Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The efficiency of electron transfer from QA − to the donor side of Photosystem II decreases during induction of photosynthesis: Evidences from chlorophyll fluorescence and photoacoustic techniques

  • Regular Paper
  • Published:
Photosynthesis Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The amplitudes ratio of the fast and slow phases (Afast/Aslow) in the kinetics of the dark relaxation of variable chlorophyll fluorescence (FV) was studied after various periods of illumination of dark-adapted primary barley leaves. Simultaneously, photosynthetic activity was monitored using the photoacoustic technique and the photochemical and non-photochemical fluorescence quenching parameters. The ratio Afast/Aslow changed with the preceding illumination time in a two-step manner. During the first stage of photosynthetic induction (0–20 s of illumination), characterized by a drop in O2-dependent photoacoustic signal following an initial spike and by a relatively stable small value of photochemical FV quenching, the ratio Afast/Aslow remained practically unaltered. During the second stage (20–60 s of illumination), when both the rate of O2 evolution and the photochemical FV quenching were found to be sharply developed, a marked increase in the above ratio was also observed. A linear correlation was found between the value of the photochemical quenching and the ratio Afast/Aslow during the second phase of photosynthetic induction. It is concluded that the slow phase appearing in the kinetics of FV dark relaxation is not due to the existence of Photosystem II reaction centres lacking the ability to reduce P700+ with high rates, but is instead related to the limitation of electron release from Photosystem I during the initial stage of the induction period of photosynthesis. This limitation keeps the intersystem electron carriers in the reduced state and thus increases the probability of back electron transfer from QA − to the donor side of Photosystem II.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Afast/Aslow :

the ratio of magnitudes between the fast and slow phases of dark relaxation of variable fluorescence

FO :

initial level of chlorophyll fluorescence

FV :

variable chlorophyll fluorescence (F-FO)

(FV)S :

the yield of variable chlorophyll fluorescence under saturating pulse in illuminated leaves

(FV)M :

the yield of variable chlorophyll fluorescence under saturating pulse in dark-adapted leaves

PA:

photoacoustic

PSI:

Photosystem I

PS II:

Photosystem II

qN:

non-photochemical quenching

qQ:

photochemical quenching

References

  • Bradbury M and Baker NR (1981) Analysis of the slow phases of the in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence induction curve. Changes in the redox state of Photosystem 2 electron acceptors and fluorescence emission from Photosystems 1 and 2. Biochim Biophys Acta 63: 542–551

    Google Scholar 

  • Briantais J-M, Vernotte C, Krause GH and Weiss E (1986) Chlorophyll fluorescence of higher plants: chloroplasts and leaves. In: Govindjee, Amesz J and Fork DJ (eds) Light Emission by Plants and Bacteria, pp 539–583. Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Bukhov NG, Mohanty P, Rakhimberdieva MG and Karapetyan NV (1992) Analysis of dark-relaxation kinetics of variable fluorescence in intact leaves. Planta 187: 122–127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buser CA, Diner BA and Brudvig GW (1992) Photooxidation of cytochrome b 559 in oxygen-evolving Photosystem II. Biochemistry 31: 11449–11459

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cao J and Govindjee (1990) Chlorophyll a fluorescence transients as an indicator of active and inactive Photosystem II in thylakoid membranes. Biochim Biophys Acta 1015: 180–188

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chylla RA and Whitmarsh J (1988) Observation of inactive Photosystem II reaction centers in vivo. Biophys J 53: 269a

  • Chylla RA and Whitmarsh J (1989) Inactive Photosystem II complexes in leaves. Turnover rate and quantitation. Plant Physiol 90: 765–772

    Google Scholar 

  • Chylla RA, Garab G and Whitmarsh J (1987) Evidence for slow turnover in a fraction of Photosystem II complexes in thylakoid membranes. Biochim Biophys Acta 894: 562–571

    Google Scholar 

  • Duysens LNM and Sweers HE (1963) Mechanism of two photochemical reaction in algae as studied by means of fluorescence. In: Miyachi S (ed) Studies on Microalgae and Photosynthetic Bacteria, pp 353–372. University of Tokyo Press, Tokio

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards G and Walker D (1983) C3, C4: Mechanisms and Cellular and Environmental Regulation of Photosynthesis. Blackwell, Oxford, Londond

    Google Scholar 

  • Forbush B and Kok B (1968) Reactions between primary and secondary electron acceptors of Photosystem II of photosynthesis. Biochim Biophys Acta 162: 243–253

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haehnel W (1984) Photosynthetic electron transport in higher plants. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 35: 659–693

    Google Scholar 

  • Hampp R, Goller M and Fullgraf M (1984) Determination of compartmented metabolic pools by a combination of rapid fraction-ation of oat mesophyll protoplasts and enzymic cycling. Plant Physiol 75: 1017–1021

    Google Scholar 

  • Harbinson J and Woodward FJ (1987) The use of light-induced absorbance changes at 820 nm to monitor the oxidation state of P-700 in leaves. Plant Cell Environ 10: 131–140

    Google Scholar 

  • Havaux M (1988) Induction of photosynthesis in intact leaves under normal and stressing conditions followed simultaneously by transients in chlorophyll fluorescence and photoacoustically monitored O2 evolution. Plant Phhsiol Biochem 26: 695–704

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath RL (1970) Kinetic studies of the fluorescence quenching in isolated chloroplasts. Biophys J 10: 1173–1180

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Joliot P, Joliot A, Bouges B and Barbieri G (1971) Studies on Photosystem II centers by comparative measurements of luminescence, fluorescence and oxygen evolution. Photochem Photobiol 14: 287–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Kautsky H and Hirsch A (1931) Neue Versuche zur Kohlensaureassimilation. Naturwissenschaften 19: 694–699

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause GH and Vernotte C, Briantais J-M (1982) Photoinduced quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in intact chloroplasts and algae. Resolution into two components. Biochim Biophys Acta 679: 116–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Krause GH and Weis E (1991) Chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthesis: The basis. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Mol Biol 42: 313–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laisk A, Oja V, Kiirats O, Rashke K and Heber U (1989) The state of photosynthetic apparatus in leaves as analysed by rapid gas exchange and optical methods: The pH of the chloroplast stroma and activation of enzymes in vivo. Planta 177: 350–358

    Google Scholar 

  • Laisk A, Oja V and Heber U (1992) Steady-state and induction kinetics of the photosynthetic electron transport related to donor side oxidation and acceptor side reduction of Photosystem 1 in sunflower leaves. Photosynthetica 27: 449–463

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee CB, Rees D and Horton P (1990) Non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence in the green alga Dunaliella. Photosynth Res 24: 167–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Leegood RC, Walker DA and Foyer CH (1985) Regulation of the Benson-Calvin Cycle. In: Barber J and Baker NR (eds) Photosynthetic Mechanisms and Environment, pp 189–258. Elsevier Biomedical Press, Amsterdam, New York, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Malkin S (1977) Delayed luminescence. In: Barber J (ed) Primary Processes in Photosynthesis, pp 349–432. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Malkin S (1987) Fast photoacoustic transients from dark-adapted intact leaves. Oxygen evolution and uptake pulses during photosynthetic induction, a phenomenology record. Planta 171: 65–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Malkin S and Canaani O (1994) The use and characteristics of the photoacoustic method in the study of photosynthesis. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 45: 493–526

    Google Scholar 

  • Melis A and Anderson JM (1983) Structural and functional organization of the Photosystems in spinach chloroplasts. Antenna size, relative electron transport capacity and chlorophyll composition. Biochim Biophys Acta 724: 473–484

    Google Scholar 

  • Melis A, Guenther JE, Morrissey PJ and Ghirardi ML (1988) Photosystem II heterogeneity in chloroplasts. In: Lichtenthaler HK (ed) Application of Chlorophyll Fluorescence, pp 33–34. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Poulet P, Cahen D and Malkin S (1983) Photoacoustic detection of photosynthetic oxygen evolution from leaves. Quantitative analysis by phase and amplitude measurements. Biochim Biophys Acta 724: 433–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Satoh K (1980) Mechanism of photoactivation of electron transport in intact Bryopsis chloroplasts. Plant Physiol 70: 1413–1416

    Google Scholar 

  • Shreiber U (1986) Detection of rapid induction kinetics with a new type of high-frequency modulated chlorophyll fluorometer. Photosynth Res 9: 261–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Stitt M, Wirtz W and Heldt HW (1980) Metabolite levels during induction in the chloroplasts and extrachloroplast compartments of spinach protoplasts. Biochim Biophys Acta 593: 85–102

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Velitchkova MY and Carpentier R (1994) Variable thermal dissipation in a Photosystem I submembrane fraction. Photosynth Res 40: 263–268

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters RG and Horton P (1991) Resolution of components of non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in barley leaves. Photosynth Res 27: 121–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Weis E and Berry JA (1987) Quantum efficiency of Photosystem II in relation to ‘energy’-dependent quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Biochim Biophys Acta 894: 198–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitmarsh J and Chylla RA (1990) Hypothesis: In leaves inactive PS II complexes are converted during illumination to an active form that drives an electron cycle and quenches fluorescence. Plant Physiol 93: 142

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Nikolai G. Bukhov

    Present address: K.A. Timiriazev Institute of Plant Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences, Botanicheskaya 35, 127276, Moscow, Russia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de recherche en photobiophysique, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, G9A 5H7, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada

    Nikolai G. Bukhov & Robert Carpentier

Authors
  1. Nikolai G. Bukhov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert Carpentier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bukhov, N.G., Carpentier, R. The efficiency of electron transfer from QA − to the donor side of Photosystem II decreases during induction of photosynthesis: Evidences from chlorophyll fluorescence and photoacoustic techniques. Photosynth Res 47, 13–20 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017749

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00017749

Key words

Search

Navigation