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Photoinhibition in Euglena gracilis: Involvement of reactive oxygen species

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Abstract

Photoinhibition of isolated Euglena gracilis thylakoids was characterised by a drastic decline in PSII photochemistry, chlorophyll-a fluorescence and an enhanced degradation of the 32-kDa protein. The process of protein degradation, as shown by studies of [14C] atrazine binding, was clearly slower than the other events. The activity of PSI was not affected. Decrease of electron-transport activity and loss of herbicide binding were prevented in the presence of various antioxidants and enzymes which protect against free radicals; however, the protection was not total. The strongest effect was observed by addition of dimethylsulfoxide, a potent hydroxyl-radical (OH*) quencher. Furthermore, combinations of various protective substances were even more effective in reducing photoinhibition. Different reactive oxygen species, including H2O2, superoxide radicals and OH* radicals were obviously involved in photoinhibition. These results were confirmed by the addition of potential OH*-radical-generating substances. Simultaneous enhancement of OH*-radical formation and photoinhibitory damage were observed in these cases. The involvement of this highly toxic species could be shown directly by a colorimetric test, thus enabling its light-mediated formation during photoinhibition to be quantified for the first time. In all, the data indicate that a site in PSII is the origin of radical formation involved in photoinhibition and that H2O2 is an important precursor in the formation of hydroxyl-radicals.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

DCMU:

3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea

DCPIP:

2,6-dichlorphenolindophenol

DMSO:

dimethyl sulfoxide

FM :

maximum fluorescence

FV :

variable fluorescence

Fecy:

ferricyanide

MSA:

methane sulfinic acid

MV:

1,1′ dimethyl-4,4′ bipyridylium dichloride

OH* :

hydroxyl radical

PBQ:

p-phenylbenzoquinone

PDA:

p-phenylenediamine

PPFD:

photosynthetic photon flux density

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Martin Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Pflanzen- und Zellphysiologie, Am Kirchtor 1, D-06108, Halle/S, Germany

    H. Tschiersch & E. Ohmann

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  1. H. Tschiersch
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  2. E. Ohmann
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This reasearch was supported by a grant from the Volkswagen-Stiftung.

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Tschiersch, H., Ohmann, E. Photoinhibition in Euglena gracilis: Involvement of reactive oxygen species. Planta 191, 316–323 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195688

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