Thylakoid membrane model of the Chl a fluorescence transient and P700 induction kinetics in plant leaves.

Abstract

A new Thylakoid model is presented, which describes in detail the electron/proton transfer reactions between membrane protein complexes including photosystems II and I (PSII, PSI), cytochrome (Cyt) b 6 f, mobile plastoquinone PQ pool in the thylakoid membrane, plastocyanin in lumen and ferredoxin in stroma, reduction of NADP via FNR and cyclic electron transfer. The Thylakoid model parameters were fitted both to Chl fluorescence induction data (FI) and oxido-reductions of P700 (ΔA 810) measured from 20μs up to 20s in pea leaves. The two-wave kinetics of FI and ΔA 810 (O(JI)PSM and OABCDE) were described quantitatively, provided that the values of membrane electrochemical potential components ΔΨ(t), pHL(t)/pHS(t) are in physiologically relevant ranges. The time courses on the time scale from nanoseconds to tens of seconds of oxido-reduction changes of ET components as well as concentrations of proton/ions (K+, Cl-) were calculated. We assume a low constant FNR activity over this period. Charge movements across the thylakoid membrane by passive leakage and active ATPase transport and proton buffer reactions are simulated. The dynamics of charge fluxes during photosynthetic induction under low light (PFD 200μmol photons m-2s-1) were analyzed. The initial wave of P700 oxidation within 20ms during independent operation of PSI and PSII was followed after 50ms by PSI donor-side reduction from reduced PQ pool via Cyt b 6 f site. The Cyt b 6 f reactions contribute to the stabilization of fluxes in the time range 1s<t<10s. The detailed analysis of Chl a fluorescence at the PSM stage (t>10s) would need the investigation of FNR activation effect in order to explain the transitions between cyclic and linear electron transport.