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State 1-State 2 transitions in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6301 are controlled by the redox state of electron carriers between Photosystems I and II

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Abstract

The mechanism by which state 1-state 2 transitions in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6301 are controlled was investigated by examining the effects of a variety of chemical and illumination treatments which modify the redox state of the plastoquinone pool. The extent to which these treatments modify excitation energy distribution was determined by 77K fluorescence emission spectroscopy. It was found that treatment which lead to the oxidation of the plastoquinone pool induce a shift towards state 1 whereas treatments which lead to the reduction of the plastoquinone pool induce a shift towards state 2. We therefore propose that state transitions in cyanobacteria are triggered by changes in the redox state of plastoquinone or a closely associated electron carrier. Alternative proposals have included control by the extent of cyclic electron transport around PS I and control by localised electrochemical gradients around PS I and PS II. Neither of these proposals is consistent with the results reported here.

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Abbreviations

DBMIB:

2,5-dibromo-3methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone

Chl:

chlorophyll

DCMU:

3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea

DQH2 :

duroquinol (tetramethyl-p-hydroquinone)

LHC II:

light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein of PS II

Light 1:

light predominantly exciting PS I

Light 2:

light predominantly exciting PS II

M.V.:

methyl viologen

PS:

photosystem

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT, Leeds, UK

    John F. Allen

  2. Max-Planck-Institut für Strahlenchemie, Stiftstr, 34–36, D-4330, Mülheim an der Ruhr, FRG

    Conrad W. Mullineaux

Authors
  1. Conrad W. Mullineaux
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  2. John F. Allen
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Mullineaux, C.W., Allen, J.F. State 1-State 2 transitions in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus 6301 are controlled by the redox state of electron carriers between Photosystems I and II. Photosynth Res 23, 297–311 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00034860

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00034860

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