Effect of electric fields on the absorption spectrum of dye molecules in lipid layers. V. Refined analysis of the field-indicating absorption changes in photosynthetic membranes by comparison with electrochromic measurements in vitro.

The comparison of light-induced absorption changes in photosynthesis with electrochromic spectra of the isolated pigments in vitro is renewed more thoroughly and described in detail, involving new measurements of the linear electrochromism of oriented chlorophyll beta [6]. 1. The coincidence of the maxima and minima in the in vivo spectrum with those in the in vitro superposition is better than in previous studies [4]. 2. The molar ratio of the pigments now used for the superposition of the in vitro spectra is the same as that in vivo. 3. From this and from surface-pressure/area diagrams of the chlorophylls on a water surface, conclusions are drawn concerning the preferential orientations of the dipole moment differences of the red and blue absorption bands of the bulk chlorophylls in the membrane. 4. From the comparison of the electrochromism of the carotenoids with the absorption change at 520 nm in vivo, it is concluded that the bulk of the carotenoids are oriented at a rather flat angle in the membrane (approximately 16 degrees).