Further Evidence for an Optical Response of Chloroplast Bulk Pigments to a Light Induced Electrical Field in Photosynthesis

Abstract

1. In the primary processes of photosynthesis a rather strong electric field (~105 V/cm) is set on across the thylakoid membrane. This field has been detected by absorption changes attributed to chlorophyll-b (1). 2. In this paper it is demonstrated that the optical response to the field is not restricted to chlorophyll-b. Responses of the other bulk pigments which are embedded in the thylakoid membrane, as several types of chlorophyll-a and carotenoids, are detected.