Characteristics of the relative maximum in the decay of delayed light emission from Pothos leaf following far-red excitation

Following illumination with wavelengths longer than 700 nm, the intensity of light emission from Pothos aurea leaf falls for 1 min and then increases to a maximum after 2 min in the dark. The spectrum of this minute-range liminescence matches that of prompt fluorescence excited at the same wavelength, but differs from that of prompt or minute-range delayed emission excited by wavelengths shorter than 700 nm. This emission is less sensitive to heat damage than millisecond delayed emission, and may originate from photosystem I.     

Thermodynamics of the charge recombination in photosystem II

The temperature dependence of the electric field-induced chlorophyll luminescence in photosystem II was studied in Tris-washed, osmotically swollen spinach chloroplasts (blebs). The system II reaction centers were brought in the state Z⁺P⁺-Q_A ^-Q_B ^- by preillumination and the charge recombination to the state Z⁺PQ_AQ_B ^- was measured at various temperatures and electrical field strengths. It was found that the activation enthalpy of this back reaction was 0.16 eV in the absence of an electrical field and diminished with increasing field strength. It is argued that this energy is the enthalpy difference between the states IQ_A ^- and I^-Q_A and accounts for about half of the free energy difference between these states. The redox state of Q_B does not influence this free energy difference within 150 s after the photoreduction of Q_A. The consequences for the interpretation of thermodynamic properties of Q_A are discussed.Abbreviations DCMU 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - I intermediary electron acceptor - Mops 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulphonic acid - P (P₆₈₀) primary electron donor - PS II photosystem II - Q_A and Q_B first and second quinone electron acceptors - Tricine N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methylglycine - Tris tris-(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane - Z secondary electron donor Dedicated to Professor L.N.M. Duysens on the occasion of his retirement     

Different influences of cytochalasin B on the activation of human neurophils settled onto petri dishes displayed by simultaneously detected native and luminol-dependent luminescence

Cytochalasin B (CB) is known to interfere reversibly with the cytoplasmic contractile filamental network of mammalian cells. The role of the microfilament system in the mechanism of the reactive oxygen intermediates release of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) was studied for different kinds of stimuli. PMNL from fresh human blood were treated with CB and stimulated by adherence on plastic surfaces, by opsonized zymosan, by phorbol myristate acetate and by N-formylmethionyl-phenylalaline. The production of reactive oxygen species were monitored by simultaneous detection of native, luminol-independent, luminescence (NL) and luminol-dependent luminescence (LDL) using a method of spectral discrimination. Different influences of CB on NL with respect to LDL as well stimuli-dependent influences of CB on the luminescence response of PMNL were observed. Especially phagocytosis-associated activation of PMNL was strongly inhibited by CB, whereas LDL was reduced to a much greater extent in comparison with NL. A firm involvement of the microfilament system is indicated, but it depends on the kind of stimulus engaged.     

Effect of propagators and inhibitors on the ultraweak luminescence from maize roots

This study has investigated the kinetics and mechanism of ultraweak luminescence in maize roots. Mannitol induced the second maximum and enhanced the main maximum of the relative intensity of luminescence from the roots. Hydroquinone and quinone enhanced the relative intensity of the luminescence. Catalase enhanced the maximum of the luminescence and changed the kinetics of the light emission. The effect of catalase on the kinetics was abolished by superoxide dismutase. Ascorbate in the presence of catalase reduced the luminescence maximum, but did not alter the kinetics. In the presence of catalase only, or in the combination with superoxide dismutase, or ascorbate, the luminescence intensity in the stationary phase was significantly lower compared to the control. The results support the participation of superoxide-radical, singlet oxygen, electron transfer and the role of peroxidase in the reactions generating ultraweak luminescence in the roots. Ascorbate, catalase and superoxide dismutase have a protective role in the luminescent reactions.     

Halcyon days with Bill Arnold

The circumstances that led to the discovery that plants luminesce after they are illuminated are described, as are other discoveries that would not have been possible were it not for the fortuitous association I had with my dear and most admirable friend, W.A. Arnold, to whom this special issue is dedicated.     

Thermoluminescence from the photosynthetic apparatus

One of the fundamental discoveries of W. Arnold was the detection of thermally stimulated light emission from preilluminated photosynthetic material (Arnold and Sherwood (1957) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 43: 105–114). This phenomenon, called thermoluminescence (TL), is characteristic of a wide range of materials (semiconductors, minerals, inorganic and organic crystals, and complex biological systems such as the photosynthetic apparatus) which share the common ability of storing radiant energy in thermally stabilized trap states.The original discovery of TL in dried chloroplasts later proved to be a phenomenon common to all photosynthetic organisms: photosynthetic bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae and higher plants. Following the pioneering work of Arnold, considerable effort has been devoted to identification and characterization of photosynthetic TL components. This work has firmly established the participation of various redox states of the water-oxidizing complex and the quinone electron acceptors of Photosystem II in the generation of photosynthetic glow curves. Since TL characteristics are very sensitive to subtle changes in redox properties of the involved electron transport components, the TL method has become a powerful tool in probing a wide range of PS II redox reactions. In this paper, we will review the impact of Arnold's work in initiating and promoting TL studies in photosynthesis and will cover the most important developments of this field of research until the present day.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - DL delayed luminescence - PS photosystem - TL thermoluminescence     

On the use of the quenching of luminol luminescence to evaluate sod activity

Addition of horseradish peroxidase to a luminol solution (pH = 9.4) produces a burst of light followed by a steady luminescence that lasts for several minutes. This steady-state luminescence is readily quenched by SOD, with a concentration (the additive concentration needed to decrease by one-half the emitted luminescence intensity) of c.a. 4 ng/ml (14 mU/ml). The luminescence intensity decrease can then be employed to evaluate SOD activity in SOD-containing samples. However, the light intensity can also be quenched by additives, such as Trolox, that are able to trap luminol-derived intermediates. It is proposed that double quenching experiments must be performed in order to be able to relate the observed effect of an additive to its SOD-like activity.     

The role of the nicotinamide and adenine subsites in the negative co-operativity of coenzyme binding to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The interaction of 3-aminopyridine-adenine dinucleotide, an NAD ⁺ 2 analogue which is fluorescent at the pyridine end of the molecule, with rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was investigated. The fluorescence properties of the AAD⁺ molecule were used to monitor the nicotinamide subsites ou the GPDHase tetramer, the fluorescent aminopyridine moiety of the molecule serving as an intrinsic probe. Although the binding of AAD⁺ wag found to be negatively co-operative, no conformational changes induced at the nicotinamide subsite upon coenzyme binding were found to be transmitted to neighboring subunits. These findings, in conjunction with our earlier findings and with the observation that different NAD⁺ analogues which differ in the chemistry of the pyridine moiety bind with different extents of co-operativity, enable us to offer specific roles for the nicotinamide and the adenine subsites in generating the negative co-operativity.It is suggested that the structure of the pyridine moiety of the coenzyme controls the mode of binding of the pyridine moiety to the nicotinamide subsite. This, in turn, controls the orientation of the adenine moiety with respect to its subsite, thereby determining the mode of the interactions between the adenine and its binding domain. As the propagation of conformational changes caused by these interactions to neighboring subunits is believed to be the cause of the negative co-operativity exhibited by this enzyme towards coenzyme binding, the structure of the pyridine moiety controls this phenomenon.     

Extraction and analysis of superoxide free radicals (·O−2) from whole mammalian liver

Extraction of whole lobes of normal rat liver with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) under N₂ gives extracts which contain 5—10 μmol/l·O^?₂ (50-100 nmol·O^?₂ per 10 ml extract per 4 g liver; 1.25-2.50 nmol·O^?₂ per millilitre per gram liver). Evidence for ·O^?₂ in the extracts is given by: (1) electron spin resonance signals (ESR), (2) differential pulse polarography (DPP), (3) chemiluminescence (CL), and (4) nitroblue tetrazolium reduction (NBT). All tests yield results identical with those obtained with authentic ·O^?₂. Extraction of ·O^?₂ is enhanced by tetrabutyl ammonium ion, and is maximal at 1-3 min. These results raise the possibility that substantial amounts of ·O^?₂ are normally sequestered in protective membranous sites in vivo.     

CO2激光照射对青椒、茄子种子及幼苗生长点超弱发光影响的研究

本文利用ＣＯ２激光照射青椒、茄子干种子后,观察刺激剂量、半致死剂量对种子及幼苗生长点超弱发光的影响,从而探索超弱发光是否可作为激光照射后衡量种子活力综合反应的一项指标。其结果表明：１．青椒、茄子干种子超弱发光的动态变化随着照射间隔期的延长,其不同剂量之间超弱发光强度的差异也相应变小,照射时间最长的半致死剂量组２５″、３５″,其超弱发光由最高降为最低;激光刺激剂量组３″、１３″的超弱发光强度始终高于ＣＫ。２．青椒、茄子种子发芽过程中超弱发光表现为激光刺激剂量组均极显著高于ＣＫ;半致死剂量２５″、３５″均极显著低于ＣＫ。３．激光组的活体生长点和提取液的超弱发光均极显著高于ＣＫ;活体生长点的超弱发光低于提取液的超弱发光。