Electron transport between plastoquinone and chlorophyll Ai in chloroplasts. II. Reaction kinetics and the function of plastocyanin in situ.

The light-induced reaction kinetics of electron carriers between the two light reactions were studied in spinach chloroplasts. 1. The difference spectrum of the absorbance changes of plastocyanin in situ was separated from superimposing absorbance changes by flash titration described in the preceding paper (Haehnel, W. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 305, 618-631). Relative amounts of 2 : 1 electron equivalents were observed for plastocyanin and chlorophyll a1 (P-700). 2. A balance of the electron equivalents released from reduced plastoquinone and simultaneously accepted by oxidized plastocyanin, cytochrome f and chlorophyll a1 indicated a quantitative electron transfer. Additional electron carriers between plastoquinone and light reaction I can be excluded with an accuracy of about +/-0.3 electron equivalents per light reaction II. 3. The time course of the absorbance changes of plastocyanin was measured at 584 nm with negligible interference with other absorbance changes. The reduction kinetics show an initial lag followed by a rise with a half time of about 20 ms. The redox states of plastocyanin and chlorophyll a1 during this reduction via the rate-limiting step between the light reactions and during oxidation by weak far-red light suggest a true equilibrium constant of about 20. 4. The simultaneous oxidation and reduction kinetics of plastoquinone, cytochrome f, plastocyanin and chlorophyll a1 induced by two successive groups of saturating flashes after far-red illumination were measured. The oxidation kinetics of plastocyanin and the simultaneous reduction kinetics of chlorophyll a1 after the single flashes indicate a quantitative electron transfer with a half time of 200 mus. 5. The fast reduction of chlorophyll a1 by plastocyanin showed no effect of the inhibitors 3-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone or of reduced phenazine methosulfate. But it was completed inhibited after KCN incubation. 6. The oxidation kinetics of cytochrome f were reinvestigated with high time resolution from the difference of absorbance changes at 554 minus 540 nm to minimize the disturbing interference with other absorbance changes. Absorbance changes measured 554 nm alone do not reflect kinetics of cytochrome f. The half time of the oxidation was faster than 40 microns. 7. The observed reaction kinetics gave evidence for a function of cytochrome f between plastoquinone and chlorophyll a1 in parallel to plastocyanin. In addition, they indicate that the greater portion of linear electron transport passes plastocyanin. The complex interaction between cytochrome f and chlorophyll a1 is discussed.