Analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea as a function of magnesium concentration and NADPH-activated light-harvesting chlorophyll ab-protein phosphorylation

The effect of Mg²⁺ concentration and phosphorylation of light-harvesting chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{b-}\text{protein}$ on various chlorophyll fluorescence induction parameters of isolated pea thylakoids has been studied. (1) Lowering the Mg²⁺ concentration from 3 to 0.4 mM decreases only the variable fluorescence (F_v) and the area above the induction curve while at the same time increasing the slow exponential component of the rise (β_max). (2) A further decrease in Mg²⁺ concentration from 0.4 to 0 mM decreases the initial (F₀) fluorescence level such that the ratio $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>v</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ increases slightly as does the area above the induction curve and β_max. (3) Thylakoid membranes, phosphorylated at 5 mM Mg²⁺, show an equal decrease in F_v and F₀, no change in the area above the induction curve and an increase in β_max. At 2 mM Mg²⁺, however, phosphorylation induced a more extensive quenching of F_v so that the $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>v</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}$ ratio was lowered and the area above the induction curve decreased while β_max increased. (4) When phosphorylated membranes were subsequently suspended in an Mg²⁺-free medium the effect on F₀ due to phosphorylation was found to be additive to that due to the absence of Mg²⁺. The effect of membrane phosphorylation on fluorescence is discussed in relation to the control of excitation energy distribution and shows that different mechanisms operate depending on the background Mg²⁺ levels. At high Mg²⁺ the phosphorylation seems to affect the absorption cross-section of Photosystem II while at lower Mg²⁺ levels there is an additional effect of increased spillover from Photosystem II to I.     

Characterization of chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in chloroplasts by fluorescence spectroscopy at 77 K II. ATP-dependent quenching

In intact, uncoupled type B chloroplasts from spinach, added ATP causes a slow light-induced decline ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{≈ 3}\text{min}$) of chlorophyll a fluorescence at room temperature. Fluorescence spectra were recorded after fast cooling to 77 K and normalized with fluorescein as an internal standard. Related to the fluorescence quenching at room temperature, an increase in Photosystem (PS) I fluorescence (F₇₃₅) and a decrease in PS II fluorescence (F₆₉₅) were observed in the low-temperature spectra. The change in the $\text{F}{}_{735}\text{F}{}_{695}$ ratio was abolished by the presence of methyl viologen. Fluorescence induction at 77 K of chloroplasts frozen in the quenched state showed lowered variable (F_v) and initial (F₀) fluorescence at 690 nm and an increase in F₀ at 735 nm. The results are interpreted as indicating an ATP-dependent change of the initial distribution of excitation energy in favor of PS I, which is controlled by the redox state of the electron-transport chain and, according to current theories, is caused by phosphorylation of the light-harvesting complex.     

The effect of redox potential on the kinetics of fluorescence induction in Photosystem II particles from Phormidium laminosum. Sigmoidicity,energy transfer and the slow phase

Fluorescence induction curves in 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU)-inhibited Photosystem (PS) II particles isolated from the blue-green alga Phormidium laminosum have been analysed as a function of redox potential. Redox titration of the initial fluorescence indicated a single component with E_m,7.5 = +30 mV (n = 1) (Bowes, J., Horton, P. and Bendall, D.S. (1981) FEBS Lett. 135, 261–264). Despite this simplified electron acceptor system and the small number of chlorophylls per reaction centre, a sigmoidal induction curve was nevertheless seen. Sigmoidicity decreased as Q was reduced potentiometrically prior to induction such that the induction was exponential when the ratio $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>i</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>m</mtext>}}\text{= 0.64}$. These particles also showed a slow (β) phase of induction which titrated with an E_m value slightly more positive than that of the major quencher. It is concluded that the sigmoidal shape of the fluorescence induction curve observed in Phormidium PS II particles is not a consequence of a requirement for two photons to close the PS II reaction centre, but is generated as a result of energy transfer between photosynthetic units comprising one reaction centre per approx. 50 chlorophylls. Also, the existence of PS II heterogeneity (PS II_α, PS II_β centres) does not require a structurally differentiated chloroplast, but may only indicate the extent of aggregation of PS II centres.     

Quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence and primary photochemistry in chloroplasts by dibromothymoquinone

The quenching action of dibromothymoquinone on fluorescence and on primary photochemistry was examined in chloroplasts at ?196 °C. Both the initial (F₀) and final (F_M) levels of fluorescence as well as the fluorescence of variable yield (F_v = F_M ? F₀) were quenched at ?196 °C to a degree which depended on the concentration of dibromothymoquinone added prior to freezing. The initial rate of photoreduction of C-550 at — 196 °C, which was assumed to be proportional to maximum yield for primary photochemistry, ?_Po, was also decreased in the presence of dibromothymoquinone. Simple theory predicts that the ratio $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>V</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>M</mtext>}}$ should equal ?_Po. Excellent agreement was found in a comparison of relative values of ?_Po with relative values of $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>V</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>M</mtext>}}$ at various degrees of quenching by dibromothymoquinone. These results are taken to indicate that F₀ and F_V are the same type of fluorescence, both emanating from the bulk chlorophyll of Photosystem II.Dibromothymoquinone appears to create quenching centers in the bulk chlorophyll of Photosystem II which compete with the reaction centers for excitation energy. The rate constant for the quenching of excitation energy by dibromothymoquinone is directly proportional to the concentration of the quencher. Rate constants for the de-excitation of excited chlorophyll molecules by fluorescence, k_F, by nonradiative decay processes, k_D, by photochemistry, k_P, and by the specific quenching of dibromothymoquinone, k_Q, were calculated assuming the absolute yield of fluorescence at F₀ to be either 0.02 or 0.05.     

Characterization of chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in chloroplasts by fluorescence spectroscopy at 77 K I. ΔpH-dependent quenching

The nature of the light-induced ΔpH-dependent decline of chlorophyll a fluorescence in intact and broken spinach chloroplasts was investigated. Fluorescence spectra at 77 K of chloroplasts frozen in the low-fluorescent (high ΔpH) state showed increased ratios of the band peak at 735 nm (Photosystem (PS) I fluorescence) to the peak at 695 nm (PS II fluorescence). The increase in the $\text{F}{}_{735}\text{F}{}_{695}$ ratio at 77 K was related to the extent of fluorescence quenching at room temperature. Normalization of low-temperature spectra with fluorescein as an internal standard revealed a lowering of F₆₉₅ that was not accompanied by an increase in F₇₃₅: preillumination before freezing decreased both F₆₉₅ and, to a lesser extent, F₇₃₅ in the spectra recorded at 77 K. Fluorescence induction of chloroplasts frozen in the low-fluorescent state showed a markedly decreased variable fluorescence (F_v) of PS II, but no concomitant increase in initial fluorescence (F₀) of PS I. Thus, the buildup of a proton gradient at the thylakoid membrane, as reflected by fluorescence quenching at room temperature, affects low-temperature fluorecence emission in a manner entirely different from the effect of removal of Mg²⁺, which is thought to alter the distribution of excitation energy in favor of PS I. The ΔpH-dependent quenching therefore cannot be caused by such change in energy distribution and is suggested to reflect increased thermal deactivation.     

Modifications of redox equilibria with semiquinone stabilization upon pyruvate binding to L-lactate cytochrome c oxidoreductase (flavocytochrome b2)

Spectral redox titrations of flavin and cytochrome b₂ moieties of flavocytochrome b₂ were achieved in the absence and in the presence of pyruvate under equilibrium conditions at 18° C; direct measurements of spin flavosemiquinone proportions have been carried out by EPR determinations at the same temperature. Our results show that the equilibria involving flavin are largely affected by the presence of pyruvate; the semiquinone proportion markedly increases almost till unit near half-reduction of cytochrome b₂; at 10 mM pyruvate, the dismutation constant, $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{dism}}\text{=}\text{(}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{s}}\text{)}{}^2\text{(}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{)}{}^1\text{(}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{)}$ increases by a factor ≥ 10.     

Development of the photosystem II unit in plastids of bean leaves greened in periodic light

The photosystem II (PS II) unit formation and development, as monitored by the kinetics of the fluorescence induction, was studied in greening protochloroplasts isolated from etiolated bean leaves exposed to periodic light-dark cycles (LDC). It was found that: (i) The protochloroplasts show the well-known biphasic induction. The $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>MAX</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$ ratio increases with increasing exposure to LDC, and values almost twice as high as those of mature chloroplasts are reached. The fluorescence yield increases still more by the addition of NH₂OH. (ii) The ratio ($\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>MAX</mtext>}}\text{-F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}\text{)}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>MAX</mtext>}}$, representing the yield of primary photochemistry, reaches values much higher than those of mature chloroplasts. (iii) The rate of fluorescence rise, in the presence or absence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-di-methylurea (DCMU), is at least seven times slower than that of mature chloroplasts, and it remains constant during exposure to LDC. (iv) The shape of the fluorescence kinetics is exponential early during exposure to LDC but later it becomes sigmoidal, indicating the development of energy transfer between PS II units, (v) Dark incubation after a number of LDC increases the $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>MAX</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$ ratio without changing the rate of the fluorescence rise, (vi) Transfer of the plants from LDC to continuous illumination induces a decrease in the $\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>MAX</mtext>}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>O</mtext>}}$ ratio and an increase in the rate of the fluorescence rise. The results indicate that initially small PS II units are formed, which contain mainly the reaction center with a few chlorophyll a molecules closely packed around it. At the same time H₂O-splitting enzymes are synthesized which, however, are light activated. These small units are very efficient for photochemistry. As the number of small units increases, aggregates are formed, which seem to have the reaction centers very close to each other. The aggregation of the units is controlled by the structural development and organization of the membrane and not by the concentration and type of chlorophyll. The excess chlorophyll formed after further exposure to continuous illumination is inserted into preexisting units, thus increasing their size and making them more efficient in absorbing the incident light.     

Heterozygote frequencies in small subpopulations.

The mean fixation index within subpopulations (F_IS) has been defined as $\text{F}\text{̄}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}\text{= ∑w}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{ISi}}\text{or as}\text{F}\text{̂}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}\text{=}\text{∑w}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{q}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{ISi}}\text{∑w}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{p}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{q}{}_{\mathrm{i}}$. The latter definition is preferred because it can be obtained from the two other fixation indices, F_ST and F_IT and because it is unaffected by the mean gene frequency. The expected frequency of heterozygotes in small subpopulations of dioecious organisms will exceed Hardy-Weinberg expectations and this can be measured by $\text{F}\text{̂}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}$. In an isolated subpopulation of constant variance effective size $\text{N,}\text{F}\text{̂}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}$ rapidly tends to $\text{1 − 4N}{}^2\text{(N − 1 + [N}{}^2\text{+ 1]}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{)}{}^2$. In the Island model of population structure, $\text{F}\text{̂}{}_{\mathrm{IS}}$ is approximately $\text{−(1 − m)}\text{N}\text{where}\text{m}$ is the immigration rate.When a sample is drawn from a natural population, the observed F_IS will depend upon the genetic structure of the population. The values of F_IS expected in three different types of population structure are discussed.     

The reconstitution of a Photosystem II protein complex, P-700-chlorophyll a-protein complex and light-harvesting chlorophyll ab-protein

A Photosystem II reaction centre protein complex was extracted from spinach chloroplasts using digitonin. This complex showed (i) high rates of dichloroindophenol and ferricyanide reduction in the presence of suitable donors, (ii) low-temperature fluorescence at 685 nm with a variable shoulder at 695 nm which increased as the complex aggregated due to depletion of digitonin and (iii) four major polypeptides of 47, 39, 31 and 6 kDa on dissociating polyacrylamide gels. The Photosystem II protein complex, together woth the P-700-chlorophylla protein complex and light-harvesting chlorophyll $\text{a}\text{b-}\text{protein}$ complex (LHCP) also isolated using digitonin, were reconstituted with lipids from spinach chloroplasts to form proteoliposomes. The low-temperature (77 K) fluorescence properties of the various proteoliposomes were analysed. The $\text{F}{}_{685}\text{F}{}_{695}$ ratios of the Photosystem II reaction centre protein complex-liposomes decreased as the lipid to protein ratios were increased. The $\text{F}{}_{681}\text{F}{}_{697}$ ratios of LHCP-liposomes were found to behave similarly. Light excitation of chlorophyll b at 475 nm stimulated emission from both the Photosystem II protein complex (F₆₈₅ and F₆₉₅) and the P-700-chlorophyll a-protein complex (F₇₃₅) when LHCP was reconstituted with either of these complexes, demonstrating energy transfer between LHCP and PS I or II complexes in liposomes. No evidence was found for energy transfer from the PS II complex to the P-700-chlorophyll a-protein complex reconstituted in the same proteoliposome preparation. Proteoliposome preparations containing all three chlorophyll-protein complexes showed fluorescence emission at 685, 700 and 735 nm.     

Studies of the nucleotide-binding sites on the mitochondrial F1-ATPase through the use of a photoactivable derivative of adenylyl imidodiphosphate

(1) $\text{N-4-}\text{Azido}\text{-2-}\text{nitrophenyl}\text{-γ-[}{}^3\text{H]aminobutyryl-Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P(}\text{NAP}{}_4\text{-}\text{Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P)}$ a photoactivable derivative of 5-adenylyl imidodiphosphate (AdoPP[NH]P), was synthesized. (2) Binding of ³H]NAP₄-AdoPP[NH]P to soluble ATPase from beef heart mitochrondria (F₁) was studied in the absence of photoirradiation, and compared to that of $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P}$. The photoactivable derivative of AdoPP[NH]P was found to bind to F₁ with high affinity, like AdoPP[NH]P. Once $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]NAP}{}_4\text{-}\text{Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P}$ had bound to F₁ in the dark, it could be released by AdoPP[NH]P, ADP and ATP, but not at all by NAP₄ or AMP. Furthermore, preincubation of F₁ with unlabeled AdoPP[NH]P, ADP, or ATP prevented the covalent labeling of the enzyme by $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]NAP}{}_4\text{-}\text{Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P}$ upon photoirradiation. (3) Photoirradiation of F₁ by $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]NAP}{}_4\text{-}\text{Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P}$ resulted in covalent photolabeling and concomitant inactivation of the enzyme. Full inactivation corresponded to the binding of about 2 mol $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]NAP}{}_4\text{-}\text{Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P}\text{mol F}{}_1$. Photolabeling by NAP₄-AdoPP[NH]P was much more efficient in the presence than in the absence of MgCl₂. (4) Bound $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]NAP}{}_4\text{-}\text{Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P}$ was localized on the α- and β-subunits of F₁. At low concentrations (less than 10 μM), bound $\text{[}{}^3\text{H]NAP}{}_4\text{-}\text{Ado}\text{PP[}\text{NH}\text{]P}$ was predominantly localized on the α-subunit; at concentrations equal to, or greater than 75 μM, both α- and β-subunits were equally labeled. (5) The extent of inactivation was independent of the nature of the photolabeled subunit (α or β), suggesting that each of the two subunits, α and β, is required for the activity of F₁. (6) The covalently photolabeled F₁ was able to form a complex with aurovertin, as does native F₁. The ADP-induced fluorescence enhancement was more severely inhibited than the fluorescence quenching caused by ATP. The percentage of inactivation of F₁ was virtually the same as the percentage of inhibition of the ATP-induced fluorescence quenching, suggesting that fluorescence quenching is related to the binding of ATP to the catalytic site of F₁.     

Connection between the rate of cooling and fluorescence properties at 77 K of isolated chloroplasts

Cooling of chloroplasts to ?196°C can under certain circumstances lead to an erroneous analysis of energy distribution. After minimizing influences of sample geometry and effects of plastid concentration it is shown that externally induced membrane change leads to an increase in the ratio $\text{F}{}_{740}\text{F}{}_{687}$ of the fluorescence emission spectrum. Similar alterations can be observed by variation of the rate of cooling the plastids to 77 K, especially if whole chloroplasts are used. The differences in emission ratios are indicative also of changes in initial energy distribution between the photosystems, given here by the value α_N. This is inferred from experiments with either osmotically induced thylakoid disturbances or those effected through a slow cooling process. The circumstances and the significance of these observations are discussed.     

Anomerization of glucose 6-phosphate: catalysis by phosphoglucose isomerase.

The anomerase (1-epimerase) activity of phosphoglucose isomerase (d-glucose 6-phosphate ketol-isomerase EC 5.3.1.9) has been studied. The pH-V_max profile, assayed by two different methods, shows a dependence on two ionizable groups in the enzyme with pK values of 7.0 and 9.3 at 0 °C. Additionally, an unusual reversal of the basic leg of the normal profile to yield a large increase in V_max is observed above pH 9.5. Deuterium solvent isotope effects of are observed for isomerase and anomerase activities respectively. An anomerase mechanism similar to noncatalyzed anomerization is postulated with a discussion of the catalytic groups involved.     

Bovine fibrinogens: Reversible polymer formation

Reversible flbrinogen polymer formation was examined at pH 6.6 and Γ/2 0.3. The equilibrium fraction of fibrinogen present as polymer, (P_mf)_e, was determined by gel filtration for fibrinogen concentrations, F_O, from 48 to 166 μm. Using F_O in molarity, the experimental relation is ln [F_O(P_mf)_e] = 3.53 ln[F_O(1 ? (P_mf)_e)] + 23.73. This relation and attendant confidence limits are examined assuming, during filtration, that the original polymer population is either stable or selected polymer species dissociate to monomer. The possibility that all polymers are open is excluded since the calculated microscopic association constant would then increase with F_O. Acceptable models are based on the assumptions that polymers are open, with association constant K_a, until restricted by closure, with association constant K_r, at an integral degree of polymerization, n. Values are selected on the basis that interaction parameters are independent of F_O and that the required molar decrease in free energy is a minimum. Assuming polymer stability, the experimental relation at 273 °K gives $\text{n = 4,}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{a}}\text{= 1.2 m,}\text{and}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{a}}$ = 736 m^?1. Temperature dependence gives $\text{ΔH= ?16.9 kcal/mol}\text{and}\text{ΔS}{}^{\mathrm{O}}{}_{\mathrm{a}}$ = ?48.8 e.u. $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{a}}$ indicates a relation between changes in entropy. The probability is >0.90 that $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{r}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{a}}\text{? 56 m}$, which indicates a greater loss of degrees of freedom on closure than on association. Conclusions are not altered by the assumption that only the closed polymer species is stable. As ionic strength is decreased at pH 6.6, K_a increases. The clotting time of an otherwise constant system decreases as system P_mf is increased.     

Single-electron transfer from NADH analogues to singlet oxygen

Laser flash photolysis techniques have yielded rate constants for physical and reactive quenching modes of $\text{O}{}_2\text{(}{}^1\text{Δ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>g</mtext>}}\text{)}$ by nicotine, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (oxidized and reduced forms) and the reduced forms of nicotinamide mononucleotide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and nicotinamide hypoxanthine dinucleotide. In the case of the last four named compounds, kinetic spectroscopy furnished evidence for one-electron transfers to $\text{O}{}_2\text{(}{}^1\text{Δ}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>g</mtext>}}\text{)}$. Specifically, production of O^?₂ was demonstrated unequivocally by reaction with 1,4-benzoquinone. Quantitative determinations revealed the extent of reactive quenching to be near 60% in each case.     

pH kinetic studies of the N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylaniline catalyzed by chloroperoxidase

The effect of pH on the kinetic parameters for the chloroperoxidase-catalyzed N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylaniline supported by ethyl hydroperoxide was investigated from pH 3.0 to 7.0. Chloroperoxidase was found to be stable throughout the pH range studied. Initial rate conditions were determined throughout the pH range. The V_max for the demethylation reaction exhibited a pH optimum at approximately 4.5. The K_m for N,N-dimethylaniline increased with decreasing pH, while the K_m for ethyl hydroperoxide varied in a manner paralleling V_max. Comparison of the $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>max</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ values for N,N-dimethylaniline and ethyl hydroperoxide indicated that the interaction of N,N-dimethylaniline with chloroperoxidase compound I was rate-limiting below pH 4.5, while compound I formation was rate-limiting above pH 4.5. The log of the $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>max</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ for ethyl hydroperoxide was independent of pH, indicating that chloroperoxidase compound I formation is not affected by ionizations in this pH range. The plot of the log of the $\text{V}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>max</mtext>}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{m}}$ for N,N-dimethylaniline versus pH indicated an ionization on compound I with a pK of approximately 6.8. The plot of the log of the V_max versus pH indicated an ionization on the compound I-N,N-dimethylaniline complex, with a pK of approximately 3.1. The results show that chloroperoxidase can demethylate both the protonated and neutral forms of N,N-dimethylaniline (pK approximately 5.0), suggesting that hydrophobic binding of the arylamine substrate is more important in catalysis than ionic bonding of the amine moiety. For optimal catalysis, a residue in the chloroperoxidase compound I-N,N-dimethylaniline complex with a pK of approximately 3.1 must be deprotonated, while a residue in compound I with a pK of approximately 6.8 must be protonated.     

Inhibition of chymotrypsin by alkyl phosphonates: a quantitative structure-activity analysis.

A quantitative structure-activity relationship has been formulated for 53 alkyl phosphonates [R₂OPO(CH₃)SR₃] inhibiting chymotrypsin: . In this so-called bilinear model, k_i is the bimolecular rate constant (m^?1 s^?1), β is a disposable parameter evaluated by a computerized iterative procedure, MR is the molar refractivity of a substituent, $\text{σ}{}_3{}^1$ is Taft's polar parameter, and I is an indicator variable for substituents containing a sulfonium group. The correlation coefficient for this equation is 0.985. This quantitative structure-activity relationship is compared with those previously formulated for the action of chymotrypsin on acylamino acid ester substrates.     

Magnetic field affects the fluorescence yield in reaction center preparations from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides R-26

Purified photochemical reaction centers from Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides R-26 were reduced with Na₂S₂O₄ so as to block their photochemical electron-transfer reactions. The magnetic field induced an increase in the emission yield. Our results support the hypothesis that under these conditions, charge recombination in the singlet radical pair composed of the oxidized primary donor and reduced primary acceptor predominantly generates the excited singlet state of the reaction center bacteriochlorophyll.The maximum relative fluorescence change and the value of the magnetic field at which half-saturation of the effect is achieved ($\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$) at room temperature are 5.5% and 75 G, respectively. For the whole cells of Rps. sphaeroides R-26 these parameters are 1.2% and 120 G.The relative fluorescence change at 600 G, $\text{ΔF}\text{F(600)}$, and $\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ are studied as functions of temperature. The temperature dependencies of $\text{ΔF}\text{F(600)}$ for reaction centers and whole cells of Rps. sphaeroides R-26 are qualitatively the same, with the maximum effect (8% for reaction centers) occurring at 230 K. However, the $\text{B}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ curves for the two preparations are different.     

Graphic method for determination of allosteric constants

The maximum slope of the plot, appearing in the paper of Watari & Isogai (1976), was derived algebraically as a function of allosteric constants c and α_mor β_m (= cα_m), and the relation between L, c, and α_mor β_m, was also obtained, where $\text{L =}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{R}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{, c =}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{R}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{T}}\text{, α}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{=}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{R}}\text{, β}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{=}\text{F}{}_{\mathrm{m}}\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{T}}\text{, R}{}_{\mathrm{o}}\text{and}\text{T}{}_{\mathrm{o}}$ are concentrations of unligated R and T states respectively, K_Rand K_T are microscopic dissociation constants, and F_m is the ligand concentration at the maximum slope of the plot. When the maximum slope is increased by one, the value becomes Hill constant, n. Nomographs which enable easier estimation of allosteric constants, L and c, were constructed from the two given values, the maximum slope of the plot, n ? 1, and α_mor β_m, in the cases where the maximum number of ligands, N, was 2 and 4. In the nomograph, log c is plotted against log L²c^N keeping the value of the maximum slope of the plot and that of α_mor β_m constant. These nomographs show that the representation is symmetrical in the cases of L²c^N > 1 and L²c^N < 1.