Diurnal Fluctuations in the Content and Functional Properties of the Light Harvesting Chlorophyll a/b Complex in Thylakoid Membranes : Correlation with the Diurnal Rhythm of the mRNA Level

Diurnal fluctuations were observed in the content and some structural and functional properties of the light-harvesting chlorophyll (Chl) a/b pigment-protein complex of photosystem II (LHCII) in young developing wheat (Triticum aestivum) leaves grown under 16 hours light/8 hours dark illumination regime. The fluctuations could be correlated with the diurnal oscillation in the level of mRNA for LHCII. The most pronounced changes occurred in the basal segments of the leaves. They were weaker or hardly discernible in the middle and tip segments. As judged from the diurnal variations of the Chl-a/Chl-b molar ratio, the LHCII content of the thylakoid membranes peaked around 2 pm. This can be accounted for by the cumulative effect of the elevated level of mRNA in the morning and early afternoon. In the basal segment, the extent of the fluctuation in the LHCII content was approximately 25%, as determined from gel electrophoresis (“green gels”). The amplitude of the principal bands of the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of isolated chloroplasts paralleled the changes in the LHCII content. Our circular dichroism data suggest that the newly synthesized LHCII complexes are incorporated into the existing helically organized macrodomains of the pigment-protein complexes or themselves form such macrodomains in the thylakoid membranes. Chl-a fluorescence induction kinetics also showed diurnal variations especially in the basal segments of the leaves. This most likely indicates fluctuations in the ability of membranes to undergo “state transitions.” These observations suggest a physiological role of diurnal rhythm of mRNA for LHCII in young developing leaves.