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Reexamining the Validity of the Z-Scheme: Is Photosystem I Required for Oxygenic Photosynthesis in Chlamydomonas?

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The Molecular Biology of Chloroplasts and Mitochondria in Chlamydomonas

Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 7))

Summary

The ‘Z-scheme’ is the prevailing model for photosynthetic electron transport, in which electrons from Photosystem II (PS II) are transferred to Photosystem I (PS I) with the participation of the plastoquinone pool, the cytochrome b 6 f complex, and plastocyanin. PS II can accomplish water oxidation due to the low potential of its oxidized primary donor, and PS I reduces ferredoxin by virtue of its low potential iron-sulfur centers. There have been several claims over the last two decades that PS II can carry out the reduction of ferredoxin, lately using Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutants defective in synthesis of PS I (Greenbaum et al., 1995; Lee et al., 1996). However, recent studies performed on mutants harboring deletions of genes encoding PS I subunits demonstrated that photoautotrophic growth and CO2 fixation require the presence of PS I (Cournac et al., 1997). When observed in ‘PS I-deficient’ mutants, photoautotrophic growth and CO2 fixation are most likely attributable to small amounts of PS I in those mutants. We discuss thermodynamic and evolutionary implications of the Z-scheme and possible exceptions to it.

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Abbreviations

CCCP:

carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone

Cyt:

cytochrome

DCMU:

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

DBMIB:

2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone

FCCP:

carbonyl cyanide-p-trifluorometh- oxyphenylhydrazone

Fd:

ferredoxin

FNR:

ferredoxin

NADP+:

reductase

OEC:

oxygen evolving complex

PC:

plastocyanin

PQ:

plastoquinone

PS I:

Photosystem I

PS II:

Photosystem II

RC:

reaction center

RC1:

reaction center of type 1 (quinone)

RCII:

reaction center of type 2 (Fe-S)

SQR:

sulflde:quinone oxidoreductase

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Molecular Biology and Plant Biology, University of Geneva, 30, quai Ernest-Ansermet, CH1211, Geneva 4, Switzerland

    Kevin Redding

  2. CEA/Cadarache - DSV- DEVM - Laboratoire ďEcophysiologie de la Photosynthèse, Bâtiment 161, 13108, Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France

    Gilles Peltier

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  1. Kevin Redding
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Molecular Biology and Plant Biology, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    J. -D. Rochaix  & M. Goldschmidt-Clermont  & 

  2. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Institute, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA

    S. Merchant

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Redding, K., Peltier, G. (1998). Reexamining the Validity of the Z-Scheme: Is Photosystem I Required for Oxygenic Photosynthesis in Chlamydomonas?. In: Rochaix, J.D., Goldschmidt-Clermont, M., Merchant, S. (eds) The Molecular Biology of Chloroplasts and Mitochondria in Chlamydomonas. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48204-5_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48204-5_18

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