Control of excitation transfer in photosynthesis V. Correlation of membrane structure to regulation of excitation transfer between two pigment systems in isolated spinach chloroplasts

1. Changes in fluorescence yield of chlorophyll a in isolated chloroplasts have been interpreted by means of regulation of excitation transfer between two pigment systems of photosynthesis^5–7. In order to investigate the relationship between the membrane structure of chloroplasts and the regulation of excitation transfer, changes of light scattering and chlorophyll a fluorescence of isolated spinach chloroplasts were measured upon addition of cations, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺. The cations increased the intensities of both light scattering and fluorescence yield. The changes showed similar time courses and concentration dependences. These facts suggest that modification of membrane structure produced by the cations suppresses the excitation transfer between the two pigment systems.

2. In another case of structural change which is induced by light in the presence of N-methylphenazonium methosulfate, there was little correlation between light-scattering and fluorescence changes.

3. Changes in fluorescence yield induced by the addition of Mg²⁺ were measured in disintegrated chloroplasts and fractionated particles. The effects of Mg²⁺ on fluorescence were observed only in preparations of grana stacks, but not in preparations of stroma lamellae. These findings suggest that the excitation transfer is regulated between the two pigment systems located in the grana thylacoid membranes.     

Mg2+ accelerates plastoquinone reduction in chloroplasts

The transient fluorescence quenching induced by the addition of a small amount of an oxidant to illuminated chloroplasts can be used to estimate the rate of electron transported by the oxidant. Using this technique, it is found that the reduction of plastoquinone by the primary acceptor of Photosystem II is sensitive to salt depletion.     

Involvement of the light-harvesting complex in cation regulation of excitation energy distribution in chloroplasts

A highly purified light-harvesting pigment-protein complex (LHC) was obtained by fractionation of cation-depleted chloroplast membranes using the nonionic detergent, Triton X-100. The isolated LHC had a chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{b}$ ratio of 1.2 and exhibited no photochemical activity. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the LHC revealed three polypeptides in the molecular weight classes of 23, 25, and 30 × 10³. Antibodies were prepared against the LHC and their specificity was established. The effect of the α-LHC (antibodies to LHC) on salt-mediated changes in PS I and PS II photochemistry, Chl α fluorescence inductions, and 77 °K fluorescence emission spectra was investigated. The results show that: (i) The Mg²⁺-induced 20% decrease in photosystem I (PS I) quantum yield observed in control chloroplasts was blocked by the presence of the α-LHC antibody, (ii) The Mg²⁺-induced 70% increase in photosystem II (PS II) quantum yield of control chloroplasts was reduced 35% for plastids in the presence of α-LHC antibody, (iii) The Mg²⁺-induced increase in room-temperature variable fluorescence was reduced 60% by α-LHC antibody, (iv) The Mg²⁺-induced increase in the $\text{F685}\text{F730}$ emission peak ratio at 77 °K was inhibited 50% in the presence of α-LHC antibody. These results provide direct evidence for the involvement of the light-harvesting complex in cation regulation of energy redistribution between the photosystems. The fact that the α-LHC antibody does not fully block Mg²⁺-induced PS II increases or chlorophyll fluorescence increases supports the concept that Mg²⁺ has two mechanisms of action: one effect on energy distribution and a second direct effect on photosystem II centers.     

Cation-mediated regulation of excitation energy distribution in chloroplasts lacking organized Photosystem II complexes

Despite the total loss of Photosystem II activity, thylakoids isolated from the green nuclear maize mutant hcf1-3 contain normal amounts of the light-harvesting chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{b}$ pigment-protein complex (LHC). We interpret the spectroscopic and ultrastructural characteristics of these thylakoids to indicate that the LHC present in these membranes is not associated with Photosystem II reaction centers and thus exists in a ‘free’ state within the thylakoid membrane. In contrast, the LHC found in wild-type maize thylakoids shows the usual functional association with Photosystem II reaction centers. Several lines of evidence suggest that the free LHC found in thylakoids isolated from hcf1-3 is able to mediate cation-dependent changes in both thylakoid appression and energy distribution between the photosystems: (1) Thylakoids isolated from hcf1-3 and wild-type seedlings exhibit a similar Mg²⁺-dependent increase in the short/long wavelength fluorescence emission peak ratio at 77 K. This Mg²⁺ effect is lost following incubation of thylakoids isolated from either source with low concentrations of trypsin. Such treatment results in the partial proteolysis of the LHC in both membrane types. (2) Thylakoids isolated from both hcf1-3 and wild-type seedlings show a similar Mg²⁺ dependence for the enhancement of the maximal yield of room temperature fluorescence and light scattering; both Mg²⁺ effects are abolished by brief incubation of the thylakoids with low concentrations of trypsin (3) Mg²⁺ acts to reduce the relative quantum efficiency of Photosystem I-dependent electron transport at limiting 650 nm light in thylakoids isolated from hcf1-3. (4) The pattern of digitonin fractionation of thylakoid membranes, which is dependent upon structural membrane interactions and upon LHC in the thylakoids, is similar in thylakoids isolated from both hcf1-3 and wild-type seedlings. We conclude that the surface-exposed segment of the LHC, but not the LHC-Photosystem II core association, is necessary for the cation-dependent changes in both thylakoid appression and energy distribution between the two photosystems, and that the LHC itself is able to transfer excitation energy directly to Photosystem I in a Mg²⁺-dependent fashion in the absence of Photosystem II reaction centers. The latter phenomenon is equivalent to a cation-induced change in the absorptive cross-section of Photosystem I.     

Energy transfer and the distribution of excitation energy in the photosynthetic apparatus of spinach chloroplasts

Equations are derived from our model of the photochemical apparatus of photosynthesis to show that the yield of energy transfer from Photosystem II to Photosystem I, ?_T(II→Iz), can be obtained from measurements on an individual sample of chloroplasts frozen to ?196 °C by comparing the sum of two specifically defined fluorescence excitation spectra with the absorption spectrum of the sample. Then, given that value of ?_T(II→I), the fraction of the quanta absorbed by the photochemical apparatus which is distributed initially to Photosystem I, α, can be determined as a function of the wavelength of excitation from the same fluorescence excitation spectra. The results obtained in this study of individual samples of chloroplasts frozen to ?196 °C in the absence of divalent cations, namely, that ?_T(II→I) varies from a minimum value of 0.10 when the Photosystem II reaction centers are all open to a maximum value of 0.25 when the centers are all closed and that α has a value of about 0.30 which is almost independent of wavelength for wavelengths shorter than 675 nm (α increases rapidly toward unity at wavelengths longer than 675 nm), agrees quite well with results obtained previously from comparative measurements of chloroplasts frozen to ?196 °C in the presence and absence of divalent cations.     

Role of Mg2+ ions in the subunit structure and membrane binding properties of bacterial energy transducing ATPase.

ATPase extracted from $\text{Streptococcus faecalis}$ membranes was purified by preparative slab gel electrophoresis in the presence of Mg⁺⁺ (plus Mg²⁺ ATPase) and without Mg²⁺ (minus Mg²⁺ ATPase). The subunit composition and membrane binding capacity of both preparations was then examined. The plus Mg²⁺ ATPase had 5 types of subunits (αβγδ?) and reattached normally to depleted membranes. The minus Mg²⁺ ATPase had the αβγ and ? chains, but no δ chain, and failed to reattach to membranes. These data indicate that Mg²⁺ or a similar cationic ligand anchors the δ chain to the core enzyme complex and that the δ chain in turn is needed for membrane attachment. For the plus Mg²⁺ ATPase the data are consistent with the subunit stoichiometry and arrangement, (α₃β₃ γ ?)-Mg²⁺)_n?(δ).     

Low-Intensity picosecond fluorescence kinetics and excitation dynamics in barley chloroplasts

The fluorescence decays of barley chloroplasts have been measured by single-photon counting with tunable picosecond dye laser excitation. The fluorescence decays of dark-adapted chloroplasts are best fitted to a sum of three exponential lifetime components with lifetimes of 112, 380 and 2214 ps. The relative magnitude of each component is shown to be dependent on the excitation wavelength and collected emission wavelength. The excitation wavelength dependence is correlated with the Photosystem (PS) I and PS II action study of Ried [36] and with the measured pigment distributions in the photosynthetic unit [37,41]. Experiments varying the single excitation pulse intensity from 10⁸ to 10¹² photons/cm² pulse show that our results are not distorted by singlet-singlet annihilation. Unflowed samples where the cloroplasts are under constant illumination show 2-fold increases in quantum yield of fluorescence primarily in the two longer lifetime components. Theoretical calculations of Shipman [31] on an isolated reaction center with a homogeneous antenna are discussed and the principles extended to discussion of the measured barley chloroplast fluorescence decay components in terms of photosynthetic unit light-harvesting array models and earlier experimental work. Our data support a photosynthetic unit model in which 70–90% of the photons absorbed are quenched by either PS I or efficiently quenching PS II in a process where the fluorescence lifetime is 100 ps. The origin of the intermediate 380 ps. component is probably due to excitation transfer to a PS II reaction center in a redox state which quenches less efficiently.     

Measurement of degree of chlorophyll fluorescence polarization in relation to the regulation of excitation energy transfer between Photosystems I and II in pea chloroplasts

The degree of chlorophyll fluorescence polarization (p) at 740 nm was measured at room temperature for pea chloroplasts subjected to various conditions. (1) In agreement with previous published observations, p decreased when the Photosystem (PS) II traps were closed by illumination in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea. (2) Under these conditions, the magnitude of p was also sensitive to the presence of salts. Under conditions when ‘spillover’ of the excitation energy from PS II to PS I was low, p was also low, being consistent with increased migration of energy between the PS II light-harvesting chlorophylls. In contrast, when spillover was at a maximum p increased. (3) The change in p in the presence of salts was dependent on the concentration and valency of the cations in such a way as to suggest the changes were mediated through electrostatic forces. The dependency of p on ionic composition of the experimental medium was closely related to the associated changes in fluorescence yield. (4) Membrane stacking, caused by lowering pH of the chloroplast suspension, did not induce a significant change in p, suggesting that this pH-induced process is different from the membrane stacking brought about by manipulating the salt levels. (5) Incubation of thylakoids with ATP induces light-dependent phosphorylation of the light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complexes, and regulates excitation energy transfer between PS I and PS II (Bennett, J., Steinback, K.R. and Arntzen, C.J. (1980) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 77, 5253–5257). Under conditions which bring about this phosphorylation it was found that p increased to a value indicative of spillover.     

Role of Mg2+ in the ribozyme system

Recently, several kinds of catalytic activities have been identified from L-19 IVS RNA or 'ribozyme'. In the catalytic process of ribozyme, Mg2+ is required. We investigated the role of Mg2+ by molecular orbital calculation. Based on the results of the calculation, a model for the self-splicing reaction was constructed.     

Light-dependent changes of the Mg2+ concentration in the stroma in relation to the Mg2+ dependency of CO2 fixation in intact chloroplasts.

(1) Light-dependent changes of the Mg2+ content of thylakoid membranes were measured at pH 8.0 and compared with earlier measurements at pH 6.6. In a NaCl and KCl medium, the light-dependent decrease in the Mg2+ content of the thylakoid membranes at pH 8.0 is found to be 23 nmol Mg2+ per mg chlorophyll, whereas in a sorbitol medium it is 83 nmol Mg2+ per mg chlorophyll. (2) A light dependent increase in the Mg2+ content of the stroma was detected wjem chloroplasts were subjected to osmotic shock, amounting to 26 nmol/mg chlorophyll. Furthermore, a rapid and reversible light-dependent efflux of Mg2+ has been observed in intact chloroplasts when the divalent cation ionophore A 23 187 was added, indicating a light-dependent transfer of about 60 nmol of Mg2+ per mg chlorophyll from the thylakoid membranes to the stroma. (3) CO2 fixation, but not phosphoglycerate reduction, could be completely inhibited when A 23 187 was added to intact chloroplasts in the absence of external Mg2+. If Mg2+ was then added to the medium, CO2 fixation was restored. Half of the maximal restoration was achieved with about 0.2 mM Mg2+, which is calculated to reflect a Mg2+ concentration in the stroma of 1.2 mM. The further addition of Ca2+ strongly inhibits CO2 fixation. (4) The results suggest that illumination of intact chloroplasts causes an increase in the Mg2+ concentration of 1-3 mM in the stroma. Compared to the total Mg2+ content of chloroplasts, this increase is very low, but it appears to be high enough to have a possible function in the light regulation of CO2 fixation.     

Role of magnesium in the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-stimulated membrane ATPase of human red blood cells.

(Ca2+ + Mg2+)-stimulated ATPase of human red cell membranes as a function of ATP concentration was measured at fixed Ca2+ concentration and at two different but constant Mg2+ concentrations. Under the assumption that free ATP rather than Mg-ATP is the substrate, a value for Km (for ATP) of 1-2 micron is found which is in good agreement with the value obtained in the phosphorylation reaction by A.F. Rega and P.J. Garrahan (1975. J. Membrane Biol. 22:313). Mg2+ increases both the maximal rate and the affinity for ATP, whereas Ca2+ increases the maximal rate without affecting Km for ATP. As a by-product of these experiments, it was shown that after thorough removal of intracellular proteins the adenylate kinase reaction at approximately 1 mM substrate concentration is several times faster than maximal rate of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)ATPase in red cell membranes.     

Effects of uncouplers on Mg2+-dependent fluorescence quenching in isolated chloroplasts

Uncoupling concentrations (about 1 mol l^-1) of desaspidin or carbonyl cyanide-4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone reverse the slow light-induced, Mg²⁺-dependent quenching of fluorescence of chlorophyll a in isolated (intact and broken) spinach chloroplasts. Likewise, uncoupling inhibits the light-induced increase of the Mg²⁺ concentration in the stroma of intact chloroplasts, as determined with Eriochrome Blue SE. Addition of higher amounts of the uncouplers to the chloroplasts leads to a slow, light-dependent fluorescence lowering which appears to be promoted by high light intensities and is not reversed in the dark. The reversal of the fluorescence quenching by uncoupling is interpreted to reflect exchange of protons for Mg²⁺ ions at negative sites of the inner thylakoid face, caused by the collapse of the proton gradient across the membrane. The secondary fluorescence lowering caused by high levels of the uncouplers and high light intensities is suggested to be related to an inhibition of non-cyclic photosynthetic electron transport.Abbreviation FCCP carbonyl cyanide-4-trifluoromethoxyphenyl hydrazone     

Light-induced Mg2+ ATPase activity of coupling factor in intact chloroplasts.

Intense illumination isolated, intact, spinach chloroplasts triggers the well known proton-pumping Mg2+ ATPase activity of coupling factor, which can be assayed in subsequently lysed chloroplasts by monitoring ATP-driven quenching of 9-aminoacridine fluorescence. The light-triggered ATPase activity decays slowing in the dark and is inhibited by N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. After osmotic lysis and washing of the chloroplasts, preillumination no longer triggers maximal proton-pumping ATPase until methylviologen and dithiothreitol are added to the medium. It is suggested that intact organelles contain soluble or loosely bound cofactors necessary for light-triggering of coupling factor ATPase. On osmotic lysis, these endogenous cofactors are diluted or inactivated and must be replaced by addition of a dithiol reagent and an electron acceptor.