Localization and Function of Cytochrome f in the Thylakoid Membrane

Abstract

Abstract A monospecific antiserum to cytochrome f agglutinates stroma-free swellable chloroplasts from tobacco and Antirrhinum. Consequently, antigenic determinants towards which the antiserum is directed are located in the outer surface of the thylakoid membrane. The antiserum inhibits linear photosynthetic electron transport. Just as described earlier for the antiserum to polypeptide 11000 this inhibition develops in the course of the light reaction. Ultrasonication in the presence of anti­ serum abolishes the light requirement and the maximal inhibition of the electron transport reaction is immediately observed. Electron transport in chloroplasts from a tobacco mutant which ex­ hibits only photosystem I-reactions is also inhibited by the antiserum. No time lag in the light for the onset of inhibition is observed with these chloroplasts. As chloroplasts of this mutant have only single unfolded thylakoids it appears that light might preponderantly open up partitions. If the light effect is interpreted in this way, cytochrome f should be located in the partition regions but nevertheless in the outer surface of the thylakoid membrane. However, a rearrangement of molecules in the membrane in the light by which the accessibility of cytochrome f is changed can­ not be excluded. The inhibition of linear electron transport by the antiserum is approximately 50 per cent and can only be increased to 75% upon the addition of antibodies to plastocyanin. The inhibition by the antiserum to cytochrome f as well as the combined inhibition by the antisera to cytochrome f and plastocyanin can be by-passed by DCPiP. It appears that cytochrome f and plastocyanin cannot be connected in series in the electron transport chain but are both closely associated in the thylakoid membrane. PMS-mediated cyclic photophosphorylation in chloroplasts from wild type tobacco and the tobacco mutant NC95 is only inhibited if the chloroplasts are sonicated in the presence of anti­ serum. If one disregards, that ultrasonication might cause reaction artifacts, it is thinkable that the cytochrome f, involved in the PMS-mediated cyclic photophosphorylation reaction, might be located inside the membrane.