Photosynthetic Mutants Separate Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Signals of Scenedesmus

The pi-Cation Radical of Chlorophyll a

Chlorophyll a undergoes reversible one-electron oxidation in dichloromethane and butyronitrile. Removal of the electron by controlled potential electrolysis or by stoichiometric charge transfer to a known cation radical yields a radical (epr line width = 9 gauss, g = 2.0025 +/- 0.0001) whose optical spectrum is bleached relative to that of chlorophyll. Upon electrophoresis this bleached species behaves as a cation. By comparison with the known properties of pi-cation radicals of porphyrins and chlorins, the chlorophyll radical is also identified as a pi-cation. Further correlation of optical and epr properties with published studies on photosynthesis leads to the conclusion that oxidized P700, the first photochemical product of photosystem I in green plants, contains a pi-cation radical of the chlorin component of chlorophyll a. This radical is the likely source of the rapidly-decaying, narrow epr signal of photosynthesis.

EPR characteristics of oxygen-evolving photosytem II particles from Phormidium laminosum

The EPR characteristics of oxygen evolving particles prepared from Phormidium laminosum are described. These particles are enriched in Photosystem II allowing EPR investigation of signals which were previously small or masked by those from Photosystem I in other preparations. EPR signals from a Signal II species and high potential cytochrome beta-559 appear as they are photooxidised at cryogenic temperatures by Photosystem II. The Signal II species is a donor close to the Photosystem II reaction centre and may represent part of the charge accumulation system of water oxidation. An EPR signal from an iron-sulphur centre which may represent an unidentified component of photosynthetic electron transport is also described. The properties of the oxygen evolving particles show that the preparation is superior to chloroplasts or unfractionated alga membranes for the study of Photosystem II with a functional water oxidation system.

Spectral properties of system I-deficient mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardi. Possible occurrence of uphill energy transfer

Chlamydomonas reinhardi mutants lacking the P-700-chlorophyll alpha-protein complex CPl, lack as well the long wavelength forms of chlorophyll Ca 691 and Ca 704 normally present in the absorption spectrum at -196 degrees C. These mutants do not display the 715 nm peak in the fluorescence emission spectrum at -196 degrees C. Studies of the System II action spectrum of one such mutant show an increase in the optical cross-section of the System II centers around 685 nm. This is interpreted as an energy transfer from pigment System I to pigment System II occurring in the mutant.

The rapid component of electron paramagnetic resonance signal II: a candidate for the physiological donor to photosystem II in spinach chloroplasts

Rapid light-induced transients in EPR Signal IIf (F-+) are observed in 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU)-treated, Tris-washed chloroplasts until the state F P680 Q minus is reached. In the absence of exogenous redox mediators several flashes are required to saturate this photoinactive state. However, the Signal IIf transient is observed on only the first flash following DCMU addition if an efficient donor to Signal IIf, phenylenediamine or hydroquinone, is present. Complementary polarographic measurements show that under these conditions oxidized phenylenediamine is produced only on the first flash of a series. The DCMU inhibition of Signal IIf can be completely relieved by oxidative titration of a one-electron reductant with E'Os.o equals to + 480 mV. At high reduction potentials the decay time of Signal IIf is constant at about 300 ms, whereas in the absence of DCMU the decay time is longer and increases with increasing reduction potential. A model is proposed in which Q minus, the reduced Photosystem II primary acceptor, and D, a one-electron 480 mV donor endogenous to the chloroplast suspension, compete in the reduction of Signal IIf (F-+). At high potentials D is oxidized in the dark, and the (Q-+F-+) back reaction regenerates the photoactive F P680 Q state. The electrochemical and kinetic evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that the Signal IIf species, F, is identical with Z, the physiological donor to P680.

Primary photochemical reactions in chloroplast photosynthesis

Photosynthesis begins with the absorption of light energy and this absorbed energy is transferred to special sites, termed reaction centres. At these sites, the light energy is transformed into chemical products through an oxidation-reduction reaction that generates the primary reactants, an oxidized pigment molecule (P+) and a reduced electron acceptor (A–) (Clayton, 1972). The subsequent reactions of these species in the dark ultimately results in the formation of chemical products required for the fixation of CO2. In this essay we will discuss the nature of the primary reactants generated in the light reactions of chloroplast photosynthesis, stressing recent advances in the identification and characterization of such reactants.

Spin Label Studies in Chlamydomonas

When spin label is added to Chlamydomonas the organism is apparently unaffected, but the paramagnetic resonance signal of the spin label decreases. Irradiation with visible light greatly accelerates this decrease, which is partially reversible. If the cells are grown in the presence of the spin label and washed well, no spin label signal is detectable. However, such cells can no longer catalyze the destruction of added spin label in the light. This finding sug- gests that the molecule is bound to a specific site, which undergoes a change in conformation with illumination.