Distribution of light excitation in an intact leaf between the two photosystems of photosynthesis. Changes in absorption cross-sections following state 1-state 2 transitions

Abstract

Using the photoacoustic technique, state 1-state 2 transitions were studied in an intact leaf by direct monitoring of modulated oxygen evolution, excited by modulated light. States 1 and 2 were characterized by the extent of immediate enhancement of the modulated oxygen evolution — ‘Emerson enhancement’ — and the concomitant fluorescence quenching, resulting from the addition of continuous far-red light (greater than 700 nm), absorbed primarily in Photosystem I (light 1). The extent of Emerson enhancement as well as the saturation curve of this effect by far-red light are very sensitive and quantitative indicators for the ratio of light excitation distributed between Photosystems I and II. The enhancement ratios at 650 nm light, a typical light 2, were in a range 1.4–1.8 in state 1, while values as low as 1.06 were observed in state 2. During the transition from state 2 to state 1, monitored in presence of modulated light 2 and background continuous light 1, the modulated oxygen yield increased considerably, indicating a major increase in excitation flux into Photosystem II. Conversely, with modulated light 2 alone in state 1, the modulated oxygen evolution yield was smaller than in state 2, indicating a decrease of the excitation flux in Photosystem I. In a typical example, of the transition to state 1, the fraction of light absorbed by Photosystem II, β, increased from 0.46 to 0.64, while that absorbed by Photosystem II, α, decreased from 0.43 to 0.36. State 1-state 2 transitions, thus, reflect reciprocal changes in the cross-sections of the two photosystems for light absorption. There is no evidence for the operation of a ‘spill-over’ mechanism. The enhancement effect displayed maxima at 480 and 650 nm, related to chlorophyll- b absorption, as well as another band at 500–550 nm. In a chlorophyll- b-less barley mutant, state 1-state 2 transitions, as monitored by modulated oxygen evolution, were absent, and the resulting enhancement corresponded to state 2. These observations are consistent with the model that the light-harvesting chlorophyll- a b complex plays a role in regulating the distribution of light to the photosystems. It is probable that this complex migrates reversibly in the thylakoid membrane in such a way that it is mainly associated with Photosystem II in state 1, but is more evenly distributed in the two photosystems in state 2.