Rapidly reversible flash-induced electron transfer in aP-700 chlorophyll-protein complex isolated with SDS

Chlorophyll triplet states associated with photosystem II of thylakoids

The analysis of FDMR thylakoid spectra, determined at multiple emission wavelengths, by a global decomposition technique, has revealed the presence of three previously undescribed triplet populations at emission wavelengths characteristic of Photosystem II chlorophyll/protein complexes. Their zero-field splitting parameters have been determined in order to compare them with the well-studied PSII recombination triplet state. None of these triplets have the zero-field splitting parameters characteristic of the recombination triplet and are therefore probably not generated directly in the reaction center. On the basis of their microwave-induced emission spectra, it is suggested that two are probably generated in the core complex(es) while the third may be generated in the external antenna. These triplets are formed under nonreducing redox conditions, when the recombination triplet is undetectable. It is suggested that they may be involved in the photoinhibitory damage of Photosystem II. The triplet-minus-singlet spectrum associated with the recombination triplet state has been determined for thylakoids after reduction of the secondary acceptors. Its main peak is at 685 nm, slightly red shifted with respect to earlier reports, with a weak signal, of opposite sign at approximately 675 nm. The 685 nm peak indicates that at cryogenic temperatures, the triplet is located on the long-wavelength chlorophyll state present in the reaction center complex of Photosystem II (D1.D2.Cytb(559) complex). From the absence of a clear structure in the 680 nm absorption region, this long-wavelength absorbing state does not appear to be strongly coupled to P(680), though it must be associated with one of the "inner core" pigments recently identified in the photosystem II crystallographic structure [Zouni et al. (2001) Nature 408, 739-743].

Secondary pair charge recombination in photosystem I under strongly reducing conditions: temperature dependence and suggested mechanism

Photoinduced electron transfer in photosystem I (PS I) proceeds from the excited primary electron donor P700 (a chlorophyll a dimer) via the primary acceptor A0 (chlorophyll a) and the secondary acceptor A1 (phylloquinone) to three [4Fe-4S] clusters, Fx, FA, and FB. Prereduction of the iron-sulfur clusters blocks electron transfer beyond A1. It has been shown previously that, under such conditions, the secondary pair P700+A1- decays by charge recombination with t1/2 approximately 250 ns at room temperature, forming the P700 triplet state (3P700) with a yield exceeding 85%. This reaction is unusual, as the secondary pair in other photosynthetic reaction centers recombines much slower and forms directly the singlet ground state rather than the triplet state of the primary donor. Here we studied the temperature dependence of secondary pair recombination in PS I from the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC6803, which had been illuminated in the presence of dithionite at pH 10 to reduce all three iron-sulfur clusters. The reaction P700+A1- --> 3P700 was monitored by flash absorption spectroscopy. With decreasing temperature, the recombination slowed down and the yield of 3P700 decreased. In the range between 303 K and 240 K, the recombination rates could be described by the Arrhenius law with an activation energy of approximately 170 meV. Below 240 K, the temperature dependence became much weaker, and recombination to the singlet ground state became the dominating process. To explain the fast activated recombination to the P700 triplet state, we suggest a mechanism involving efficient singlet to triplet spin evolution in the secondary pair, thermally activated repopulation of the more closely spaced primary pair P700+A0- in a triplet spin configuration, and subsequent fast recombination (intrinsic rate on the order of 10(9) s(-1)) forming 3P700.

Spectral and kinetic characterization of electron acceptor A1 in a Photosystem I core devoid of iron-sulfur centers F X, F B and F A

The kinetic and spectroscopic properties of the secondary electron acceptor A1 were determined by flash absorption spectroscopy at room and cryogenic temperatures in a Photosystem I (PS I) core devoid of the iron-sulfur clusters FX, FB and FA. It was shown earlier (Warren, P.V., Golbeck, J.H. and Warden, J.T. (1993) Biochemistry 32: 849-857) that the majority of the flash-induced absorbance increase at 820 nm, reflecting formation of P700(+), decays with a t1/2 of 10 μs due to charge recombination between P700(+) and A1 (-). Following A1 (-) directly around 380 nm, where absorbance changes due to the formation of P700(+) are negligible, two major decay components were resolved in this study with t1/2 of ≈ 10 μs and 110 μs at an amplitude ratio of ≈ 2.5:1. The difference spectra between 340 and 490 nm of the two kinetic phases are highly similar, showing absorbance increases from 340 to 400 nm characteristic of the one-electron reduction of the phylloquinone A1. When measured at 10 K, the flash-induced absorbance changes around 380 nm can be fitted with two decay phases of t1/2 ≈ 15 μs and 150 μs at an amplitude ratio ≈ 1:1. The difference spectra of both kinetic phases from 340 to 400 nm are similar to those determined at 298 K and are therefore attributed to charge recombination in the pair P700(+)A1 (-). These results indicate that the backreaction between P700(+) and A1 (-) is multiphasic when FX, FB and FA are removed, and only slightly temperature dependent in the range of 298 K to 10 K.

Characterization of a Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 spontaneous mutant strain defective in accumulation of photosystem II core chlorophyll-protein complexes

Two photosystem II-associated chlorophyll-protein complexes of Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 were identified. Their polypeptide compositions were similar to those of chlorophyll-containing antenna complexes of other cyanobacteria. Strain GT8B did not possess the complex responsible for 695-nm fluorescence and was unable to grow photoautotrophically; hence, this complex is necessary for photosystem II function in vivo.

Purification and properties of the intact P-700 and Fx-containing Photosystem I core protein

The intact Photosystem I core protein, containing the psaA and psaB polypeptides, and electron transfer components P-700 through FX, was isolated from cyanobacterial and higher plant Photosystem I complexes with chaotropic agents followed by sucrose density ultracentrifugation. The concentrations of NaClO4, NaSCN, NaI, NaBr or urea required for the functional removal of the 8.9 kDa, FA/FB polypeptide was shown to be inversely related to the strength of the chaotrope. The Photosystem I core protein, which was purified to homogeniety, contains 4 mol of acid-labile sulfide and has the following properties: (i) the FX-containing core consists of the 82 and 83 kDa reaction center polypeptides but is totally devoid of the low-molecular-mass polypeptides; (ii) methyl viologen and other bipyridilium dyes have the ability to accept electrons directly from FX; (iii) the difference spectrum of FX from 400 to 900 nm is characteristic of an iron-sulfur cluster; (iv) the midpoint potential of FX, determined optically at room temperature, is 60 mV more positive than in the control; (v) there is indication by ESR spectroscopy of low-temperature heterogeneity within FX; and (vi) the heterogeneity is seen by optical spectroscopy as inefficiency in low-temperature electron flow to FX. The constraints imposed by the amount of non-heme iron and labile sulfide in the Photosystem I core protein, the cysteine content of the psaA and psaB polypeptides, and the stoichiometry of high-molecular-mass polypeptides, cause us to re-examine the possibility that FX is a [4Fe-4S] rather than a [2Fe-2S] cluster ligated by homologous cysteine residues on the psaA and psaB heterodimer.

Chlorophyll-protein composition of the thylakoid membrane from Prochlorothrix hollandica, a prokaryote containing chlorophyll b

The chlorophyll-protein complexes of the thylakoid membrane from Prochlorothrix hollandica were identified following electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions. Five complexes, CP1-CP5, were resolved and these green bands were analyzed by spectroscopic and immunological methods. CP1 contains the photosystem I (PSI) reaction center, as this complex quenched fluorescence at room temperature, and had a 77 K fluorescence emission peak at 717 nm. CP4 contains the major chlorophyll-a-binding proteins of the photosystem II (PSII) core, because this complex contained polypeptides which cross-reacted to antibodies raised against Chlamydomonas PSII proteins 5 and 6. Furthermore, fluorescence excitation studies at 77 K indicated that only a Chl a is bound to CP4. Complexes CP2, CP3 and CP5 contained functionally bound Chl a and b as judged by absorption spectroscopy at 20 degrees C and fluorescence excitation spectra at 77 K. CP2, CP3 and CP5 all contain polypeptides of 30-33 kDa which are immunologically distinct from the LHC-II complex of higher plant thylakoids.

Photosystem I photochemistry: A new kinetic phase at low temperature

A new phase of charge recombination between the oxidized primary electron donor of photosystem I (P700(+)) and a reduced acceptor has been detected by flash absorption spectroscopy in PS I particles at low temperature. It occurs under highly reducing conditions (the secondary electron acceptors FA and FB and one or possibly two 'more primary' acceptors being prereduced) with a t1/2 of about 20 μs between 10 and 80 K.

Primary photochemistry in photosystem-I

In this review, the main research developments that have led to the current simplified picture of photosystem I are presented. This is followed by a discussion of some conflicting reports and unresolved questions in the literature. The following points are made: (1) the evidence is contradictory on whether P700, the primary donor, is a monomer or dimer of chlorophyll although at this time the balacnce of the evidence points towards a monomeric structure for P700 when in the triplet state; (2) there is little evidence that the iron sulfur centers FA and FB act in series as tertiary acceptors and it is as likely that they act in parallel under physiological conditions; (3) a role for FX, probably another iron sulfur centrer, as an obligatory electron carrier in forward electron transfer has not been proven. Some evidence indicates that its reduction could represent a pathway different to that involving FA and FB; (4) the decay of the acceptor 'A2 (-)' as defined by optical spectroscopy corresponds with 700(+) % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafeart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaamOramaaBa% aaleaadaqdaaqaaiaadIfaaaaabeaaaaa!37D1!\[F_{\overline X } \] recombination under some circumstances but under other conditions it probably corresponds with P700(+) A1 (-) recombination; (5) P700(+) A1 (-) recombination as originally observed by optical spectroscopy is probably due to the decay of the P700 triplet state; (6) the acceptor A1 (-) as defined by EPR may be a special semiquinone molecule; (7) A0 is probably a chlorophyll a molecule which acts as the primary acceptor. Recombination of P700(+) A0 (-) gives rise to the P700 triplet state.A working model for electron transfer in photosystem I is presented, its general features are discussed and comparisons with other photosystems are made.

Organization of the thylakoid membrane from the heterotrophic cyanobacterium, Aphanocapsa 6714

The polypeptide composition of thylakoid membrane fractions from the heterotrophic cyanobacterium Aphanocapsa 6714 was examined by electrophoretic and immunoblotting procedures. We have identified thylakoid cytochromes f, b6, c-550 and c-553 by tetramethylbenzidine staining of lithium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels; we also have identified the Rieske Fe-S center protein and subunit 4 of the cytochrome b6/f complex. We have characterized phycobilisomes and active core preparations of PS I and PS II. PS I is comprised of five polypeptides (62 kDa, 14.5 kDa, 10 kDa, and two proteins of less than 10 kDa), and our PS II preparation is highly enriched for three chlorophyll-binding proteins of 48, 45 and 36 kDa. Furthermore, we have resolved the chlorophyll-binding complexes on non-denaturing gels and have determined the polypeptide composition of each chlorophyll-containing band. Three bands are associated with PS I (I, IIa and IIb) and three bands are PS II components (III', IIIa and IIIb) as judged by low-temperature fluorescence emission spectra. Band III' contains a 64 kDa antenna polypeptide, IIIa contains the 48 kDa and 45 kDa polypeptides, and IIIb is comprised solely of a 36 kDa protein. The IIIb apoprotein represents a novel PS II component; its possible role in photochemistry is discussed.

Characterization of a spinach photosystem II core preparation isolated by a simplified method

A photosystem II core complex from spinach exhibiting high rates of electron transport was obtained rapidly and in high yield by treatment of a Tris-extracted, O2-evolving photosystem II preparation with the detergent dodecyl-beta-D-maltoside. The core complex was essentially free of light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein and photosystem I polypeptides, and was highly enriched in the polypeptides associated with the photosystem II reaction center (45 and 49 kDa), cytochrome b559, and three polypeptides in the region 32-34 kDa. The photosystem II core complex contained two chlorophyll-proteins which had a slightly higher apparent molecular mass than CPa-1 and CPa-2. Additionally, a high-molecular-mass chlorophyll-protein complex termed CPa* was observed, which exhibited a low fluorescence yield when illuminated with ultraviolet light. This observation suggests that CPa* contains a functionally efficient quencher of chlorophyll fluorescence, possibly P680.

Electron spin polarization of photosynthetic reactants

Photosynthesis is the conversion of the quantum energy of light into the chemical energy of complex organic molecules and organized cellular structures in plants and in some bacteria. The processes of photosynthesis span the time domain of subpicoseconds to the millennia of slow-growing trees, its study brings together such diverse disciplines as photophysics, biochemistry, botany and ecology. In the last few decades tremendous progress has been made in understanding the multivarious chemical reactions that ultimately lead to the fixation of carbon dioxide into organic substance, yet the basic mechanism underlying the conversion of photon energy into chemical energy still remains very much an enigma. These so-called primary reactions which transduce the excitation energy of excited chlorophyll pigments into the potential energy of stabilized, separated charges on electron donor and electron acceptor molecules have been studied with a variety of physical techniques, among which fast optical spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) are prominent. This review will highlight one intriguing aspect of EPR, namely that of electron spin polarization (ESP).† It will be shown that ESP of photosynthetic primary reactants offers a unique tool to gain insight in the electrostatic and magnetic interactions that make photosynthesis work. Moreover, it will become apparent that ESP in photosynthesis has several unique traits not (yet) found in ESP of photochemical reactionsin vitro. As such, it may serve as a paradigma of ESP phenomena and will present an absorbing spectacle also for EPR spectroscopists outside photosynthesis.

Protein identification of purified particles isolated from spinach thylakoids by deoxycholate electrophoresis

Three thylakoid complexes were isolated by deoxycholate preparative electrophoresis. The protein composition of each fraction was analyzed by SDS analytical electrophoresis. No protein of the PS 1 enriched fraction (fraction 1) was found in the PS 2 enriched fraction (fraction 2) and inversely. The antenna complex (fraction 3) did not have any contamination by proteins of fraction 1 or fraction 2. Fraction 1 was mainly composed of the CP1, the reaction center complex of the PS1, and by low molecular weight proteins, previously found in other PS 1 preparations. Tentative assignments of these proteins are presented; among them are iron sulfur proteins. After analytical SDS electrophoresis of fraction 2, the reaction center complex was dissociated. Nevertheless three proteins of 50 kD, 42 kD and 35 kD were assigned to this complex. Fraction 2 contained also the three cytochromes of the thylakoid membranes: cyt f, cyt b6, cyt b559. Fraction 3 was exclusively composed of one protein pigment complex, CP2.

Sub-microsecond chlorophyll a delayed fluorescence from photosystem I. Magnetic field-induced increase of the emission yield

(1) In photosystem I (PS I) particles in the presence of dithionite and intense background illumination at 290 K, an external magnetic field (0-0.22 T) induced an increase, delta F, of the low chlorophyll a emission yield, F (delta F/F approximately or equal to 1-1.5%). Half the effect was obtained at about 35-60 mT and saturation occurred for magnetic fields higher than about 0.15 T. In the absence of dithionite, no field-induced increase was observed. Cooling to 77 K decreased delta F at 685 nm, but not at 735 nm, to zero. Measuring the emission spectra of F and delta F, using continuous excitation light, at 82, 167 and 278 K indicated that the spectra of F and delta F have about the same maximum at about 730, 725 and 700 nm, respectively. However, the spectra of delta F show more long-wavelength emission than the corresponding spectra of F. (2) Only in the presence of dithionite and with (or after) background illumination, was a luminescence (delayed fluorescence) component observed at 735 nm, ater a 15 ns laser flash (530 nm), that decayed in about 0.1 microseconds at room temperature and in approx. 0.2 microseconds at 77 K. A magnetic field of 0.22 T caused an appreciable increase in luminescence intensity after 250 ns, probably mainly caused by an increase in decay time. The emission spectra of the magnetic field-induced increase of luminescence, delta L, at 82, 167 and 278 K coincided within experimental error with those of delta F mentioned above. The temperature dependence of delta F and delta L was found to be nearly the same, both at 685 and at 735 nm. (3) Analogously to the proposal concerning the 0.15 microseconds luminescence in photosystem II (Sonneveld, A., Duysens, L.N.M. and Moerdijk, A. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 5889-5893), we propose that recombination of the oxidized primary donor P-700+ and the reduced acceptor A-, probably A-1, of PS I causes the observed fast luminescence. The effect of an external magnetic field on this emission may be explained by the radical pair mechanism. The field-induced increase of the 0.1-0.2 microseconds luminescence seems to be at least in large part responsible for the observed increase of the total (prompt + delayed) emission measured during continuous illumination in the presence of a magnetic field.

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.

Reaction center triplet states in photosystem I and photosystem II

A photosystem I (PS I) particle has been prepared by lithium dodecyl sulfate digestion which lacks the acceptor X, and iron-sulfur centers B and A. Illumination of these particles at liquid helium temperature results in the appearance of a light-induced spin-polarized triplet signal observed by EPR. This signal is attributed to the triplet state of P-700, the primary donor, formed by recombination of the light induced radical pair P-700+ A1- (where A1 is the intermediate acceptor). Formation of the triplet does not occur if P-700 is oxidized or if A1 is reduced, prior to the illumination. A comparison of the P-700 triplet with that of P-680, the primary donor of Photosystem II, shows several differences. (1) The P-680 triplet is 1.5 mT (15 G) wider than the P-700 triplet. This is reflected by the zero-field splitting parameters, which indicate that P-700 is a slightly larger species than P-680. The zero-field splitting parameters do not indicate that either P-700 or P-680 are dimeric. (2) The P-700 triplet is induced by red and far-red light, while the P-680 triplet is induced only by red light. (3) The temperature dependences of the P-700 triplet and the P-680 triplet are different.

Effect of detergents on the reliability of a chemical assay for P-700

A chemical assay for P-700 was developed using 0.36 mM potassium ferricyanide as oxidant and 1.6 mM sodium ascorbate as reductant. The major difference from other chemical assays for P-700 is procedural. The method is designed to take advantage of the availability of microprocessor-linked spectrophotometers to obtain greater accuracy by minimizing the spectral changes due to irreversible oxidized antenna chlorophyll molecules. The value measured for the P-700 concentration in a sample of chloroplasts was not changed by the presence of EDTA, Mg2+ or sucrose in the assayed solution. Similarly, half of the detergents tested (Triton X-100, Nonidet P-40, digitonin, Deriphat 160, Miranol S2M-SF and Miranol M2M) did not alter the value when added to the chloroplasts. The remainder of the detergents examined caused a significant decrease or increase in the value for P-700 content. Sodium dodecyl sufate, of particular interest due to its widespread use, caused a doubling in the amount of apparent P-700. This effect may be due to this detergent and some others enabling an additional long wavelength form of chlorophyll, possibly an intermediary electron acceptor in Photosystem I, to be chemically oxidized and reduced under the assay conditions.

Contribution to the structural characterization of eucaryotic PSI reaction centre - II. Characterization of a highly purified photoactive SDS-CP1 complex

Under precise conditions, SDS PAGE† allows purification of a photoactive P700-chla-protein complex from eucaryotic cells. The yield of P700 recovery is close to 100%. A total protein content equivalent to about 140 kD for one mole of P700 has been estimated by chemical analysis, and electrophoresis revealed the presence of two peptidic chains with MWs close to 65 kD. Photochemical and structural properties of this complex are given and compared with those of other complexes previously isolated.