The reconstitution of energy transfer in membranes from a bacteriochlorophyll-less mutant of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides by addition of light-harvesting and reaction centre pigment-protein complexes.

Antenna and reaction centre complexes purified from photosynthetically-grown cells of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides have been mixed with cytoplasmic membranes prepared from an aerobically-grown bacteriochlorophyll-less mutant of Rp. sphaeroides (designated 01) in the presence of 1% sodium cholate. After removal of the cholate by dislysis, the dislysate was subjected to isopycnic centrifugation. Reconstituted cytochrome c2 photooxidation and cytochrome b photoreduction was demonstrated in a pigmented fraction recovered from the sucrose gradient, suggesting that the pigment-proteins were incorporated into the 01 membrane. The fluorescence properties of the system were examined. The appearance of a variable component after the initial fast fluorescence rise indicated that energy transfer occurred between the antenna and reaction centre proteins in the presence of 01 membrane. The order in which the system was assembled was important. Reconstituted energy transfer with a pre-dialysed reaction centre-antenna complex was more effective than when all the components were mixed at once. Energy transfer was also reconstituted between added reaction centre protein and the endogenous antenna present in membranes from the pigmented, but aerobically-grown reaction centre-less mutant PM8dp of Rp. sphaeroides. Preparations of 01 membranes reconstituted with reaction centre exhibited a light intensity dependent cytochrome c2 photooxidation. At low exciting light intensities, preparations containing reconstituted antenna protein in addition to reaction centres showed greated membrane cytochrome c2 photooxidation than preparations with the antenna omitted; this improvement was maximal when a pre-dialysed antenna-reaction centre complex was used.     

A kinetic completion of the cyclic photosynthetic electron pathway of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides: Cytochrome b-cytochrome c2 oxidation-reduction

In Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides, following a single-turnover flash of light, cytochrome c₂ is oxidized by reaction center bacteriochlorophyll, and a cytochrome b is reduced by the primary electron acceptor, probably via ubiquinone. In this report we show that, in the uncoupled state, the rate of re-oxidation of the cytochrome b is identical to the rate of reduction of the cytochrome c₂, a kinetic completion of the cyclic photosynthetic electron transport system.     

The reaction of antimycin with a cytochrome b preparation active in reconstitution of the respiratory chain

1. Succinate-cytochrome c reductase activity was reconstituted by incubating a mixture of succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome c₁, ubiquinone-10, phospholipid and a preparation of cytochrome b, made by the method of .

2. Preparations of cytochrome b active in reconstitution contained 5–28% native cytochrome b, as adjudged by reducibility with succinate in the reconstituted preparation and by lack of reaction with CO. Preparations of cytochrome b containing no native cytochrome b according to this criterion were inactive in reconstitution.

3. With a fixed amount of cytochrome b, the activity of the reconstituted preparation increased with increasing amounts of cytochrome c₁ until a ratio of about 2b (total): 1c₁ (allowing for the cytochrome c₁ present in the cytochrome b preparation) was reached.

4. The amount of antimycin necessary for maximal inhibition of the reconstituted enzyme is a function of the amount of the cytochrome b and is independent of the amount of cytochrome c₁. It is equal to about one half the amount of native cytochrome b.

5. Preparations of intact or reconstituted succinate-cytochrome c reductase or of cytochrome b completely quench the fluorescence of added antimycin, until an amount of antimycin equal to onehalf the amount of native cytochrome b present was added. Antimycin added in excess of this amount fluoresces with normal intensity. The quenching is only partial in the presence of Na₂S₂O₄. Denatured cytochrome b does not quench the fluorescence.

6. Since preparations of cytochrome b active in reconstitution contained cytochrome c₁ in an amount exceeding one half the amount of native cytochrome b present in the preparation, there is no evidence that native cytochrome b has been resolved from cytochrome c₁. The stimulatory action of cytochrome c₁ may be due to the restoration of a damaged membrane conformation.

7. Based on the assumption that the bc₁ segment of the respiratory chain contains 2b:1c₁:1 antimycin-binding sites, the specific quenching of antimycin fluorescence by binding to cytochrome b enables an accurate determination of the absorbance coefficients of cytochromes b and c₁. These are 25.6 and 20.1 mM⁻¹×cm⁻¹ for the wavelength pairs 563–577 nm and 553–539 nm, respectively, in the difference spectrum reduced minus oxidized.     

Characterization of purified cytochrome c1 from Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26

Cytochrome c₁ from a photosynthetic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides R-26 has been purified to homogeneity. The purified protein contains 30 nmol heme per mg protein, has an isoelectric point of 5.7, and is soluble in aqueous solution in the absence of detergents. The apparent molecular weight of this protein is about 150 000, determined by Bio Gel A-0.5 m column chromatography; a minimum molecular weight of 30 000 is obtained by sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The absorption spectrum of this cytochrome is similar to that of mammalian cytochrome c₁, but the amino acid composition and circular dichroism spectral characteristics are different. The heme moiety of cytochrome c₁ is more exposed than is that of mammalian cytochrome c₁, but less exposed than that of cytochrome c₂. Ferricytochrome c₁ undergoes photoreduction upon illumination with light under anaerobic conditions. Such photoreduction is completely abolished when p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate is added to ferricytochrome c₁, suggesting that the sulfhydryl groups of cytochrome c₁ are the electron donors for photoreduction. Purified cytochrome c₁ contains 3 ± 0.1 mol of the p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonate titratable sulfhydryl groups per mol of protein. In contrast to mammalian cytochrome c₁, the bacterial protein does not form a stable complex with cytochrome c₂ or with mammalian cytochrome c at low ionic strength. Electron transfer between bacterial ferrocytochrome c₁ and bacterial ferricytochrome c₂, and between bacterial ferrocytochrome c₁ and mammalian ferricytochrome c proceeds rapidly with equilibrium constants of 49 and 3.5, respectively. The midpoint potential of purified cytochrome c₁ is calculated to be 228 mV, which is identical to that of mammalian cytochrome c₁.     

The incorporation of reaction centres into membranes from a bacteriochlorophyll-less mutant of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides.

Reaction centres purified from a blue-green mutant R-26 of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides can be incorporated into bacteriochlorophyll-less membranes purified from an aerobically-grown bacteriochlorophyll-less mutant 01 of R. sphaeroides. This can be accomplished by raising the temperature of the mixture or by addition of the detergent sodium cholate and its subsequent removal by dilution or dialysis. Optimum conditions for the reconstitution are at 4 degrees C in the presence of 1% cholate and soybean phospholipid (2 : 1, w/w, with membrane protein). Isopycnic sucrose density gradient centrifugation of such preparations shows that reaction centres and light-harvesting pigment-protein complex bind to the membranes. Reconstituted membranes exhibit light-induced steady-state cytochrome absorbance changes resembling those observed in chromatophores prepared from the photosynthetically-grown mutant R-26. The effect on these absorbance changes of varying reaction centre content in the membrane has been studied, and the time course of the interaction between 01 membrane cytochrome c2 and added reaction centre examined. Cytochrome b photoreduction and cytochrome c2 photo-oxidation were observed in the reconstituted preparation; each increased following the addition of antimycin A, suggesting that a cyclic light-driven system had been reconstituted.     

Physiological electron donors to the photochemical reaction center of Rhodobacter capsulatus

The nature and number of physiological electron donors to the photochemical reaction center of Rhodobacter capsulatus have been probed by deleting the genes for cytochromes c₁ and b of the cytochrome bc₁ complex, alone or in combination with deletion of the gene for cytochrome c₂. Deletion of cytochrome c₁ renders the organism incapable of photosynthetic growth, regardless of the presence or absence of cytochrome c₂, because in the absence of the bc₁ complex there is no cyclic electron transfer, nor any alternative source of electrons to rereduce the photochemically oxidized reaction center. While cytochrome c₂ is capable of reducing the reaction center, there appears no alternative route for its rereduction other than the bc₁ complex. The deletion of cytochromes c₁ and c₂ reveals previously unrecognized membrane-bound and soluble high potential c-type cytochromes, with E_m7 = + 312 mV and E_m6.5 = +316 mV, respectively. These cytochromes do not donate electrons to the reaction center, and their roles are unknown.     

Low-temperature spectral properties of the respiratory chain cytochromes of mitochondria from Crithidia fasciculata

Highly purified mitochondrial preparations from the trypanosomatid hemoflagellate, Crithidia fasciculata (A.T.C.C. No.11745), were examined by low-temperature difference spectroscopy. The cytochrome a+a₃ maximum of hypotonically-treated mitochondria reduced with succinate, was shifted from 605 nm at room temperature to 601 nm at 77 °K. The Soret maximum, found at 445 nm at 23 °C, was split at 77 °K into two approximately equally absorbing species with maxima at 438 and 444 nm. A prominent shoulder observed at 590 nm with hypotonically-treated mitochondria was not present in spectra of isotonic controls.

The cytochrome b maxima observed in the presence of succinate plus antimycin A were shifted from the 431 and 561 nm positions observed at 23 °C to 427 and 557 nm at 77 °K. Multiple b cytochromes were not apparent.

Unlike other soluble c-type cytochromes, the maximum of cytochrome c₅₅₅ was not shifted at 77 °K although it was split to give a 551 nm shoulder adjacent to the 555 nm maximum. This lack of a low-temperature blue shift was true for partially purified hemoprotein preparations as well as in situ in the mitochondrial membrane.

Using cytochrome c₅₅₅-depleted mitochondria, a cytochrome c₁ pigment was observed with a maximum at 420 nm and multiple maxima at 551, 556, and 560 nm. After extraction of non-covalently bound heme, the pyridine hemochromogen difference spectrum of cytochrome c₅₅₅-depleted preparations exhibited an maximum at 553 nm at room temperature.

The reduced rate of succinate oxidation by cytochrome c₅₅₅-depleted mitochondria and the ferricyanide requirement for the reoxidation of cytochrome c₁, even in the presence of antimycin, indicated that cytochrome c₅₅₅-mediated electron transfer between cytochromes c₁ and a+a₃ in a manner analagous to that of cytochrome c in mammalian mitochondria.     

The incorporation of reaction centres into membranes from a bacteriochlorophyll-less mutant of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides

Reaction centres purified from a blue-green mutant R-26 of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides can be incorporated into bacteriochlorophyll-less membranes purified from an aerobically-grown bacteriochlorophyll-less mutant 01 of R. sphaeroides. This can be accomplished by raising the temperature of the mixture or by addition of the detergent sodium cholate and its subsequent removal by dilution or dialysis. Optimum conditions for the reconstitution are at 4°C in the presence of 1% cholate and soybean phospholipid (2 : 1, w/w, with membrane protein). Isopycnic sucrose density gradient centrifugation of such preparations shows that reaction centres and light-harvesting pigment-protein complex bind to the membranes. Reconstituted membranes exhibit light-induced steady-state cytochrome absorbance changes resembling those observed in chromatophores prepared from the photosynthetically-grown mutant R-26. The effect on these absorbance changes of varying reaction centre content in the membrane has been studied, and the time course of the interaction between 01 membrane cytochrome c₂ and added reaction centre examined.Cytochrome b photoreduction and cytochrome c₂ photo-oxidation were observed in the reconstituted preparation; each increased following the addition of antimycin A, suggesting that a cyclic light-driven system had been reconstituted.     

Orientation of the hemes of high potential cytochromes relative to photosynthetic membranes, as shown by the linear dichroism of oriented preparations

The orientations of high potential cytochromes with respect to photosynthetic membranes was investigated in spinach chloroplasts and in Rhodopseudomonas viridis. The general approach consists in detection with polarized light of photoinduced absorbance changes related to the oxidation of the cytochromes. The orientation of cytochrome c-558 was measured at room temperature in chromatophores and whole cells of Rps. viridis, oriented on glass slides and in a magnetic field, respectively. The orientation of cytochrome b-559 of green plants was detected at 77 K in magnetically oriented chloroplasts. In both cases the dichroic ratio for the band shows that the heme plane makes an angle greater than 35°C with the membrane plane. Moreover, the dichroic ratio is not constant throughout the and β bands, for both cytochrome c-558 and b-559. Linear dichroism spectra of oriented pure horse heart cytochrome c and cytochrome c₂ of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides in stretched polyvinyl alcohol films show that the variations of the dichroic ratio in the and β bands can be explained by the occurrence of x- and y-polarized transitions absorbing at slightly different wavelengths.     

Cytochrome c1 and b-type cytochrome with two heme centers in the photosynthetic membranes from Rhodopseudomonas palustris

The photosynthetic membranes from Rhodopseudomonas palustris contained one species of membrane-bound c-type cytochrome, presumably cytochrome c₁, and a b-type cytochrome with two heme centers. The molecular weight and midpoint potential of cytochrome c₁ were 30000 and 275 mV, respectively. The peak of the reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectrum of cytochrome c₁ was at 552 nm. Molecular weight of the b-type cytochrome was 32000 and the cytochrome had two midpoint potentials of 60 mV and −55 mV. The peaks of the reduced-minus-oxidized difference spectra of the high and low midpoint potential heme centers were at 560 and 562 nm, respectively. These results suggested that there was a cytochrome b-c₁ complex in Rps. palustris.     

Further studies on the NADH oxidase of the cytoplasmic membrane of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The cytoplasmic membrane of the H₃₇Ra strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been isolated free of cell wall.

These membrane preparations contain very small quantities of cytochromes c, b and cytochrome oxidase. The cytochrome c is not extracted by any method attempted. The cytochrome b is reducible only by dithionite and is believed not to be involved in the direct transfer of electrons during the oxidation of NADH by these preparations. The NADH oxidase activity of the membrane is inhibited by high concentrations of cyanide and also by 2-(n-heptyl)-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HQNO). The cytochrome oxidase of the membrane contains both cytochromes a and a₃ and is present in low concentrations relative to cytochrome c. The cytochrome a₃ component was identified by characteristic complexes with both CO and cyanide and shows a γ-band absorption maximum at a slightly lower wavelength than the cytochrome oxidase of mammalian mitochondria (442 nm vs. 445 nm). The functional activity of the cytochrome oxidase is indicated by the inhibition of reoxidation of reduced cytochromes c and a in the presence of cyanide.     

Single and multiple turnover reactions in the ubiquinone-cytochrome b-c2 oxidoreductase of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. The physical chemistry of the major electron donor to cytochrome c2, and its coupled reactions

We have examined the thermodynamic properties of the physiological electron donor to ferricytochrome c₂ in chromatophores from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides. This donor (Z), which is capable of reducing the ferri-cytochrome with a halftime of 1–2 ms under optimal conditions, has an oxidation-reduction midpoint potential of close to 150 mV at pH 7.0, and apparently requires two electrons and two protons for its equilibrium reduction.

The state of reduction of Z, which may be a quinone · protein complex near the inner (cytochrome c₂) side of the membrane, appears to govern the rate at which the cyclic photosynthetic electron transport system can operate. If Z is oxidized prior to the flash-oxidation of cytochrome c₂, the re-reduction of the cytochrome takes hundreds of milliseconds and no third phase of the carotenoid bandshift occurs. In contrast if Z is reduced before flash activation, the cytochrome is rereduced within milliseconds and the third phase of the carotenoid bandshift occurs. The prior reduction of Z also has a dramatic effect on the uncoupler sensitivity of the rate of electron flow; if it is oxidized prior to activation, uncoupler can stimulate the cytochrome re-reduction after several turnovers by less than tenfold, but if it is reduced prior to activation, the stimulation after several turnovers can be as dramatic as a thousandfold. The results suggest that Z plays a central role in controlling electron and proton movements in the ubiquinone cytochrome b-c₂ oxido-reductase.     

Rhodobacter capsulatus MT113: A single mutation results in the absence of c-type cytochromes and in the absence of the cytochrome bc1 complex

MT113, a nonphotosynthetic mutant of Rhodobacter capsulatus previously characterized as lacking cytochrome c₂ is shown to lack also cytochrome c₁, the Rieske iron-sulfur cluster and the antimycin sensitive semiquinone Q_c, all components of the cytochrome bc₁ complex. Although MT113 contained b-type cytochromes and other iron-sulfur clusters at nearly wild-type level, it lacks c-type cytochromes. Based on antibody detection, c₂ apoprotein was absent in MT113, however the apoproteins corresponding to the cytochromes b and c₁ and the Rieske iron-sulfur cluster were present in reduced amounts. Genetic analysis indicated that the lesion appears to be due to a single mutation which is not localized in the structural genes of cytochrome c₂ or the bc₁ complex. These data taken together suggest that the pleiotropic mutation in MT113 might be related to the biosynthesis of c-type cytochromes.     

Shifts of bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoid absorption bands linked to cytochrome c-555 photooxidation in Chromatium

Shifts in the absorption bands of bacteriochlorophyll and carotenoids in Chromatium vinosum chromatophores were measured after short actinic flashes, under various conditions. The amplitude of the bacteriochlorophyll band shift correlated well with the amount of cytochrome c-555 that was oxidized by P₈₇₀⁺ after a flash. No bacteriochlorophyll band shift appeared to accompany the photooxidation of P₈₇₀ itself, nor the oxidation of cytochrome c-552 by P₈₇₀⁺. The carotenoid band shift also correlated with cytochrome c-555 photooxidation, although a comparatively small carotenoid shift did occur at high redox potentials that permitted only P₈₇₀ oxidation.

The results explain earlier observations on infrared absorbance changes that had suggested the existence of two different photochemical systems in Chromatium. A single photochemical system accounts for all of the absorbance changes.

Previous work has shown that the photooxidations of P₈₇₀ and cytochrome c-555 cause similar changes in the electrical charge on the chromatophore membrane. The specific association of the band shifts with cytochrome c-555 photooxidation therefore argues against interpretations of the band shifts based on a light-induced membrane potential.     

Electron transfer reactions of cytochrome c confined within erythrocyte ghosts

We have prepared and characterized resealed erythrocyte ghosts in which the only discernible pigment is cytochrome c. The resealed ghosts have the normal orientation and are free of ‘leaky’ species; they are stable and can be maintained at 4°C for many days without lysis.

The internal cytochrome c participates in redox reactions with both soluble and insolubilized cytochrome c present externally, and with external cytochrome b₅. No reaction was observed with plastocyanin, cytochrome c oxidase or NADPH-cytochrome c reductase.

A study has been made of the reaction of the internal cytochrome c with the low molecular weight reductants, ascorbate and glutathione. Complex kinetics are observed with both reagents: with ascorbate the results are best explained by assuming the existence, in the membrane, of a redox-active species able to undergo dedimerization. A protein bound disulfide bond would satisfy the requirement.     

The b-type cytochromes of bovine heart mitochondria: Absorption spectra, enzymatic properties, and distribution in the electron transfer complexes

1. 1. Three b-type cytochromes (b_557.5, b₅₆₀, and b_562.5), plus a chromophore with an absorption peak at 558 nm at 77 °K, have been found to be associated with the electron transport system of bovine heart mitochondria. The reduced minus oxidized spectra of these components at 77 °K, as well as that of cytochrome c₁, have been recorded with a wavelength accuracy of ± 0.1 nm and presented to the nearest 0.5 nm. All the major and β absorption peaks of cytochromes b_557.5, b₅₆₀, b_562.5, c₁ and c have been shown by fourth derivative analysis to be present in the dithionite-reduced minus oxidized spectra of mitochondria and submitochondrial particles.

2. 2. The distribution of the above components has been studied in the four electron transfer complexes of the respiratory chain. Cytochromes b₅₆₀, b_562.5 and c₁, as well as chromophore-558, were found to fractionate into Complex III (reduced ubiquinone-cytochrome c reductase), whereas cytochrome b_557.5 was found in Complex II (succinate-ubiquinone reductase).

3. 3. Cytochrome b₅₆₀ was readily reduced by NADH or succinate, but b_562.5 was not reduced by substrates unless the preparation was treated with antimycin A. In antimycin-treated preparations pre-reduction of c₁ with ascorbate inhibited the subsequent reduction of b_562.5 by substrates. These results indicate that b₅₆₀ and b_562.5 correspond, respectively, to b_K and b_T previously described by Chance et al.¹⁴ (1970, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 66, 1175–1182).

4. 4. Similar to b₅₆₀, chromophore-558 can be reduced by substrates in the absence or presence of antimycin A. However, in antimycin-treated preparations, pre-reduction of c₁ inhibits its subsequent reduction by substrates. This property is similar to that of b_562.5.

5. 5. Cytochrome b_557.5, which occurs in Complex II, appears to have a low mid-point potential. It can be reduced with dithionite and oxidized by fumarate or ubiquinone. CO treatment of dithionite-reduced b_557.5 neither modified the spectrum of this cytochrome nor diminished the extent of b_557.5 reoxidation by fumarate.

6. 6. Antimycin A treatment does not appear to alter the spectra of the above cytochromes. However, small amounts (< 4%) of ethanol or methanol, which are usually added to particles as solvent for antimycin A, have a pronounced effect on the peaks of cytochrome c₁. The spectrum of cytochrome c₁ at 77 °K as modified by 3% (v/v) ethanol is shown.

Mitochondrial respiratory chain of Tetrahymena pyriformis The properties of submitochondrial particles and the soluble b and c type pigments

Submitochondrial particles isolated from Tetrahymena pyriformis contain essentially the same redox carriers as those present in parental mitochondria: at pH 7.2 and 22 °C there are two b-type pigments with half-reduction potentials of −0.04 and −0.17 V, a c-type cytochrome with a half reduction potential of 0.215 V, and a two-component cytochrome a₂ with E_m7.2 of 0.245 and 0.345 V.

EPR spectra of the aerobic submitochondrial particles in the absence of substrate show the presence of low spin ferric hemes with g values at 3.4 and 3.0, a high spin ferric heme with g = 6, and a g = 2.0 signal characteristic of oxidized copper. In the reduced submitochondrial particles signals of various iron-sulfur centers are observed.

Cytochrome c₅₅₃ is lost from mitochondria during preparation of the submitochondrial particles. The partially purified cytochrome c₅₅₃ is a negatively charged protein at neutral pH with an E_m7.2 of 0.25 V which binds to the cytochrome c-depleted Tetrahymena mitochondria in the amount of 0.5 nmol/mg protein with a K_D of 0.8 · 10⁻⁶ M. Reduced cytochrome c₅₅₃ serves as an efficient substrate in the reaction with its own oxidase. The EPR spectrum of the partially purified cytochrome c₅₅₃ shows the presence of a low spin ferric heme with the dominant resonance signal at g = 3.28.

A pigment with an absorption maximum at 560 nm can be solubilized from the Tetrahymena cells with butanol. This pigments has a molecular weight of approx. 18 000, and E_m7.2 of −0.17 V and exhibits a high spin ferric heme signal at g = 6.     

Identification of cytochromes o and a3 as functional terminal oxidases in the thermophilic bacterium, PS3

Low-temperature photodissociation spectra of membranes from the thermophile PS3 reveal cytochromes o and a₃. The latter reacts with O₂ at −103°C to give a light-insensitive compound(s), but the initial stages of O₂ binding to cytochrome o could not be studied under these conditions. Photochemical action spectra identify cytochromes a₃ and o, but not a CO-binding c-type cytochrome, as functional terminal oxidases in this bacterium.     

Influence du pH sur la synthèse de l''oxidase (cytochrome a3) chez Bacillus coagulans, microorganisme thermophile, capable d'' “adaptation respiratoire”

In a new series of experiments on Bacillus coagulans (ATCC 11.369), it was demonstrated that this organism possesses a respiratory system with cytochromes b, c₁, c, (a+a₃) and also cytochrome o. A small decrease in the pH of the growth medium from 6.5 to 5.5 increases the respiratory activity by a factor of 4 and induces a variation of the absorption ratio [₆₀₃ (a+a₃)]/[₅₆₀ (b+c)] resulting in a preponderant increase in the ₆₀₃ absorption. The kinetic studies of the respiratory system synthesis during the phenomenon of “respiratory adaptation” have shown that lowering the pH of the adaption medium has the same effect. Spectral studies of membrane fractions (red dithionite) with or without carbon monoxide showed a preferential synthesis of oxidase a₃.     

The adaptation of the electron transfer chain of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata to different light intensities

(1) Cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata (wild-type) were grown photoheterotrophically in a turbidostat under very high and very low light intensity. Membranes were isolated from cells adapted to the respective light conditions and fractionated by sucrose density centrifugation. The molar ratios of ubiquinone and cytochromes c₂, c₁, b-561 and b-566 per reaction center were 3-fold to 5-fold higher in high-light than in low-light membranes. (2) Most of the Cyt(c₁ + c₂) and Cyt b-561 detected in dark redox titrations undergoes light-induced redox changes, both in high- and in low-light membranes. (3) The fractions of the total photooxidizable reaction center and Cyt(c₁ + c₂) oxidized under continuous light in the absence of antimycin are higher in membranes from low-light- than from high-light-grown cells. (4) From these data and results of kinetic studies it is proposed that cyclic electron flow under saturating light intensities is faster in high-light-grown cells.