The photosynthetic election transport activities in beet spinách thylakoids were studied using ruthenium chloride as an electron acceptor, Like potassium ferricyanide, RUCI3 supported the non-cyclic electron flow with net evolution of oxygen. The rate of oxygen evolution was at its maximum with 0.5 mM RUCI3 at pH of 8.0 and the election flow coupled to translocation of protons into the thylakoid vesicles. Ruthenium chloride-supported oxygen evolution was inhibited by specific photosynthetic electron tiansport inhibitors like diuron, dibromothymoquinone, potassium cyanide, and mercuric chloride Unlike ferricyanide, the RuCl3-supported oxygen evolution was totally inliibited by potassium cyanide and mercuric chloride at both pH 8.0 and 6.5. Since potassium cyanide and mercuric chloride mostly interrupt the electron flow at plastocyanin level, RUCI3 probably accepts electrons mostly from photosystem 1 or its near vicinity. Besides electron acceptance, RUCI3 suppresses the photophosphoiylation activity in a manner similar to energy transfer inhibitors.
Photochemical activity of isolated mesophyll chloroplasts was measured as Hill reaction activity (HRA) and photosystem 1 (PS1) activity in three diallel crosses of maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines and F1 hybrids. Statistically significant differences between genotypes together with positive heterotic effect in F1 generation were found for both traits studied. These differences were more pronounced when HRA or PS1 activity was expressed per leaf area unit or dry matter unit compared to the expression per chlorophyll content unit. Analysis of variance showed that both the genetic and non-genetic components of variation in the photochemical activity of isolated mesophyll chloroplasts are present in all three diallel crosses examined. The positive heterosis in F1 hybrids probably arises from non-additive genetic effects of a positive dominance type. Additive genetic effects were also statistically highly significant. We found no differences between reciprocal crosses. and D. Holá ... [et al.].
Photosynthetic and respirátory electron transfers in cyanobacteria not only serve the bioenergetic needs of these prokaryotes during day and night time. The common use of the plastoquinone pool and the cytochrome (cyt) complex also establishes possibilities for sharing photosystem (PS) 2 plus dehydrogenases at the donor side and cyt c oxidase plus PSI at the acceptor side. Given metabolic conditions and radiant energy supply, the available choices may give rise to unusual combinations of connected electron transfer activities, for example PS2 and cyt c oxidase. In vivo measurements of energy storage in PSI cyclic photophosphorylation via photoacoustic spectroscopy, and of the P700 redox statě via absorbance changes at 820 nm detected with the pulse amplitudě modulation technique (PAM), as well as of PS2 fluorescence yield, all in the absence or presence of the cyt c oxidase inhibitor KCN were combined to demonstrate that the two pathways at the acceptor side communicate in vivo. This type of regulation serves proper poising of electron flow through and around PSI. The impaired cyt c oxidase activity (in this study achieved by addition of KCN) prevents a truly oxidized statě of P700 to be reached, which hampers electron passage from PS2. The relative overreduction of PS 1 in the KCN intoxicated samples reduces the electron flow directed to biosynthesis. The results illustrate the versatility of the P700 redox statě measurements at 820 nm as a means to study in vivo electron fluxes in cyanobacteria.
Reduction kinetics of P700+ after far-red radiation (FR)-induced oxidation in intact tobacco leaves was examined by analysing the post-irradiation relaxation of 810-830 nm absorbance difference. The reduction curve could be de-convoluted distinctively into two or three exponential decaying components, depending on the FR irradiance, the treating and measuring temperatures, and the extent of dark adaptation. The multi-phasic kinetics of P700+ re-reduction upon the turning off of FR irradiation is related to the heterogeneity of electron transport around photosystem 1 in thylakoid membranes. and Ming-Xian Jin, Zheng-Ju Yao, Hualing Mi.
Exposure of plants to irradiation, in excess to saturate photosynthesis, leads to reduction in photosynthetic capacity without any change in bulk pigment content. This effect is known as photoinhibition. Photoinhibition is followed by destruction of carotenoids (Cars), bleaching of chlorophylls (Chls), and increased lipid peroxidation due to formation of reactive oxygen species if the excess irradiance exposure continues. Photoinhibition of photosystem 2 (PS2) in vivo is often a photoprotective strategy rather than a damaging process. For sustainable maintenance of chloroplast function under high irradiance, the plants develop various photoprotective strategies. Cars perform essential photoprotective roles in chloroplasts by quenching the triplet Chl and scavenging singlet oxygen and other reactive oxygen species. Recently photoprotective role of xanthophylls (zeaxanthin) for dissipation of excess excitation energy under irradiance stress has been emphasised. The inter-conversion of violaxanthin (Vx) into zeaxanthin (Zx) in the light-harvesting complexes (LHC) serves to regulate photon harvesting and subsequent energy dissipation. De-epoxidation of Vx to Zx leads to changes in structure and properties of these xanthophylls which brings about significant structural changes in the LHC complex. This ultimately results in (1) direct quenching of Chl fluorescence by singlet-singlet energy transfer from Chl to Zx, (2) trans-thylakoid membrane mediated, ΔpH-dependent indirect quenching of Chl fluorescence. Apart from these, other processes such as early light-inducible proteins, D1 turnover, and several enzymatic defence mechanisms, operate in the chloroplasts, either for tolerance or to neutralise the harmful effect of high irradiance. and N. K. Choudhury, R. K. Behera.