Peculiarities of DNP-INT and DBMIB as inhibitors of the photosynthetic electron transport

Inhibitory analysis is a useful tool for studying cytochrome b6f complex in the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Here, we examine the inhibitory efficiency of two widely used inhibitors of the plastoquinol oxidation in the cytochrome b6f complex, namely 2,4-dinitrophenyl ether of 2-iodo-4-nitrothymol (DNP-INT) and 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropylbenzoquinone (DBMIB). Using isolated thylakoids from pea and arabidopsis, we demonstrate that inhibitory activity of DNP-INT and DBMIB is enhanced by increasing irradiance, and this effect is due to the increase in the rate of electron transport. However, the accumulation of protons in the thylakoid lumen at low light intensity has opposite effects on the inhibitory activity of DNP-INT and DBMIB, namely increasing the activity of DNP-INT and restricting the activity of DBMIB. These results allow for the refinement of the conditions under which the use of these inhibitors leads to the complete inhibition of plastoquinol oxidation in the cytochrome b6f complex, thereby broadening our understanding of the operation of the cytochrome b6f complex under conditions of steady-state electron transport.

Inhibition of plastoquinol oxidation at the cytochrome b6f complex by dinitrophenyl ether of iodonitrothymol (DNP-INT) depends on irradiance and H+ uptake by thylakoid membranes

Inhibitory analysis is a useful tool for studying reactions in the photosynthetic apparatus. After introducing by Aachim Trebst in 1978, dinitrophenylether of iodonitrothymol (DNP-INT), a competitive inhibitor of plastoquinol oxidation at the cytochrome (cyt.) b₆f complex, has been widely applied to study reactions occurring in the plastoquinone pool and the cyt. b₆f complex. Here we examine the inhibitory efficiency of DNP-INT by implementing three approaches to estimate the extent of blockage of electron flow from the plastoquinone pool to photosystem I in isolated thylakoids from spinach (Spinacia oleracea). We confirm that DNP-INT is a potent inhibitor of electron flow to photosystem I and demonstrate that inhibitory action of DNP-INT depends on irradiance and H⁺ uptake by thylakoid membranes. Based on these findings, we infer that affinity of the quinol-oxidizing site of the cyt. b₆f complex to DNP-INT is increased in the light due to hydrogen bonding between DNP-INT molecules and acidic amino acid residue(s), which is (are) protonated in the light.

Photoautotrophic cultures of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: sulfur deficiency, anoxia, and hydrogen production

The aim of this work was a comparative study of S-repleted and S-depleted photoautotrophic cultures of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under aerobic and anoxic conditions with the main focus on PSII activity. For that we used photobioreactor with short light path connected on-line to PAM fluorometer and cultivated microalgae in twice concentrated HS medium to avoid any uncontrolled limitation by mineral elements. Photoautotrophic cultures grown under Ar + CO₂ gas mixture did not reach the same Chl (a + b) concentration as control culture (grown under air + CO₂). At pO₂ 40% of air saturation (96 µM O₂), the actual quantum yield of PSII started to decrease. Under microaerobic conditions when cultures stopped growing, the most significant changes in PSII function were observed. Maximum quantum yield F_v/F_m decreased significantly along with performance index, PIabs. It was accompanied by increase of fluorescence at J point, V_j. Results indicate that microaerobic conditions are stressful for photoautotrophic cultures. Photoautotrophic cultures of microalgae under S-deprivation in aerobic or anaerobic conditions showed similar behavior as photoheterotrophic ones described earlier. However, photoautotrophic cultures during anaerobiosis establishment did not show sharp "switch off" effect of actual quantum yield. We show also that S-deprivation under air or argon as well as the growth under Ar + CO₂ cause significant increase of initial rise of fluorescence, which indicates that PSII and oxygen-evolving complex might be disintegrated.