PHOTOSENSITIZED INHIBITION OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC 14 CO2 FIXATION BY α-TERTHIENYL and ULTRAVIOLET-A*

Abstract –A variety of naturally occurring photosensitizers of plant origin were tested for their ability to cause ultraviolet-A (UVA)-dependent inhibition of photosynthetic ¹⁴CO₂ fixation in leaf disks of Pisum sativum L. At 0.1 mM concentrations and 60 min UVA irradiation, α-terthienyl was strongly inhibitory, harmine and sanguinarine inhibited to a lesser degree, and curcumin, 8-methoxypsoralen and nordihydroguaiaretic acid had no effect under the conditions tested. Alpha-terthienyl + UVA treatments that fully inhibited ¹⁴CO₂ fixation had no effect on fresh weight, chlorophyll or protein content of the tissue. Chloroplast malate dehydrogenase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were inhibited 45% and 29%, respectively, by α-terthienyl + UVA treatment. Electron transport from H₂O to the reducing side of photosystem I was inhibited to a similar extent, suggesting interference with the reductive activation of chloroplast enzymes. Alpha-terthienyl + UVA-treated tissue exhibited a seven-fold increase in leakage of labeled photosynthate into the external medium. Treated leaf disks showed no ability to recover ¹⁴CO₂ fixing ability over a 24 h period. These results indicate photosensitized damage at the level of the thylakoid membranes resulting in partial loss of electron transport capability and more general damage to chloroplast and cell membranes.