Nonpigment components of the photochlorophyllide photoactive complex: studies of low-temperature blue-green fluorescence spectra

Fluorescence spectra in the blue-green region and excitation fluorescence spectra of green wheat leaves, etiolated wheat leaves and isolated inner etioplast membranes (prolamellar bodies and prothylakoids) were compared to specify the structure of the active protochlorophyllide pigment-protein complex of inner etioplast membranes. Three bands in the blue region at 420, 443 and 470 nm and a broader green band at 525 nm were found. Comparison of the emission and excitation spectra suggests that the main components responsible for the blue fluorescence of etioplast inner membranes are pyridine nucleotides and pterins. The green fluorescence (525 nm) excitation spectra of etiolated samples were identical to the excitation spectrum of flavin fluorescence. The fact confirms the suggestion that flavins are the constituents of the active protochlorophyllide-protein complex.