We have devised a two-step screening strategy for the selection of chl
oroplast coupling factor reduction mutants from an M(2) population of
Arabidopsis thaliana. The selection strategy relies on a lowered energ
etic threshold for catalytic activation of the enzyme that has been sh
own to accompany thioredoxin-mediated reduction of a cysteine bridge o
n the gamma subunit of coupling factor. We selected first for plants t
hat grew poorly under low irradiance but performed satisfactorily at h
igh irradiance when the transmembrane electrochemical potential of hyd
rogen ions is large and competent to maintain a high level of coupling
factor activation without gamma subunit reduction. In the second step
of the screen we monitored the flash-induced electrochromic change to
select putative coupling factor reduction mutants from other sorts of
mutations that shared the phenotype of poor growth and vigor when tra
nsferred from high to low irradiance. Among the mutants selected, one
appears incapable of reducing coupling factor; whereas another behaves
as though coupling factor is at least partially reduced even in dark-
adapted plants.