The kinetics of light-induced changes of C-550, cytochrome b 559 and fluorescence yield in chloroplasts at low temperature

Systems approach to excitation-energy and electron transfer reaction networks in photosystem II complex: model studies for chlorophyll a fluorescence induction kinetics

Photosystem II (PS II) is a protein complex which evolves oxygen and drives charge separation for photosynthesis employing electron and excitation-energy transfer processes over a wide timescale range from picoseconds to milliseconds. While the fluorescence emitted by the antenna pigments of this complex is known as an important indicator of the activity of photosynthesis, its interpretation was difficult because of the complexity of PS II. In this study, an extensive kinetic model which describes the complex and multi-timescale characteristics of PS II is analyzed through the use of the hierarchical coarse-graining method proposed in the authors׳ earlier work. In this coarse-grained analysis, the reaction center (RC) is described by two states, open and closed RCs, both of which consist of oxidized and neutral special pairs being in quasi-equilibrium states. Besides, the PS II model at millisecond scale with three-state RC, which was studied previously, could be derived by suitably adjusting the kinetic parameters of electron transfer between tyrosine and RC. Our novel coarse-grained model of PS II can appropriately explain the light-intensity dependent change of the characteristic patterns of fluorescence induction kinetics from O-J-I-P, which shows two inflection points, J and I, between initial point O and peak point P, to O-J-D-I-P, which shows a dip D between J and I inflection points.

Chlorophyll a fluorescence induction: a personal perspective of the thermal phase, the J-I-P rise

The fast (up to 1 s) chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence induction (FI) curve, measured under saturating continuous light, has a photochemical phase, the O-J rise, related mainly to the reduction of Q(A), the primary electron acceptor plastoquinone of Photosystem II (PSII); here, the fluorescence rise depends strongly on the number of photons absorbed. This is followed by a thermal phase, the J-I-P rise, which disappears at subfreezing temperatures. According to the mainstream interpretation of the fast FI, the variable fluorescence originates from PSII antenna, and the oxidized Q(A) is the most important quencher influencing the O-J-I-P curve. As the reaction centers of PSII are gradually closed by the photochemical reduction of Q(A), Chl fluorescence, F, rises from the O level (the minimal level) to the P level (the peak); yet, the relationship between F and [Q(A) (-)] is not linear, due to the presence of other quenchers and modifiers. Several alternative theories have been proposed, which give different interpretations of the O-J-I-P transient. The main idea in these alternative theories is that in saturating light, Q(A) is almost completely reduced already at the end of the photochemical phase O-J, but the fluorescence yield is lower than its maximum value due to the presence of either a second quencher besides Q(A), or there is an another process quenching the fluorescence; in the second quencher hypothesis, this quencher is consumed (or the process of quenching the fluorescence is reversed) during the thermal phase J-I-P. In this review, we discuss these theories. Based on our critical examination, that includes pros and cons of each theory, as well mathematical modeling, we conclude that the mainstream interpretation of the O-J-I-P transient is the most credible one, as none of the alternative ideas provide adequate explanation or experimental proof for the almost complete reduction of Q(A) at the end of the O-J phase, and for the origin of the fluorescence rise during the thermal phase. However, we suggest that some of the factors influencing the fluorescence yield that have been proposed in these newer theories, as e.g., the membrane potential ΔΨ, as suggested by Vredenberg and his associates, can potentially contribute to modulate the O-J-I-P transient in parallel with the reduction of Q(A), through changes at the PSII antenna and/or at the reaction center, or, possibly, through the control of the oxidation-reduction of the PQ-pool, including proton transfer into the lumen, as suggested by Rubin and his associates. We present in this review our personal perspective mainly on our understanding of the thermal phase, the J-I-P rise during Chl a FI in plants and algae.

Participation of the C-terminal region of the D1-polypeptide in the first steps in the assembly of the Mn4Ca cluster of photosystem II

Amino acid residue D1-Asp(170) of the D1-polypeptide of photosystem II was previously shown to be implicated in the binding and oxidation of the first manganese to be assembled into the Mn(4)Ca cluster of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). According to recent x-ray crystallographic structures of photosystem II, D1-Glu(333) is proposed to participate with D1-Asp(170) in the coordination of Mn4 of the OEC. Other residues in the C-terminal region of the D1-polypeptide are proposed to coordinate nearby manganese of the cluster. Site-directed replacements in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 at D1-His(332), D1-Glu(333), D1-Asp(342), D1-Ala(344), and D1-Ser(345) were examined with regard to their ability to influence the binding and oxidation of the first manganese in manganese-depleted photosystem II core complexes. Direct and indirect measurements reveal in all mutants, but most marked in D1-Glu(333) replaced by His, an impaired ability of Mn(2+) to reduce Y(Z)., indicating a reduced ability (elevated K(m)) compared with WT to bind and oxidize the first manganese of the OEC. The effect on the K(m) of these mutations is, however, considerably weaker than some of those constructed at D1-Asp(170) (replacement by Asn, Ala, and Ser). These observations imply that the C-terminal residues ultimately involved in manganese coordination contribute to the high affinity binding at D1-Asp(170) likely through electrostatic interactions. That these residues are far from D1-Asp(170) in the primary structure of the D1-polypeptide, imply that the C terminus of the D1-polypeptide is already close to its mature conformation at the first stages of assembly of the Mn(4)Ca cluster.

Evidence that cytochrome b559 mediates the oxidation of reduced plastoquinone in the dark

The function of cytochrome b(559) in photosystem II (PSII) was investigated using a mutant created in tobacco in which the conserved phenylalanine at position 26 in the beta-subunit (PsbF) was changed to serine (Bock, R., Kössel, H., and Maliga, P. (1994) EMBO J. 13, 4623-4628). The mutant grew photoautotrophically, but the amount of PSII was reduced and the ultrastructure of the chloroplast was dramatically altered. Very few grana stacks were formed in the mutant. Although isolated PSII-enriched membrane fragments showed low PSII activity, electron paramagnetic resonance indicated the presence of functional PSII. Difference absorption spectra showed that the cytochrome b(559) contained heme. The plastoquinone pool was largely reduced in dark-adapted leaves of the mutant, based on chlorophyll fluorescence and thermoluminescence measurements. We therefore propose that cytochrome b(559) plays an important role in PSII by keeping the plastoquinone pool and thereby the acceptor side of PSII oxidized in the dark. Structural alterations as induced by the single Phe --> Ser point mutation in the transmembrane domain of PsbF evidently inhibit this function.

Assembly of the Photosystem II oxygen-evolving complex is inhibited in psbA site-directed mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Aspartate 170 of the D1 polypeptide

Photosystem II catalyzes the photooxidation of water to molecular oxygen, providing electrons to the photosynthetic electron transfer chain. The D1 and D2 chloroplast-encoded reaction center polypeptides bind cofactors essential for Photosystem II function. Transformation of the chloroplast genome of the eukaryotic green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has allowed us to engineer site-directed mutants in which aspartate residue 170 of D1 is replaced by histidine (D170H), asparagine (D170N), threonine (D170T), or proline (D170P). Mutants D170T and D170P are completely deficient in oxygen evolution, but retain normal (D170T) or 50% (D170P) levels of Photosystem II reaction centers. D170H and D170N accumulate wild-type levels of PSII centers, yet evolve oxygen at rates approximately 45% and 15% those of control cells, respectively. Kinetic analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence in the mutants reveals a specific defect in electron donation to the reaction center. Measurements of oxygen flash yields in D170H show, however, that those reaction centers capable of evolving oxygen function normally. We conclude that aspartate residue 170 of the D1 polypeptide plays a critical role in the initial binding of manganese as the functional chloroplast oxygen-evolving complex is assembled.

Site-directed photosystem II mutants with perturbed oxygen-evolving properties. 1. Instability or inefficient assembly of the manganese cluster in vivo

Several site-directed photosystem II mutants with substitutions at Asp-170 of the D1 polypeptide were characterized by noninvasive methods in vivo. In several mutants, including some that evolve oxygen, a significant fraction of photosystem II reaction centers are shown to lack photooxidizable Mn ions. In this fraction of reaction centers, either the high-affinity site from which Mn ions rapidly reduce the oxidized secondary electron donor, YZ+, is devoid of Mn ions or the Mn ion(s) bound at this site are unable to reduce YZ+. It is concluded that the Mn clusters in these mutants are unstable or are assembled inefficiently in vivo. Mutants were constructed in the unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. The in vivo characterization procedures employed in this study involved measuring changes in the yield of variable chlorophyll a fluorescence following a saturating flash or brief illumination given in the presence of the electron transfer inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, or following each of a series of saturating flashes given in the absence of this inhibitor. These procedures are easily applied to mutants that evolve little or no oxygen, facilitate the characterization of mutants with labile oxygen-evolving complexes, permit photosystem II isolation efforts to be concentrated on mutants having the stablest Mn clusters, and guide systematic spectroscopic studies of isolated photosystem II particles to mutants of particular interest.

Role of the carboxy terminus of polypeptide D1 in the assembly of a functional water-oxidizing manganese cluster in photosystem II of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: assembly requires a free carboxyl group at C-terminal position 344

The D1 polypeptide of the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center is synthesized as a precursor polypeptide which is posttranslationally processed at the carboxy terminus. It has been shown in spinach that such processing removes nine amino acids, leaving Ala344 as the C-terminal residue [Takahashi, M., Shiraishi, T., & Asada, K. (1988) FEBS Lett. 240, 6-8; Takahashi, Y., Nakane, H., Kojima, H., & Satoh, K. (1990) Plant Cell Physiol. 31, 273-280]. We show here that processing on the carboxy side of Ala344 also occurs in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803, resulting in the removal of 16 amino acids. By constructing a deletion strain of Synechocystis 6803 that lacks the three copies of the psbA gene encoding D1, we have developed a system for generating psbA mutants. Using this system, we have constructed mutants of Synechocystis 6803 that are modified in the region of the C-terminus of the D1 polypeptide. Characterization of these mutants has revealed that (1) processing of the D1 polypeptide is blocked when the residue after the cleavage site is changed from serine to proline (mutant Ser345Pro) with the result that the manganese cluster is unable to assemble correctly; (2) the C-terminal extension of 16 amino acid residues can be deleted with little consequence either for insertion of D1 into the thylakoid membrane or for assembly of D1 into a fully active PSII complex; (3) removal of only one more residue (mutant Ala344stop) results in a loss of assembly of the manganese cluster; and (4) the ability of detergent-solubilized PSII core complexes (lacking the manganese cluster) to bind and oxidize exogenous Mn2+ by the secondary donor, Z+, is largely unaffected in the processing mutants (the Ser345Pro mutant of Synechocystis 6803 and the LF-1 mutant of Scenedesmus obliquus) and the truncation mutant Ala344stop. Our results are consistent with a role for processing in regulating the assembly of the photosynthetic manganese cluster and a role for the free carboxy terminus of the mature D1 polypeptide in the ligation of one or more manganese ions of the cluster.

The role of light in formation of modified S2-state upon low pH-treatment of oxygen-evolving Photosystem II

An abnormal, structurally modified, kinetically stable S2-state has been reported to be induced when Photosystem II was treated with NaCl-EGTA (or EDTA) in the light or with pH in darkness, both are assumed to release functional Ca(2+). In order to compare the mechanism of induction of modified S2-state between the two treatments, effects of illumination during or before low pH-treatment on formation of the abnormal S2-state were investigated by means of thermoluminescence measurements and low temperature EPR spectroscopy. Following results have been obtained: Flash illumination during low pH-treatment did not practically induce the abnormal S2-state, whereas preflash illumination given immediately before low pH-treatment efficiently induced the abnormal S2-state, and its amplitude showed a period-four oscillation on varying the preflash number with maxima at the second and sixth flashes. The abnormal S2-state thus induced by preflashes was identical with the modified S2-state that could be induced in dark-low pH-treated Photosystem II by excitation at 0°C after neutralization to pH 6.5. It was inferred that in low pH-treatment, modified S2-state can be formed from both S2- and S3-states, but its yield from the latter is much higher than from the former, consistent with the early results by Boussac et al. obtained for NaCl-EGTA-light or NaCl-citrate-light treatment.

The effects of low temperature acclimation and photoinhibitory treatments on Photosystem 2 studied by thermoluminescence and fluorescence decay kinetics

The effects of low temperature acclimation and photoinhibitory treatment on Photosystem 2 (PS 2) have been studied by thermoluminescence and chlorophyll fluorescence decay kinetics after a single turnover saturating flash. A comparison of unhardened and hardened leaves showed that, in the hardened case, a decrease in overall and B-band thermoluminescence emissions occurred, indicating the presence of fewer active PS 2 reaction centers. A modification in the form of the B-band emission was also observed and is attributed to a decrease in the apparent activation energy of recombination in the hardened leaves. The acclimated leaves also produced slower QA (-) reoxidation kinetics as judged from the chlorophyll fluorescence decay kinetics. This change was mainly seen in an increased lifetime of the slow reoxidation component with only a small increase in its amplitude. Similar changes in both thermoluminescence and fluorescence decay kinetics were observed when unhardened leaves were given a high light photoinhibitory treatment at 4°C, whereas the hardened leaves were affected to a much lesser extent by a similar treatment. These results suggest that the acclimated plants undergo photoinhibition at 4°C even at low light intensities and that a subsequent high light treatment produces only a small additive photoinhibitory effect. Furthermore, it can be seen that photoinhibition eventually gives rise to PS 2 reaction centers which are no longer functional and which do not produce thermoluminescence or variable chlorophyll fluorescence.

Comparative thermoluminescence study of autotrophically and photoheterotrophically cultivated Chlamydobotrys stellata

Thermoluminescence (TL) from autotrophically and photoheterotrophically cultivated Chlamydobotrys stellata was measured. Strong TL was emitted at 30°C after acetatenutrition of the alga. DCMU enhanced this band, as also did ferricyanide. It also appeared after poisoning of the alga with NH2OH or ANT-2p. These observations suggest that an alternative donor to photosystem II and not the water-splitting system is responsible for the TL + 30 band.

Electron donors and acceptors in photosynthetic reaction centers

A review is given of primary and associated electron transport reactions in various division of photosynthetic bacteria and in the two photosystems of plant photosynthesis. Two types of electron acceptor chains are distinguished: type 'Q', found in purple bacteria, Chloroflexus and system II of oxygenic photosynthesis and type 'F', found in green sulfur bacteria, Heliobacterium and photosystem I. Secondary donor reactions are discussed in relation to plant photosystem II.

Modification of oxygen evolving center by Tris-washing

Tris-washing inhibits the O2-evolving center of chloroplasts and their particles specifically and reversibly, and it was applied to many investigations on O2-evolving center and PS II reaction center. In this review are introduced the various photosynthetic investigations in which Tris-washing was applied and are also discussed briefly on the site and the mechanism of Tris-inactivation, properties of P680 and Z, characteristic change in fluorescence and delayed light emission, and reactivation of O2-evolving center by DCPIP.H2-treatment and photo-reactivation of Tris-washed chloroplasts and their particles.

Influence of temperature on photosystem II electron transfer reactions

The influence of temperature on the rate of reduction of P-680+, the primary donor of Photosystem II, has been studied in the range 5-294 K, in chloroplasts and subchloroplasts particles. P-680 was oxidized by a short laser flash. Its oxidation state was followed by the absorption level at 820 nm, and its reduction attributed to two mechanisms: electron donation from electron donor D1 and electron return from the primary plastoquinone (back-reaction). Between 294 and approx. 200 K, the rate of the back-reaction, on a logarithmic scale, is a linear function of the reciprocal of the absolute temperature, corresponding to an activation energy between 3.3 and 3.7 kcal . mol-1, in all of the materials examined (chloroplasts treated at low pH or with Tris; particles prepared with digitonin). Between approx. 200 K and 5 K the rate of the back-reaction is temperature independent, with t 1/2 = 1.6 ms. In untreated chloroplasts we measured a t 1/2 of 1.7 ms for back-reaction at 77 and 5 K. The rate of electron donation from the donor D1 has been measured in dark-adapted Tris-treated chloroplasts, in the range 294-260 K. This rate is strongly affected by temperature. An activation energy of 11 kcal . mol-1 was determined for this reaction. In subchloroplast particles prepared with Triton X-100 the signals due to P-680+ were contaminated by absorption changes due to the triplet state of chlorophyll a. This triplet state has been examined with pure chlorophyll a in Triton X-100. An Arrhenius plot of its rate of decay shows a temperature-dependent region (292-220 K) with an activation energy of 9 kcal . mol-1, and a temperature-independent region (below 200 K) with t 1/2 = 1.1 ms.

Transfer and trapping of excitation energy in photosystem II as studied by chlorophyll alpha 2 fluorescence quenching by dinitrobenzene and carotenoid triplet. The matrix model

1. The curves representing the reciprocal fluorescence yield of chlorophyll alpha of Photosystem II (PS II) in Chlorella vulgaris as a function of the concentration of m-dinitrobenzene in the states P Q and P Q-, are found to be straight parallel lines; P is the primary donor and Q the primary acceptor of PS II. In the weakly trapping state P Q- the half-quenching of dinitrobenzene is about 0.2 mM, in vitro it is of the order of 10 mM. The fluorescence yield as a function of the concentration of a quencher is described for three models for the energy transfer between the units, and the matrix model. If it is assumed that the rate constant of quenching by dinitrobenzene is high and thus the number of dinitrobenzene molecules per reaction center low, it can be concluded that the pigment system of PS II in C. vulgaris is a matrix of chlorophyll molecules in which the reaction centers are embedded. Theoretical and experimental evidence is consistent with such an assumption. For Cyanidium caldarium the zero fluorescence yield phi 0 and its quenching by dinitrobenzene were found to be much smaller than the corresponding quantities for C. vulgaris. Nevertheless, our measurements on C. caldarium could be interpreted by the assumption that the essential properties (rate constants, dinitrobenzene quenching) of PS II are the same for these two species belonging to such widely different groups. 2. The measured dinitrobenzene concentrations required for half-quenching in vivo and other observations are explained by (non-rate-limiting) energy transfer between the chlorophyll alpha molecules of PS II and by the assumptions that dinitrobenzene is approximately distributed at random in the membrane and does not diffuse during excitation. 3. The fluorescence kinetics of C. vulgaris during a 350 ns laser flash of variable intensity could be simulated on a computer using the matrix model. From the observed fluorescence quenching by the carotenoid triplet (CT) and the measurement of the the number of CT per reaction center via difference absorption spectroscopy, the rate constant for quenching of CT is calculated to be kT = 3.3 . 10(11)s-1 which is almost equal to the rate constant of trapping by an open reaction center (Duysens, L.N.M. (1979) CIBA Foundation Symposium 61 (New Series), pp. 323--340). 4. The fluorescence quenching by CT in non-treated spinach chloroplasts after a 500 ns laser flash (Breton, J., Geacintov, N.E. and Swenberg, C.E. (1979) Biochim, Biophys. Acta 548, 616--635) could be explained within the framework of the matrix model when the value for kT is used as given in point 3. 5. The observations mentioned under point 1 indicate that the fluorescence yield phi 0 for centers in trapping state P Q is probably for a fraction exceeding 0.8 emitted by PS II.

Orientation of the hemes of high potential cytochromes relative to photosynthetic membranes, as shown by the linear dichroism of oriented preparations

The orientations of high potential cytochromes with respect to photosynthetic membranes was investigated in spinach chloroplasts and in Rhodopseudomonas viridis. The general approach consists in detection with polarized light of photoinduced absorbance changes related to the oxidation of the cytochromes. The orientation of cytochrome c-558 was measured at room temperature in chromatophores and whole cells of Rps. viridis, oriented on glass slides and in a magnetic field, respectively. The orientation of cytochrome b-559 of green plants was detected at 77 K in magnetically oriented chloroplasts. In both cases the dichroic ratio for the alpha band shows that the heme plane makes an angle greater than 35 degrees C with the membrane plane. Moreover, the dichroic ratio is not constant throughout the alpha and beta bands, for both cytochrome c-558 and b-559. Linear dichroism spectra of oriented pure horse heart cytochrome c and cytochrome c2 of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides in stretched polyvinyl alcohol films show that the variations of the dichroic ratio in the alpha and beta bands can be explained by the occurrence of x- and y-polarized transitions absorbing at slightly different wavelengths.

Chlorophyll a fluorescence as a monitor of nanosecond reduction of the photooxidized primary donor P-680 Of photosystem II

1. Changes in the fluorescence yield of aerobic Chlorella vulgaris have been measured in laser flashes of 15 ns, 30 ns and 350 ns half time. The kinetics after the first flash given after a 3 min dark period could be simulated on a computer using the hypothesis that the oxidized acceptor Q and primary donor P+ are fluorescence quenchers, and Q- is a weak quencher, and that the reduction time for P+ is 20-35 ns. 2. The P+ reduction time for at least an appreciable part of the reaction centers was found to be longer after the second and subsequent flashes. In the first 5 flashes an oscillation was observed. Under steady state conditions, with a pulse separation of 3 s, a reduction time for P+ of about 400 ns for all reaction centers gave the best correspondence between computed and experimental fluorescence kinetics.

A high potential acceptor for photosystem II

The effects of ferricyanide on Photosystem II reactions have been investigated by measurements of microsecond and millisecond prompt fluorescence and microsecond-delayed fluorescence in dark-adapted chloroplasts: (1) Titrations using ferri-ferrocyanide mixtures on: (a) the fast phase of the increase in fluorescence yield observed during a xenon flash, and (b) the normalised area above the millisecond fluorescence induction curve for chloroplasts inhibited by DCMU, showed a pH dependent mid point potential of 400 mV at pH 7.0 which varied by approx. -60 mV/pH unit between pH 6 and 8.5. (2) A saturating laser flash induced a fluorescence increase (as monitored by a weak measuring beam) of only 50% of that reached following a second flash in chloroplasts preincubated with ferricyanide and inhibited by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) prior to illumination. In the absence of ferricyanide, the fluorescence level reached after a single flash was initially close to that measured after a second flash (although the level subsequently declined). (3) The initial amplitude of the microsecond-delayed fluorescence excited by a single laser flash was diminished in chloroplasts dark-adapted with ferricyanide. In the presence of DCMU and ferricyanide, the amplitude was also diminished for the first flash of a series, but subsequently enhanced above the level obtained in chloroplasts in the presence of DCMU alone. (4) The above effects were not seen if DCMU was added to the chloroplasts before ferricyanide, or if the period of incubation with ferricyanide was much less than 4 min. (5) These results suggested the presence of a second acceptor Q2, with Em7 = 400 mV and n = 1, before the DCMU block in Photosystem II. There is 0.35--1 equivalent of the acceptor per reaction centre, and its reduction occurs within less than 5 mus. The role of the acceptor in double turnovers of the photochemistry during a single flash and its likely operating redox potential are discussed.

Characterization of two quenchers of chlorophyll fluorescence with different midpoint oxidation-reduction potentials in chloroplasts

The properties of two redox quenchers of chlorophyll fluorescence in chloroplasts at room temperature have been investigated. (1) Redox titration of the fluorescence yield reveals two n = 1 components with Em7.8 at--45 and --247 mV, accounting for approx. 70 and 30% of the total yield, respectively. (2) Neutral red, a redox mediator often used at redox potentials below --300 mV, preferentially quenches the fluorescence controlled by the --247 mV component. Titrations using neutral red artifactually create an n = 2 quenching component with Em7.8 = --375 mV. (3) Analysis of fluorescence induction curves recorded at different redox potentials indicates that both the --45 and --247 mV components can be photochemically reduced. The reduction of the --247 mV component corresponds to a fast phase of the induction curve whilst the slower reduction of the 45 mV component accounts for the tail phase. (4) The excitation spectra for the fluorescence controlled by the two quenchers show small differences in the ratio of chlorophyll a and b. (5) Whereas the --247 mV component readily shows a 60 mV per pH unit dependency on solution pH, the ability of the --45 mV component to respond to pH change is restricted. (6) Triton Photosystem II particles contain both quenchers but the --247 mV component accounts for approx. 70% of the fluorescence and the high component has an Em7.8 of +48 mV. The relative merits of sequential and parallel models in explaining the presence of the two quenchers are considered.

Tripartite and bipartite models of the photochemical apparatus of photosynthesis

Tripartite and bipartite models for the photochemical apparatus of photosynthesis are presented and examined. It is shown that the equations for the yields of fluorescence from the different parts of the photochemical apparatus of the tripartite model transform into the simple equations of the bipartite formulation when the probability for energy transfer from the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b complex to photosystem II is unity. The nature of the 695 and 735 nm fluorescence bands which appear in the emission spectrum of chloroplasts at low temperature is examined. It is proposed that these bands are due to fluorescence from energy-trapping centres which form in the antenna chlorophyll of photosystem II and photosystem I on cooling to low temperature. Even though these fluorescence emissions can be regarded as low temperature artifacts since they are not present at physiological temperatures, they nevertheless are proportional to the excitation energy in the two photosystems and can be used to monitor energy distribution in the photochemical apparatus. However, the question of their artifactual nature is crucial to the interpretation of fluorescence-lifetime measurements at low temperature.

Quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence and photochemical activity of chloroplasts at low temperature

Fluorescence kinetics and emission spectra of pea and spinach chloroplasts were studied between 294 and 4.2 K. In the presence of MgCl2 the fluorescence-induction curves were sigmoidal between 294 and 180 K but they lost their inflection points at lower temperature. In the absence as well as in the presence of Mg2+ ions, analysis of the kinetics of the area over the induction curve revealed two different components, indicating the existence of two different types of reaction centres at all temperatures. The 'rate constants' for these centres were nearly independent of temperature between 294 and 200 K, but showed a sharp decrease on further cooling. Emission spectra at low temperature showed the previously observed bands at 685, 695 and 735 nm. All three bands showed a considerable increase on cooling between 180 and 4.2 K, but with different temperature-dependence. The amplitude of the 695 band became constant below about 50 K, whereas the 685 emission increased markedly in this region. The relative proportion of the socalled variable fluorescence was almost the same at 685 and 695 nm, both at 80 and at 5 K. The data are discussed in terms of changes of energy-transfer rates on cooling.

Transfer and trapping of excitation energy in photosystem II

The fluorescence yield of chlorophyll a of system II in spinach chloroplasts as a function of the fraction q- of reaction centres in the weakly trapping state PQ-, with reduced acceptor Q-, and reduced primary donor chlorophyll, P, of the reaction centre, is described by the function phi = a/(1 - pq-), a and p being constants (Van Gorkom et al. 1978); P was estimated to be 0.74. By special treatment and additions it was ascertained that the donor complex (S-states, see below) was in the reduced state. Three models of pigment systems have been considered: separate units; units with a boundary limiting energy transfer; and the matrix or pigment bed model, which was found to describe the experimental data. The following supplementary assumptions were made: ktf greater than kt greater than k't greater than 0. The rate constant ktf is that for electronic excitation transfer from a chlorophyll a molecule (or reaction-centre chlorophyll) to the surrounding chlorophyll molecules; kt and k't are rate constants for trapping at the reaction centres in the state PQ and PQ-, respectively. From this model and additional data such as fluorescence yield in vivo and in vitro, kt was estimated to be 4 X 10(11) S-1 and k't = 7.1 X 10(10) S-1; ktf greater than 10(12) S-1. In dark-adapted Chlorella, a series of curves respresenting changes in fluorescence yield as a function of time in a succession of six 16 microseconds xenon flashes spaced at 3 s crossed at one point. It is concluded from this and other observations that in the states S2 and S3 (with two or three oxidizing equivalents in the donor complex of system II) a certain fraction of the reaction centres occurs in a special conformational state. In this state electron transfer and, possibly, energy transfer to P+ are appreciably decreased.

Evidence for a double hit process in photosystem II based on fluorescence studies

1. The amplitudes of the fast (0-20 microseconds) and slow (20 microseconds-2 ms) fluorescence rise induced by a 2 microseconds flash have been measured as a function of the energy of the flash in chloroplasts inhibited by 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea. The saturation curve for the slow rise shows a characteristic lag which is not observed for the fast fluorescence rise. This lag indicates that Photosystem II centers undergo a double hit process which implies that (a), each photocenter includes two acceptors Q1 and Q2; (B), after the first hit, oxidized chlorophyll Chl+ is reduced by a secondary acceptor Y in a time shor compared to the duration of the flash; (c), after the second hit, Chl+ is reduced by another secondary donor, D. 2. According to Den Haan et al. (1974) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 368, 409-421), hydroxylamine destroys the secondary donor responsible for the fast reduction of Chl+. In the presence of 3 mM hydroxylamine, only the secondary donor D is functional and a flash induses mainly a single hit process. 3. The saturation curves for the fast and the slow rises have been studied in the presence of 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea for a second actinic flash given 2.5 s after a first saturating one. The large decrease in the half-saturating energy indicates the existence of efficient energy transfer occuring between potosynthetic units. 4. Two alternate hypotheses are discussed (a) in which D is an auxiliary donor and (b) in which D is included in the main electron transfer chain.

Kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence at 77K in Chlorella and chloroplasts. Effects of CCCP, ferricyanide and DCMU

The kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence at 77K were studied in Chlorella cells and spinach chloroplasts. During a first illumination, the rise is polyphasic with at least three phases. The slowest one is irreversible and corresponds to the cytochrome oxidation. The dark regeneration of half the variable fluorescence is biphasic, the fast phase being inhibited by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea (DCMU) both in Chlorella and chloroplasts. The fluorescence rise during a second illumination is still biphasic. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) slows down the fluorescence rise in Chlorella but has no effect on the dark regeneration. It does not affect the fluorescence of chloroplasts. Ferricyanide which oxidizes cytochrome beta-559 at room temperature produces a quenching of the variable fluorescence and an acceleration of the fluorescence rise during the first illumination. Our results fit the idea of the heterogeneity of the Photosystem II centers at low temperature.

Photooxidation of chlorophyll in spinach chloroplasts between 10 and 180 K

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and optical absorbance difference spectra and kinetics upon illumination by saturating flashes and continuous light of spinach chloroplasts frozen under various conditions were measured between 10 and 180 K. 1. At 100 K illumination with continuous light caused an EPR signal which decayed during the light in about 30 ms. This change is probably due to the reduction of P+-680, the oxidized primary electron donor of Photosystem II, by a secondary electron donor, cytochrome b-559. Flash illumination yielded the previously observed rapid (2 ms) transient. This transient has been ascribed to a back-reaction of the two primary reagents of Photosystem II (Malkin, R. and Bearden, A.J. (1975) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 396, 250-259; Visser, J.W.M. (1975) Thesis, Leiden). 2. Between 10 and 40 K, illumination with continuous light showed a transient which decayed in about 500 ms. The extent decreased with increasing temperature. However, the half time appeared to be temperature independent. This signal was also attributed to P+-680. 3. At 180 K it appeared to be impossible to observe the 2 and 30 ms components in dark frozen chloroplasts. However, they could be observed again if two short saturating flashes were given shortly before freezing. These changes seem to be dependent on the S-state of the reaction center. 4. After oxidizing the sample with ferricyanide (Eh = 540 mV), the light induced absorbance difference spectrum showed a bleaching near 676 nm. This change is ascribed to the irreversible oxidation of a dimeric chlorophyll molecule which acts as electron donor to P+-680 under these conditions. 5. Titration curves of the irreversible light-induced absorbance change at 676 nm and the irreversible light-induced EPR change near g = 2.00 provide strong evidence that these two changes reflect the same compound. Finally, a model is given to explain the observed reactions of Photosystem II at 10-180 K. The model involves three different ultimate and one intermediate electron donor to P+-680 at these temperatures.

Flash induced fluorescence kinetics in chloroplasts in the 20 microseconds-100 s time range in the presence of 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. Effects of hydroxylamine

Flash induced variations of the fluorescence yield have been studied at 2 degrees C over a long time range (at 1 microseconds and from 20 microseconds to 3 min) in chloroplasts in the presence of 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) with or without addition of hydroxylamine. 1. In the presence of DCMU, a polyphasic rise is observed. A first fast rise (less than 1 microseconds) is ascribed to the transfer of the positive charge from the primary Photosystem II donor Chl to a secondary donor Y. Two hypotheses are proposed to interpret the existence of the subsequent slower increase (t1/2 approximately equal to 70 microseconds) which then follows the initial fast rise. 2. The effects or various hydroxylamine concentrations have been studied with a sufficient incubation time to inactivate the secondary donors Y and Z. This inactivation leads to a complete inhibition of the ability to emit oxygen. Under these conditions, the initial fast rise (less than 1 microseconds) is inhibited as shown by den Haan, G.A., Duysens, L. N. M. and Egberts, D. J. N. (1974) Biochim. Biophs. Acta 368, 409-421, and the oxidized Chl+ is reduced by an auxiliary donor D. The slow fluorescence rise observed after destruction of Y and Z has a similar kinetic behaviour to that observed in the presence of DCMU only and is polyphasic. In the presence of 10 mM hydroxylamine, the constant rate of the back reaction k1 between Chl+ and the primary acceptor Q- is estimated to be approx. (135 microseconds)-1 while the transfer of the positive charge from Chl+ to D has a rate constant k2 of approx. (105 microseconds)-1. 3. In the presence of hydroxylamine concentrations higher than 10 mM, there appears a rise in the 1-20 microseconds range ascribed to a direct reduction of oxidized Chl+ by hydroxylamine. 4. In chloroplasts treated with 10 mM hydroxylamine for 15 min and washed afterwards, the rate constant k3 of the back reaction between D+ and Q- is estimated to be approx. (100 ms)-1 which leads to a value of about 700 for the equilibrium constant between Chl and D. Hydroxylamine added under these conditions is able to reduce D+. The rate constant k4 of this reduction is estimated to be (350 ms)-1 in 0.1 mM hydroxylamine.

Interaction of oxidized and reduced N-methylphenazonium methosulfate (PMS) with photosystem II

In 3-(3,4-dicholorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) poisoned chloroplasts, the restoration of the fluorescence induction is presumed to be due to a back reaction of the reduced primary acceptor (Q-) and the oxidized primary donor (Z+) of Photosystem II. Carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) is known to inhibit this back reaction. The influence of reduced N-methylphenazonium methosulfate (PMS) in the absence of CCCP and of oxidized PMS in the presence of CCCP on the back reaction was investigated and the following results were obtained: (1) Reduced PMS at the concentration of 1 muM inhibits the back reaction as effectively as hydroxylamine, suggesting an electron donating function of reduced PMS for System II. (2) The inhibition of the back reactionby CCCP is regenerated to a high degree by oxidized PMS which led to assume a cyclic System II electron flow catalysed by PMS. (3) At concentrations of reduced PMS higher than 1 muM it is shown that both the fast initial emission and more significantly the variable emission are quenched.

Fluorescence changes related in the primary photochemical reaction in the P-700-enriched particles isolated from spinach chloroplasts

The light-induced changes in the yield of chlorophyll alpha fluorescence and photooxidation of P-700 in the P-700-enriched particles isolated from spinach chloroplasts were studied. 1. Fluorescence emitted from the particles was found to show light-induced transient changes in the yield. In the presence of ascorbate, illumination induced quenching of fluorescence in parallel to the photooxidation of P-700. The time course of dark reduction of photooxidized P-700 agreed well with that of dark recovery of variable fluorescence yield in the presence of ascorbate. When illuminated in the presence of dithionite, the emission yield increased, whereas no photooxidation of P-700 was observed. 2. The yield of variable fluorescence and redox state of P-700 depended similarly upon the redox potential. 3. At liquid nitrogen temperature, illumination induced a rise of the fluorescence yield and a complete photooxidation of P-700 in the ascorbate-treated sample. When the particles had been preincubated with dithionite in the light before cooling, light-induced rise in the fluorescence yield was accompanied by only a small extent of P-700 photooxidation. It is suggested that both the oxidized form of P-700 and the primary electron acceptor act as quenchers for the variable fluorescence. 4. The emission spectrum for the constant part of fluorescence (F679) has a peak at 679 nm, and that for the variable part of fluorescence (F694) has a peak at 694 nm at room temperature. The emission maxima were slightly shifted and the yield of variable fluorescence was markedly enhanced at liquid nitrogen temperature. 5. Excitation spectra determined show a peak at 672 nm for F679, and a peak at 672 nm and a shoulder at 685 nm for F694. Action spectrum for P-700 photooxidation was similar to the excitation spectrum for F694.

Effect of the transmembrane electric field on the photochemical and quenching properties of photosystem II in vivo

The intermediate phase of fluorescence relaxation (lms-ls) (Joliot, P., Joliot, A., Bouges, B, and Barbieri, G. (1971) Photochem. Photobiol. 14, 287-305), following a single saturating flash, is shown to be controlled by a slow phase of the reoxidation of Q- by a secondary acceptor and, in vivo, by the transmembrane electric field. The kinetics of reoxidation of Q- are slowed by lowering the pH. This slowing effect is interpreted in terms of the reversible formation at low pH of QH which is not oxidizable by the secondary acceptor. The electric field transforms Photosystem II centers into a non-quenching photochemically inactive state that cannot be attributed to an accumulation of Q-. Centers are unequally sensitive to the field. A critical field strength can be defined for each center above which that center is blocked and below which the center is photochemically active. The transformation from the active to inactive state occurs over a narrow range of field strength. Sensitive centers are blocked by the field in less than 1 ms and become active again in less than 10 ms as the field strength falls. Two hypotheses are proposed for the mechanism of blockage of centers by the field: (1) a field induced conformational change in the centers, (2) the formation or suppression of a dipole critical to the function of a center. The activity of the ATP synthetase, determining the rate of relaxation of the field, was controlled by a light-dark treatment or by a chemical method using p-benzoquinone.

A flash photolysis ESR study of photosystem II signal IIvf, the physiological donor to P-680+

In flash-illuminated, oxygen-evolving spinach chloroplasts and green algae, a free radical transient has been observed with spectral parameters similar to those of Signal II (g approximately 2.0045, deltaHpp approximately 19G). However, in contrast with ESR Signal II, the transient radical does not readily saturate even at microwave power levels of 200 mW. This species is formed most efficiently with "red" illumination (lambda less than 680 nm) and occurs stoichiometrically in a 1:1 ratio with P-700+. The Photosystem II transient is formed in less than 100 mus and decays via first-order kinetics with a halftime of 400-900 mus. Additionally, the t1/2 for radical decay is temperature independent between 20 and 4 degrees C; however, below 4 degrees C the transient signal exhibits Arrhenius behavior with an activation energy of approx. 10 kcal-mol-1. Inhibition of electron transport through Photosystem II by o-phenanthroline, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea or reduced 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone suppresses the formation of the light-induced transient. At low concentrations (0.2 mM), 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone partially inhibits the free radical formation, however, the decay kinetics are unaltered. High concentrations of 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (1-5 mM) restore both the transient signal and electron flow through Photosystem II. These findings suggest that this "quinoidal" type ESR transient functions as the physiological donor to the oxidized reaction center chlorophyll, P-680+.

Photochemical activities of reaction centers from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides at low temperature and in the presence of chaotropic agents

Light-induced absorbance changes were measured at low temperatures in reaction center preparations from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. Absorbance difference spectra measured at 100 degrees K show that ubiquinone is photoreduced at this temperature, both by continuous light and by a short actinic flash. The reduction occurred with relatively high efficiency. These results give support to the idea that ubiquinone is involved in the primary photochemical reaction in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. Reduction of ubiquinone was accompanied by a shift of the infrared absorption band of bacteriopheophytin. The rate of decay of the primary photoproducts (P+870 and ubisemiquinone) appeared to be approximately independent of temperature below 180 degrees K and above 270 degrees K; in the region between 180 and 270 degrees K it increased with decreasing temperature. The rate of decay was not affected by 0-phenanthroline. Secondary reactions were inhibited by lowering the temperature. The light-induced absorbance changes were inhibited by chaotropic agents, like thiocyanate and perchlorate. It was concluded that these agents lower the efficiency of the primary photoconversion. The kinetics indicated that the degree of inhibition was not the same for all reaction centers. The absorption spectrum of the photoconverted reaction centers appeared to be somewhat modified by thiocyanate.

Laser-flash-activated electron paramagnetic resonance studies of primary photochemical reactions in chloroplasts

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of the primary reactants of Photosystems I and II have been conducted at cryogenic temperatures after laser-flash activation with monochromatic light.P-700 photooxidation occurs irreversibly in chloroplasts and in Photosystem I fragments after activation with a 730 nm laser flash at a temperature of 35 degrees K. Flash activation of chloroplasts or Photosystem II chloroplast fragments with 660 nm light results in the production of a free-radical signal (g = 2.002, linewidth approximately 8 gauss) which decays with a half-time of 5.0 ms at 35 degrees K. The half-time of decay is independent of temperature in the range of 10-77 degrees K. This reversible signal can be eliminated by preillumination of the sample at 35 degrees K with 660 nm light (but not by 730 nm light), by preillumination with 660 nm light at room temperature in the presence of 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1,1'-dimethylurea (DCMU) plus hydroxylamine, or by adjustment of the oxidation-reduction potential of the chloroplasts to - 150 mV prior to freezing. In the presence of ferricyanide (20-50 mM), two free-radical signals are photoinduced during a 660 nm flash at 35 degrees K. One signal decays with a half-time of 5 ms, whereas the second signal is formed irreversibly. These results are discussed in terms of a current model for the Photosystem II primary reaction at low temperature which postulates a back-reaction between P-680+ and the primary electron acceptor.