ESR characteristics of Photosystem I in deuterium oxide: Further evidence that electron acceptor A1 is a quinone

The appearance of ESR signals from Photosystem I (PS I) electron acceptors A₁ and A₀ in water or deuterium oxide suspension was followed using a low-temperature photoaccumulation technique. In deuterated samples the A₁ signal was narrowed by a factor of 0.66 compared with the control. This effect was fully reversible upon resuspension of treated samples in H₂O. The narrow ESR signal from deuterated A₁ had similar power saturation characteristics to the normal signal; however, a signal from a second component resolved by deuteration was saturated at higher microwave powers than the control. The power saturation behaviour of A⁻₁ in un-modified reaction centres indicated that it is an anionic semiquinone in a ‘protic’ environment. Deuteration reversibly modified the relative extents of reduction of iron sulphur electron acceptors A and B such that centre B became the more stable electron acceptor. The g-value and line-width of iron sulphur centre X was not modified by deuteration although it appeared to become more efficiently reduced. These results are discussed in the light of current evidence from optical, electron spin polarisation and extraction experiments that suggest that A₁ is a quinone, probably vitamin K-1.