Phosphorylation of chloroplast membrane proteins partially protects against photoinhibition.
Thylakoids isolated from peas (Pisum sativum cv. Kelvedon Wonder) and phosphorylated by incubation with ATP have been compared with non-phosphorylated thylakoids in their sensitivity to photoinhibition by exposure to illumination in vitro. Assays of the kinetics of fluorescence induction at 20° C and the fluorescence emission spectra at-196° C indicate a proportionally larger decrease in fluorescence as a result of photoinhibitory treatment of non-phosphorylated compared with phosphorylated thylakoids. It is concluded that protein phosphorylation can afford partial protection to thylakoids exposed to photoinhibitory conditions.
Research Institute for Photosynthesis, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, Sheffield, UK.
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Horton
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