Gravity-induced absorption changes in Phycomyces blakesleeanus during parabolic flights: first spectral approach in the visible.

Gravity-induced absorption changes as experienced during a series of parabolas on the Airbus 300 Zero-G have been measured previously pointwise on the basis of dual-wavelength spectroscopy. Only the two wavelengths of 460 and 665 nm as generated by light-emitting diodes have been utilised during our first two parabolic-flight campaigns. In order to gain complete spectral information throughout the wavelength range from 400 to 900 nm, a miniaturized rapid scan spectrophotometer was designed. The difference of spectra taken at 0 g and 1.8 g presents the first gravity-induced absorption change spectrum measured on wild-type Phycomyces blakesleeanus sporangiophores, exhibiting a broad positive hump in the visible range and negative values in the near infrared with an isosbestic point near 735 nm. The control experiment performed with the stiff mutant A909 of Phycomyces blakesleeanus does not show this structure. These results are in agreement with those obtained with an array spectrophotometer. In analogy to the more thoroughly understood so-called light-induced absorption changes, we assume that gravity-induced absorption changes reflect redox changes of electron transport components such as flavins and cytochromes localised within the plasma membrane.

The Z-scheme--down hill all the way.

The Z-scheme is considered in the context of personal recollections of events during the time that it was conceived and an evaluation of its enduring importance.

Fourier-transform infrared studies on conformation changes in bd-type ubiquinol oxidase from Escherichia coli upon photoreduction of the redox metal centers.

Cytochrome bd is a two-subunit ubiquinol oxidase in the aerobic respiratory chain of Escherichia coli that does not belong to the heme-copper terminal oxidase superfamily. To explore unique protein structural changes associated with the reduction of the redox metal centers, we carried out Fourier-transform infrared and visible spectroscopic studies on cytochrome bd. For infrared measurements of a partially dehydrated thin sample solution, the air-oxidized enzyme was fully reduced by the intermolecular electron transfer of photo-excited riboflavin in the absence and presence of KCN, and redox difference spectra were calculated. Upon reduction, the bound cyanide was released from the heme b595-heme d binuclear center but remained in a protein pocket as a deprotonated form. Reduction of heme b558, heme b595, and heme d resulted in large changes in amide-I and protonated carboxylic CO-stretching vibrations and also a small change in the cysteine SH-stretching vibration. The location of the redox metal centers and the effects of cyanide suggest that these protein structural changes occur at the heme-binding pockets near the protein surface. Systematic site-directed mutagenesis and time-resolved FTIR studies on cytochrome bd will facilitate an understanding of the unique molecular mechanisms for dioxygen reduction and delivery of chemical protons to the active center at the atomic level.

The high-spin cytochrome o' component of the cytochrome bo-type quinol oxidase in membranes from Escherichia coli: formation of the primary oxygenated species at low temperatures is characterized by a slow 'on' rate and low dissociation constant.

Cytochromes b and o in membrane vesicles from aerobically grown Escherichia coli were readily reduced by succinate; one cytochrome, which we propose should be called cytochrome o', reacted with CO in the Fe(II) state to give a photodissociable CO adduct. The photodissociation spectrum (photolysed minus pre-photolysis) at sub-zero temperatures had a relatively high gamma/alpha absorbance ratio, indicating a high-spin haem, which, in the reduced state, probably contributes little to the sharp alpha absorbance of the oxidase complex in membranes. Reaction with oxygen of the unliganded high-spin haem between -132 degrees C and -95 degrees C following photolytic activation gave a product that is identified as the oxygenated form, being spectrally similar to, but not identical with, the CO adduct. In membranes, the forward velocity constant at -95 degrees C was 61 M-1s-1, and the dissociation constant was 1.6 x 10(-5) M O2, as it is in intact cells. These data clearly distinguish the oxygen-trapping strategy of the cytochrome o' in this oxidase from that of cytochrome a3 and also suggest that the presence of the soluble flavohaemoglobin (Hmp) in intact cells is without effect on such measurements of the primary oxygen reaction. In view of recent findings that this oxidase complex contains predominantly one mole of haem O and one of haem B, a revised nomenclature for the oxidase complex is proposed, namely, cytochrome bo'.

Mutations that affect circadian rhythms in Neurospora crassa can alter the reduction of cytochromes by blue light.

We have examined membrane fractions from mutant strains of Neurospora crassa that have altered responses to blue light or have altered circadian rhythms. Using an in vitro assay, we assessed whether the mutations affected the levels of photoreducible cytochromes. Three of the mutant strains, prd-1, rib-1, and wc-1, were not qualitatively different from the wild type. The poky strain was found to have high concentrations of photoreducible cytochrome c. After removal of this cytochrome, however, the photoreducible cytochromes in the plasma membrane and endoplasmic reticulum were also similar to those of the wild type. The most significant differences were found in strains mutated at the frq locus, which affects circadian rhythms. In the frq-9 strain, the cytochrome in the endoplasmic reticulum was not detectably reduced by blue light. The frq-1 mutation caused a significant shift in the spectrum of blue-light-reduced cytochrome in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Proposal that the function of the membrane-bound cytochrome a1-like haemoprotein (cytochrome b-595) in Escherichia coli is a direct electron donation to cytochrome d.

The cytochrome d-containing oxidase of oxygen-limited Escherichia coli comprises cytochromes d, cytochrome b-558 and cytochrome b-595, previously called cytochrome a1. The reaction of the fully reduced complex with oxygen involves ligand binding to the ferrous haem d to form an oxygenated species, followed by oxidation of two b-type cytochromes, whose identity is unclear. Here we report kinetic studies on cytochrome b-595 oxidation and suggest that these results, together with optical and EPR data on the oxidase complex and its reaction with oxygen, are consistent with the hypothesis that the role of cytochrome b-595 is further reduction of the oxygen bound to cytochrome d.

Photoreactions of cytochromes in algal chloroplasts.

Light-induced cytochrome redox reactions were investigated with algal chloroplasts capable of high rates of electron transport coupled to phosphorylation. The electron-donor pool preceding photosystem I consists of membrane-bound cytochrome f-554.5 and a soluble cytochrome c-553; the latter replaces the function of plastocyanin of higher-plant chloroplasts. Both cytochromes are reduced by photosystem II and oxidized by photosystem I. A site of energy conservation precedes these c-type cytochromes. The data obtained with respect to the function of b-type cytochromes are comparable to those obtained with higher-plant chloroplasts. Cyclic electron transport is mediated by cytochrome b-563 in a photosystem-I-dependent reaction. In addition, cytochrome b-563 may be reduced by photosystem II, in accordance with recent findings with intact spinach chloroplasts. It therefore appears that cytochrome b-563 is a member of both cyclic and non-cyclic electron transport. In contrast to higher-plant chloroplasts, redox reactions of cytochrome b-559 are observable without any pretreatments. Cytochrome b-559, high-potential, is reduced by photosystem II through plastoquinone. In the presence of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone a cytochrome-b-559 oxidation by photosystem II is measured.

Light-induced turnover of chloroplast cytochrome b-559 in the presence of N-methylphenazonium methosulphate.

In the presence of 0.1-5 muM N-methylphenazonium methosulphate approx. 50-70% oxidation of cytochrome b-559 can be induced by far-red light. The oxidation is best observed with long wavelength far-red light (732 nm) of moderate intensities (approx. 10(4) ergs/cm2 per s) and is reversed by subsequent illumination with red light. Concentrations of N-methylphenazonium methosulphate above 5 muM are inhibitory probably due to cyclic electron flow. The far-red oxidation is inhibited by low concentrations of the plastoquinone antagonist 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone, while 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea inhibits red light reduction and increases the amplitude of far-red oxidation. The effect of N-methylphenazonium methosulphate is mimicked by N-methyl-phenazonium ethosulphate, but not by pyocyanine or diaminodurene. Low concentrations (2-3 muM) of N-methylphenazonium methosulphate also stimulate a 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone-inhibitable red light reduction of cytochrome f.