The mobility of PSI and PQ molecules in Spirulina platensis cells during state transition

Abstract

Monomerization and trimerization of photosystem I (PSI) in cyanobacteria are reversible to response to light switched off and on, which leads to "energy spillover" to regulate excitation of the two photosystems in balance. Considering that PSI is a trans-membrane protein embedded in thylakoid membranes, the monomerization or trimerization must involve a movement of PSI in the membranes. In this work, the mobility of PSI was demonstrated by dependence of the monomerization and trimerization on temperature for intact Spirulina platensis cells undergoing a light-to-dark or a dark-to-light transition. Based on the characteristic absorbance of monomers and trimmers, it confirms that both monomerization and trimerization are temperature-sensitive. The relative populations of the monomers and trimmers are invariable above the phase transition temperature (T (PT)) while directly proportional to temperature below T (PT). On the other hand, the rate to reach the equilibrium population is proportional to temperature above T (PT) but invariable below T (PT). The PSI mobility and the temperature-dependent population are contrary to those of plastoquinone (PQ) molecules because PSI is a trans-membrane protein while PQ molecules are small diffusive electron carriers in thylakoid membranes as well as their distinctive sizes and environments. The less monomerization of PSI but the invariable time constant at lower temperature below T (PT) may be due to that accumulation of the reduced PQ molecules results in decrease of the stromal-side H(+) concentration which is a driving force of PSI monomerization.