two photosystems. Such attenuation was greater for PSII than for PSI because the latter benefits from light absorption in the 700-730 nm region. It is concluded that, in spite of its stoichiometric excess in spinach chloroplasts, light absorption by PSII is not greater than that by PSI due to the different molecular composition of the two light-harvesting antenna systems, due to the localization of PSII in the grana, and also because of the light transmission properties through the leaf. The elevated PSII/PSI reaction center ratio of 1.7 and the association of 65% of all Chl with PSII help to counter the multilevel attenuation of light absorption by PSII and ensure a balanced PSII/PSI electron turnover ratio of about 1:1.     

PHOTOLYSIS MECHANISM OF AQUEOUS TYROSINE UPON EXCITATION OF THE SECOND ABSORPTION BAND

Abstract— The formation mechanism of tyrosinyl radical was studied for aqueous solutions of tyrosine under irradiation at 235 nm which falls into the second absorption band. The work is based upon the analysis of the rate of bityrosine production for steady-state excitation at low intensity. The results indicate that monophotonic O-H bond cleavage of tyrosine, presumably involving the upper excited triplet state, is the initial photoprocess leading to the tyrosinyl radical when tyrosine is excited into the second absorption band.     

PROTEIN COMPOSITION OF SPINACH CHLOROPLASTS AND THEIR PHOTOSYSTEM I AND PHOTOSYSTEM II SUBFRAGMENTS*

Abstract— The proteins of spinach chloroplasts and their subfragments containing photosystem I and photosystem II, obtained by Triton X-100 treatment or French-pressure rupture, were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-acrylamide electrophoresis at pH 7·0 in phosphate buffer. The individual protein bands were identified where possible by comparing them with known, isolated and characterized proteins from chloroplasts, and their molecular weights were determined. The protein composition of the chloroplast fragments were correlated to the functional properties of these fragments. Distinct patterns were obtained for photosystem I and photosystem II particles. The major protein of photosystem II is expressed in the 23 kilodalton range and photosystem I proteins seem to be clustered mainly in the 50–70 kilodalton range.     

STRUCTURE OF PHOTOSYSTEM I AND PHOTOSYSTEM II OF PLANT CHLOROPLASTS*,†,§

Abstract— The action of Triton X-100 upon photosynthetic membranes which are devoid of carotenoids produces a small Photosystem I particle (HP700 particle) which is active in N ADP photoreduction and has a [Chl]/[P700] ratio of 30. The properties of the HP700 particle indicate that it is a reaction center complex which is served by an accessory complex containing the additional light-harvesting chlorophyll of Photosystem I as well as the cytochromes and plastoquinone. When Photosystem II particles obtained by the action of Triton X-100 are further washed with a solution 0.5 M in sucrose and 0.05 M in Tris buffer (pH 8.0), chlorophyll-containing material is released. After centrifugation, the supernatant contains about 1 per cent of the chlorophyll and contains three types of particles which can be separated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. One of these particles, designated TSF-2b, has the same pigment composition as the original Photosystem II fragment, contains cytochrome 559, and shows Photosystem II activity (DCMU-sensitive diphenylcarbazide-supported photoreduction of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol). The other two particles (TSF-2a and TSF-2a′) have a [Chl a]/[Chl b] ratio of 8, have a low concentration of xanthophylls, and show a [Chl]/[Cyt 5591 ratio of about 20. Only the TSF-2a particle is active in the Photosystem II reaction described above. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that the Photosystem II unit consists of a reaction center complex which contains Chl a, Cyt 559, and an acceptor for the photochemical reaction. The reaction center complex would be served by an accessory complex which contains the light-harvesting pigments, Chl a. Chi b, and xanthophyils.     

THE LIGHT DEPENDENT QUENCHING OF CHLOROPLAST FLUORESCENCE BY COFACTORS OF CYCLIC ELECTRON FLOW IN PHOTOSYSTEM I

Abstract—When 3–(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea poisoned, intact thylakoids of isolated chloroplasts are illuminated in salt free suspension media, N -methylphenazinium cations (MP⁺) are reversibly taken up. Simultaneously, the chlorophyll fluorescence is reversibly lowered. When inorganic salts in the reaction medium provide membrane permeant charge balancing ions, the extent of the MP⁺ association with the thylakoids is strongly increased, but the fluorescence lowering is hardly affected. lonophoretically active agents inhibit specifically the salt dependent increment of the MP⁺ interaction with the thylakoids, but have only insignificant effects on the fluorescence lowering provided the experimental conditions do not allow the formation of a proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane. On the basis of these results, and of data obtained from comparative studies with other cofactors of cyclic electron transport in PS I, it is suggested that the 'energy dependent' fluorescence lowering is linked to a binding of cationic cofactors to nucleophilic sites in or at the thylakoid membrane. Such sites appear to become exposed in the wake of a light dependent transport of the cofactor, or of protons, into the thylakoid.     

硒化合物对羟基自由基作用的研究

本文选用硒代蛋氨酸(Se-Met)和无机硒化合物,采用自旋捕集技术,在温和条件下进行硒化合物与羟基自由基作用的ESR研究。实验结果表明,硒化合物对羟基自由基具有清除作用。     

THE MULTIPLE PIGMENT-PROTEINS OF THE PHOTOSYSTEM I ANTENNA*

A photosystem I (PS I) holocomplex was obtained from barley by ultracentrifugation of PS I-enriched stroma lamellae on sucrose gradients. Further solubilization with glycosidic surfactants followed by Deriphat-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) fractionated the holocomplex into its core complex (CC I) and individual light-harvesting I (LHC I) pigment-protein subcomplexes. The LHC I contains chlorophyll a, all of the chlorophyll A of PS I and xanthophylls but no carotenes. Sodium dodecylsulfate PAGE analysis of the subcomplexes shows that barley LHC I is composed of at least five apoproteins having sizes between 11 and 24 kDa. Isolation of a 17 kDa LHC Ic component by Deriphat-PAGE shows it to be a photosynthetic pigment-protein. Room-temperature absorption spectra indicate that LHC Ic is enriched in chlorophyll a in comparison to the LHC Ia and Ib components. The LHC Ic apoprotein is shown to be distinct from the subunit III and IV polypeptides of CC I. Analysis of PS I fractions obtained from sucrose gradients as well as from Deriphat-PAGE indicates that in higher plants an oligomeric structure of the PS I entity exists in vitro.     

SINGLET OXYGEN IS NOT PRODUCED IN PHOTOSYSTEM I UNDER PHOTOINHIBITORY CONDITIONS

Abstract— Excess illumination of photosynthetic systems brings about the complex functional and structural damage known as photoinhibition. According to the generally accepted and experimentally confirmed model, photoinhibition involves singlet oxygen production and subsequent oxidative damage in the photosystem II reaction center. However, it was recently suggested that singlet oxygen is not necessarily produced in photosystem II itself but rather in the non-heme iron-containing Fe-S centers of photosystem I (Chung, S.K. & J. Jung, Photochem. Photobiol. 61, 383–389, 1995). Contrary to this suggestion, our electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy experiments with the singlet oxygen trap 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine demonstrate that under photoinhibitory conditions, singlet oxygen is present in thylakoids and photosystem II core complex preparations but is not produced in photosystem I particles.     

THE STRUCTURE OF CHLOROPHYLL RC I, A CHROMOPHORE OF THE REACTION CENTER OF PHOTOSYSTEM I

Abstract— Chlorophyll RC I is a particular chlorophyll of photosystem I common to all organisms with oxygenic photosynthesis. Its structure could be revealed by'H-NMR, FTIR, neutron activation analysis, complemented by plasma desorption mass spectrometry data. It has been identified as 13'-hydroxy-20-chloro-Chl a . Two stereoisomers of Chl RC I have also been isolated and identified. Evidence is presented that chlorination of the pigment does not occur during extraction and that artefacts due to impurities are ruled out.     

PHOTOCHEMICAL GENERATION OF REDUCED QUINONE CATALYSTS OF PHOTOSYSTEM I CYCLIC PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION ACTIVITY

When reaction mixtures containing 9,10-anthraquinone-2-sulfonate and chloroplasts poisoned with 3–(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-l, l′-dimethylurea were illuminated with white light, photosystem I-catalyzed cyclic photophosphorylation was observed. Illumination of identical reaction mixtures with red light produced no ATP synthesis. This phenomenon is due to photoreduction of the anthraquinone which is supported by the electron donor activity of Tricine buffer. The photoreduction reaction was used to generate reduced catalysts (anthraquinone sulfonate, menadione bisulfite) of photosystem I cyclic photophosphorylation activity. The rates of ATP synthesis obtained by this method (250–300 μmol/h-mg chlorophyll) indicate that sulfonated quinones are efficient mediators of cyclic electron transport around photosystem I. Although the activity catalyzed by these compounds is highly sensitive to dibromothymoquinone, very little decrease in activity is observed with antimycin A.     

MICROSPECTROPHOTOMETRIC STUDIES ON THE PIGMENTS IN VIVO OF SINGLE ALGAL CELLS-I. PIGMENTS OF CHLORELLA PYRENOIDOSA

Abstract— The pigments in vivo of single cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa were studied by the microspectrophotometric technique. An accessory recording the first derivative of absorption was used to obtain fine resolution and enhanced accuracy. The results suggest that there are several long-wavelength components of Chl a in vivo. In addition, there seem to be four short-wave forms of Chl a. It is also likely that Chl b exists in vivo in two different forms. The existence of all these forms was demonstrated at room temperature.