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D B Knaff

Publications and source records attributed to D B Knaff.

115 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1970

Evidence from chloroplast fragments for three photosynthetic light reactions.

Previous reports from this laboratory described a new concept of three light reactions in plant photosynthesis comprising two short-wavelength (lambda < 700 nm) photoreactions belonging to Photosystem II and one long-wavelength (lambda > 700 nm) photoreaction belonging to Photosystem I. Among the electron carriers assigned to Photosystem II were cytochrome b(559) and plastocyanin and to Photosystem I, cytochrome f.According to a widely held view, the light-induced reduction of NADP by water requires the collaboration of Photosystems I and II and involves specifically cytochrome f and P700 (a portion of chlorophyll a peculiar to Photosystem I). By contrast, the new concept ascribes the light-induced reduction of NADP by water solely to the two photoreactions of Photosystem II, without the participation of Photosystem I and its components, cytochrome f and P700.Further evidence in support of the new concept has now been obtained from chloroplast fragments. Two kinds of chloroplast fragments have been prepared: (a) one with Photosystem II activity, capable-in the presence of plastocyanin-of photoreducing NADP with water but lacking P700 and functional cytochrome f and (b) another having only Photosystem I activity, lacking plastocyanin, and enriched in P700.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1969

LIGHT-INDUCED OXIDATION OF A CHLOROPLAST B-TYPE CYTOCHROME AT -189 degrees C.

The b-type cytochromes of chloroplasts have heretofore been viewed as photosynthetic electron carriers that probably occupy an intermediate position in a light-induced electron flow. The oxidation-reduction of such intermediate electron carriers, being removed from the primary photochemical reaction linked to photon capture by chlorophyll, would be expected to show a temperature dependence. Evidence has now been obtained that cytochrome b(559) is photooxidized at -189 degrees C and that this photooxidation can be induced only by "short-wavelength" monochromatic light which activates the oxygen-evolving system in chloroplasts (photosystem II). In appears, therefore, that photooxidation of cytochrome b(559) is closely linked with photon capture by the chlorophyll pigments characteristic of photosystem II.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1969

Spectral evidence for a new photoreactive component of the oxygen-evolving system in photosynthesis.

On illuminating chloroplasts with "short-wavelength" monochromatic light that supports oxygen evolution, spectral evidence was obtained for a new photoreactive chloroplast component, provisionally designated C550, which shows a reversible decrease of absorbance with a maximum at 550 mmu. The light-induced absorbance changes in C550 have been separated from those due to cytochromes in the same spectral region.The light-induced decrease of absorbance in C550 appears to be independent of temperature, persisting even at -189 degrees and is therefore likely to be linked to the primary light reaction associated with oxygen evolution in photosynthesis.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1969

A concept of three light reactions in photosynthesis by green plants.

It has generally been accepted that plant photosynthesis involves two light reactions, one that proceeds best in short-wavelength light and is identified with oxygen evolution (System II) and another that proceeds best in long-wavelength light and is identified with a cycle electron flow (System I). This paper presents a concept of three light reactions in photosynthesis, based on new evidence that System II comprises two rather than one short-wavelength light reaction. These appear to operate in series and to be connected by an electron transport chain peculiar to System II. Parallel to System II is the long-wavelength light reaction of System I.

Journal Article↗