Abstract
Both photogeneration and quenching of singlet oxygen by monomeric and aggregated (dimeric and oligomeric) molecules of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) d have been studied in solution and in chlorosomes isolated from the green photosynthetic bacterium Chlorobium vibrioforme f. thiosulfatophilum. The yield of singlet-oxygen photogeneration by pigment dimers was about 6 times less than for monomers. Singlet oxygen formation was not observed in oligomer-containing solutions or in chlorosomes. To estimate the efficiency of singlet oxygen quenching an effective rate constant for 1O2 quenching by BChl molecules (kqM) was determined using the Stern-Volmer equation and the total concentration of BChl d in the samples. In solutions containing only monomeric BChl, the kqM values coincide with the real values for 1O2 quenching rate constants by BChl molecules. Aggregation weakly influenced the kqM values in pigment solutions. In chlorosomes (which contain both BChl and carotenoids) the kqM value was less than in solutions of BChl alone and much less than in acetone extracts from chlorosomes. Thus 1O2 quenching by BChl and carotenoids is much less efficient in chlorosomes than in solution and is likely caused primarily by BChl molecules which are close to the surface of the large chlorosome particles. The data allow a general conclusion that monomeric and dimeric chlorophyll molecules are the most likely sources of 1O2 formation in photosynthetic systems and excitation energy trapping by the long wavelength aggregates as well as 1O2 physical quenching by monomeric and aggregated chlorophyll can be considered as parts of the protective system against singlet oxygen formation.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 191-198 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Photosynthesis research |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 1994 |
Keywords
- bacteriochlorophyll d
- bacteriochlorophyll d dimers and oligomers
- bacteriochlorophyll d triplet state
- chlorosomes
- green photosynthetic bacteria
- singlet oxygen generation and quenching
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Plant Science
- Cell Biology