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Inhibition of chlororespiration by myxothiazol and antimycin A in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

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Abstract

Myxothiazol and antimycin A are shown to suppress the oxygen transient previously attributed to the flash-induced inhibition of chlororespiration in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Peltier et al. 1987, Biochim Biophys Acta 893: 83–90). However, these two compounds do not affect the photosynthetic electron transport chain as inferred by the insensitivity of the CO2-dependent photosynthetic O2 evolution and of the flash-induced electrochromic effect. Chlorophyll fluorescence induction measurements carried out in dark-adapted cells of a mutant of Chlamydomonas lacking photosystem 1, show that myxothiazol and antimycin A significantly increase the redox state of the photosystem 2 acceptors. We conclude from these results that chlororespiration is inhibited by myxothiazol and antimycin A and that the site of inhibition is located on the dark oxidation pathway of the plastoquinone pool. This inhibition is interpreted through the involvement of a myxothiazol and antimycin A sensitive cytochrome in the chlororespiratory chain.

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Abbreviations

cyt:

cytochrome

PQ:

plastoquinone

PS:

photosystem

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de Physiologie Végétale et Ecosystèmes, Centre d'Etudes de Cadarache, 13108, Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France

    Jacques Ravenel & Gilles Peltier

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  1. Jacques Ravenel
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  2. Gilles Peltier
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Ravenel, J., Peltier, G. Inhibition of chlororespiration by myxothiazol and antimycin A in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . Photosynth Res 28, 141–148 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00054127

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00054127

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