Chlorophyll fluorescence transients of Photosystem II membrane particles as a tool for studying photosynthetic oxygen evolution.

The rise of the chlorophyll fluorescence yield of Photosystem II (PS II) membranes as induced by high-intensity actinic light comprises only two distinct phases: (1) the initial O-J increase and (2) the subsequent J-P increase. Partial inhibition of the PS II donor side by heating or washing procedures which remove peripheral PS II proteins or cofactors of the oxygen-evolving complex results in decrease of magnitude and rate of the J-P phase. The rate constant of the J-P increase is directly proportional to the steady-state rate of oxygen evolution; complete suppression of the J-P phase corresponds to full inhibition. A characteristic dip after J-level is observed only in Tris-washed or severely heated PS II membranes; manganese release correlates with appearance of the dip after J-level as verified by EPR spectroscopy. Presence of stabilizing cosolutes (glycine betaine, sucrose) or addition of donor-side cofactors (bicarbonate, chloride, calcium) to PS II membranes before heating (47 degrees C, 5 min) diminishes J-P phase suppression and prevents dip appearance, whereas the addition after heating is without effect. In conclusion, analysis of chlorophyll fluorescence transients of PS II membranes is a potentially useful tool for investigations on photosynthetic oxygen evolution. A decreased rate of the J-P phase can be employed as a convenient indicator for partial inhibition of oxygen-evolution activity; the appearance of a dip after J-level is suggestive of manganese release.