Chlorophyll Photobleaching in Pigment-Protein Complexes

Abstract

Pigment photobleaching was performed in thylakoid membranes of Hordeum vulgare (wild type, mutant Chlorina f2, Norfluranzon treated seedlings) and in pigment-protein complexes (CP-I and LHCP) isolated from H. vulgare and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Multiphasic kinetics were obtained in all of the above cases. Energy transfer towards pigments absorbing at longer wavelength is postulated as a general protection mechanism against photobleaching. This mechanism explains a substantial bleaching of carotenoids and a faster bleaching of chlorophyll aggregates, absorbing at long wavelength. These conclusions were valid for isolated complexes as well as for thylakoid membranes, although membranes were less sensitive to light.