Proton flow through the ATP synthase in chloroplasts regulates the distribution of light energy between PS I and PS II.

The involvement of ATP synthase in the imbalance between the photoactivities of PS I and PS II under light-limiting conditions, was examined in broken lettuce chloroplasts using modulated fluorimetry. The imbalance, in favor of PS II, was minimal and roughly constant between pH 6.5-7.3 (ratio of PS II/PS I activities about 1.1), and maximal at pH 8.5 (ratio of PS II/PS I activities about 1.4). This increase was strongly inhibited by a treatment of the chloroplasts with the CF0 ATP synthase inhibitor DCCD, but unaffected by the CF1 ATPase inhibitor, tentoxin. However, tentoxin plus ADP-P1 did inhibit the high pH-induced increased imbalance. These results, when considered with the previous results on the effect of high pH on proton flux through the ATP synthase, suggest that the rate of such proton flow controls the imbalance between the two photo-systems. It is possible that there is an in vivo fine-tuning regulating mechanism of the photosystems imbalance via the opening and closing of proton gradient dissipation through the ATP synthase. This mechanism may help alleviate photoinhibitory damage.