Photoinactivation of Photosynthetic Electron Transport under Anaerobic and Aerobic Conditions in Isolated Thylakoids of Spinach

Abstract

Abstract The effect of exposure to strong white light on photosynthetic electron transport reactions of PS I and PS II were investigated in spinach thylakoids in the absence or presence of oxygen. Irrespective of the conditions used for photoinactivation, the damage to PS II was always much more than to PS I. Photoinactivation was severe under anaerobic conditions compared to that in air for the same duration. This shows that the presence of oxygen is required for prevention of photoinactivation of thylakoids. The susceptibility of water-splitting complex in photoinactivation is indicated by our data from experiments with chloride-deficient chloroplast membranes wherein it was observed that the whole chain electron transport from DPC to MV was much less photoinhibited than that from water. The data from the photoinactivation experiments with the Tris-treated thylakoids indicate another photodam age site at or near reaction centre of PS II. DCMU-protected PS II and oxygen-evolving complex from photoinactivation. DCMU protection can also be interpreted in terms of the stability of the PS II complex when it is in S2 state.