Correlation between monovalent cation-induced decreases in chlorophyll a fluorescence and chloroplast structural changes

Low concentrations (~ 3 mm) of salts of monovalent cations such as Na⁺, K⁺, and tetraethylammonium were found to decrease the turbidity of chloroplast suspensions. The turbidity changes (Δ₅₄₀) had the same kinetics, salt concentration dependence, and pH dependence as the monovalent cation-induced decreases in chlorophyll a fluorescence (9), suggesting that structural changes are the cause of the associated increases in spillover. Electron microscopy revealed that the grana are stacked when spillover is inhibited (in the absence of salts or the presence of divalent cations) and that monovalent cations cause the grana to unstack, thereby promoting spillover.