Photoinduced Damage of the Photosystem II Primary Electron Donor P680: A High Performance Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Pigment Content in D1/D2/Cytochrome B559 Complex Under Photoinhibitory Conditions

Abstract

The detailed mechanisms of photoinhibition have been an important topic of photosynthesis. During the last ten years the molecular processes of photoinhibition has been studied intensively, and great progress has been made [1–3]. It is proved that the main site of this inhibitory effect is located in PSII, and is linked to the turnover of one of the central reaction center components, the D1 protein. It has been observed that photodamage phenomena occur in intact leaves, thylakoid membranes, PSII membranes, PSII oxygen-evolving core complex and PSII reaction center DI/D2/Cyt b559 complexes. The primary electron donor P680 of PSII has been shown to be one of the most photosensitive components and can be damaged easily by exposure to strong illumination [2]. However, the product of this light-induced damage reaction still remains to be understood.