Summary
The enzyme violaxanthin de-epoxidase catalysing the transformation of the xanthophyll violaxanthin to zeaxanthin has been isolated from spinach chloroplasts.
Special properties of the enzyme make it possible for the carotenoid to be bound without initiation of any catalytic reaction; the isolation of an enzyme-substratecomplex is thereby greatly facilitated. After addition of cofactors to this complex the transformation of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin takes place.
In this complex the light-absorption of violaxanthin is changed drastically: the normal three-peak absorption curve in the blue region of the spectrum is strongly decreased but in the uv-region around 380 nm a new absorption maximum appears.
Recently a similar spectrum has been determined in vivo in the phototropic sensitive region of the sporangiophores of Phycomyces (Wolken, 1969) with the aid of microspectrophotometry.
From these results it is concluded that part of the carotenoids occurring in plants is present in a protein-bound form and that these pigments show a considerably changed light absorption in comparison with the isolated pigment. The simultaneous occurrence of differently bound carotenoids may lead to the formation of 4-peak absorption curves (similar to those of flavines) with 3 maxima in the blue region and 1 maximum in the UV around 370–380 nm. These 4-peak curves are characteristic for many action spectra.
It is emphasized that the strong absorption changes of carotenoids occurring during the binding of these pigments to proteins should be considered in analyzing difference spectra.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literatur
Bergmann, K., Burke, P. V., Cedra-Olmedo, E., David, C. N., Delbrück, M., Foster, K. W., Goodell, E. W., Heisenberg, M., Meissner, G., Zalokar, M., Dennison, D. S., Shropshire, W. Jr.: Phycomyces. Bact. Rev. 33, 99–157 (1969)
Curry, G. M., Gruen, H. E.: Action spectra for the positive and negative phototropism of Phycomyces sporangiophores. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 45, 797–804 (1959).
—, Thimann, K. V.: Phototropism; The nature of the photoreceptor in higher and lower plants. In: Progress in photobiology (eds. Christensen, C., Buchman, B.) p. 127–134. Amsterdam: Elsevier 1961.
Delbrück, M., Shropshire, W. Jr.: Action and transmission spectra of Phycomyces. Plant Physiol. 35, 194–204 (1960).
Fujimori, E.: Bacteriochlorophyll pheophytinization in chromatophores and subchromatophores from Rhodospirillum rubrum. Biochim. Biophys. Acta (Amst.) 180, 360–367 (1969).
Hager, A.: Lichtbedingte pH-Erniedrigung in einem Chloroplasten-Kompartiment als ursache der enzymatischen Violaxanthin→Zeaxanthin-Umwandlung; Beziehungen zur Photophosphorylierung. Planta (Berl.) 89, 224–243 (1969).
—: Ausbildung von Maxima im Absorptionsspektrum von Carotinoiden im Bereich um 370 nm; Folgen für die Interpretation bestimmter Wirkungsspektren. Planta (Berl.) 91, 38–53 (1970).
— Meyer-Bertenrath, T.: Die Isolierung und quantitative Bestimmung der Carotinoide und Chlorophylle von Blättern, Algen und isolierten Chloroplasten mit Hilfe dünnschichtchromatographischer Methoden. Planta (Berl.) 69, 198–217 (1966).
——: Die Identifizierung der an Dünnschichten getrennten Carotinoide grüner Blätter und Algen. Planta (Berl.) 76, 149–168 (1967).
—, Stransky, H.: Das Carotinoidmuster und die Verbreitung des lichtinduzierten Xanthophyll-Cyclus in verschiedenen Algenklassen. I. Methoden zur Identifizierung der Pigmente. Arch. Mikrobiol. 71, 132–163 (1970a).
——: Das Carotinoidmuster und die Verbreitung des lichtinduzierten Xanthophyll-Cyclus in verschiedenen Algenklassen. III. Grünalgen. Arch. Mikorbiol. 72, 68–83 (1970b).
——: Das Carotinoidmuster und die Verbreitung des lichtinduzierten Xanthophyll-Cyclus in verschiedenen Algenklassen. V. Einzelne Vertreter der Cryptophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Chrysophyceae und Phaeophyceae. Arch. Mikrobiol. 73, 77–89 (1970c).
Ke, B., Green, M., Vernon, L. P., Garcia, A. F.: Some optical properties of a “carotenoid complex” derived from Rhodospirillum rubrum. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 162, 467–469 (1968).
Stransky, H., Hager, A.: Das Carotinoidmuster und die Verbreitung des lichtinduzierten Xanthophyll-Cyclus in verschiedenen Algenklassen. II. Xanthophyceae. Arch. Mikrobiol. 71, 164–190 (1970a).
——: Das Carotinoidmuster und die Verbreitung des lichtinduzierten Xanthophyll-Cyclus in verschiedenen Algenklassen. IV. Cyanophyceae und Rhodophyceae. Arch. Mikrobiol. 72, 84–96 (1970b).
Stransky, H., Hager, A.: Das Carotinoidmuster und die Verbreitung des lichtinduzierten Xanthophyll-Cyclus in verschiedenen Algenklassen. VI. Chemosystematische Betrachtung. Arch. Mikrobiol., im Druck (1970c).
Vernon, L. P., Garcia, A. F.: Pigment-protein complexes derived from Rhodospirillum rubrum chromatophores by enzymatic digestion. Biochim. biophys. Acta (Amst.) 143, 144–153 (1967).
Vernon, L. P., Ke, B., Mollenhauer, H. H., Shaw, E. R.: Composition and structure of spinach subchloroplast fragments obtained by action of triton X-100. Progress in Photosynthesis Res. 1, 137–148 (1969).
Wolken, J. J.: Microspectrophotometry and the photoreceptor of Phycomyces. I. J. Cell Biol. 43, 354–360 (1969).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hager, A., Perz, H. Veränderung der Lichtabsorption eines Carotinoids im Enzym (De-epoxidase)-Substrat(Violaxanthin)-Komplex. Planta 93, 314–322 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384105
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384105