R. Goss et al., ROLE OF DELTA-PH IN THE MECHANISM OF ZEAXANTHIN-DEPENDENT AMPLIFICATION OF Q(E), Journal of photochemistry and photobiology.B, Biology, 27(2), 1995, pp. 147-152
The influence of zeaxanthin on the high-energy-state fluorescence quen
ching (q(E)) and the pH dependence of the maximum chlorophyll fluoresc
ence yield (F-m) was examined in spinach thylakoids. High contents of
zeaxanthin were achieved using different pretreatments. A pronounced,
zeaxanthin-dependent amplification of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ
) was exclusively found in thylakoids containing zeaxanthin, synthesiz
ed in the dark via the buildup of an artificial Delta pH. These thylak
oids also showed a significant quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence i
n the range pH 5.5-6.3, where no or only slight quenching was visible
in zeaxanthin-free thylakoids. Thylakoids containing high amounts of z
eaxanthin from a dark pretreatment at pH 5.5 (in the absence of Delta
pH) showed no pronounced amplification of NPQ and were insensitive to
incubation at lower pH values. Therefore we propose that it is the Del
ta pH during the synthesis of zeaxanthin that activates the mechanism
of zeaxanthin-dependent amplification of q(E).