Bicarbonate-induced redox tuning in Photosystem II for regulation and protection

Abstract

The midpoint potential (Em) of QA=Q-•A, the one-electron acceptor quinone of Photosystem II (PSII), provides the thermodynamic reference for calibrating PSII bioenergetics. Uncertainty exists in the literature, with two values differing by ∼ 80 mV. Here, we have resolved this discrepancy by using spectroelectrochemistry on plant PSII-enriched membranes. Removal of bicarbonate (HCO3-) shifts the Em from ∼-145 mV to -70 mV. The higher values reported earlier are attributed to the loss of HCO3- during the titrations (pH 6.5, stirred under argon gassing). These findings mean that HCO3- binds less strongly when QA-• is present. Light-induced QA-• formation triggered HCO3- loss as manifest by the slowed electron transfer and the upshift in the Em of QA. HCO3--depleted PSII also showed diminished light-induced 1O2 formation. This finding is consistent with a model in which the increase in the Em of QA=Q-•A promotes safe, direct P+•Q-•A charge recombination at the expense of the damaging back-reaction route that involves chlorophyll triplet-mediated 1O2 formation [Johnson GN, et al. (1995) Biochim Biophys Acta 1229:202-207]. These findings provide a redox tuning mechanism, in which the interdependence of the redox state of QA and the binding by HCO3- regulates and protects PSII. The potential for a sink (CO2) to source (PSII) feedback mechanism is discussed.