Oxygen reduction in chloroplast thylakoids results in production of hydrogen peroxide inside the membrane.
Hydrogen peroxide production in isolated pea thylakoids was studied in the presence of cytochrome c to prevent disproportionation of superoxide radicals outside of the thylakoid membranes. The comparison of cytochrome c reduction with accompanying oxygen uptake revealed that hydrogen peroxide was produced within the thylakoid. The proportion of electrons from water oxidation participating in this hydrogen peroxide production increased with increasing light intensity, and at a light intensity of 630 micromol quanta m(-2) s(-1) it reached 60% of all electrons entering the electron transport chain. Neither the presence of a superoxide dismutase inhibitor, potassium cyanide or sodium azide, in the thylakoid suspension, nor unstacking of the thylakoids appreciably affected the partitioning of electrons to hydrogen peroxide production. Also, osmolarity-induced changes in the thylakoid lumen volume, as well as variation of the lumen pH induced by the presence of Gramicidin D, had negligible effects on such partitioning. The flow of electrons participating in lumen hydrogen peroxide production was found to be near 10% of the total electron flow from water. It is concluded that a considerable amount of hydrogen peroxide is generated inside thylakoid membranes, and a possible mechanism, as well as the significance, of this process are discussed.
Mubarakshina
Maria
M
Institute of Basic Biological Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142290, Russia.
Khorobrykh
Sergey
S
Ivanov
Boris
B
D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002736:Chloroplasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport; D006096:Gramicidin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D018532:Pisum sativum; D011190:Potassium Cyanide / Q000494:pharmacology; D019810:Sodium Azide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D020524:Thylakoids / Q000378:metabolism*
D006096:Gramicidin; D045304:Cytochromes c; D019810:Sodium Azide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D011190:Potassium Cyanide; D010100:Oxygen