Participation of ferredoxin in oxygen reduction by the photosynthetic electron transport chain

Oxygen reduction by isolated pea thylakoids was studied in the presence of ferredoxin (Fd), Fd + NADP, and cytochrome c. At Fd concentrations optimal for NADP reduction, it contributed 30–50% of the reducing equivalents (as deduced by comparing the rates of oxygen reduction and light oxidation of reduced Fd). The oxygen reduction rate in the presence of Fd + NADP was 3–4 times lower than with Fd alone, and comparable to that with cyt c. It is supposed that the process involves a photosystem I component whose reaction with oxygen depends on the rate of electron efflux from the PS I terminal acceptors, and that this component is phylloquinone.