Photoelectric response generated under non-heme iron reduction on the photosystem II acceptor side

Proteoliposomes containing oxygen-evolving particles of Photosystem II and associated with a planar phospholipid membrane generate a transmembrane electric potential difference (DeltaPsi) induced by a laser flash. With direct electrometrical technique, it was shown that the direction of the electrical field ("minus" inside the proteoliposome) corresponds to acceptor side of the Photosystem II complex facing inside and donor side facing outside of the liposomes. In addition to the fast phase (tau < 0.1 microsec) of the DeltaPsi generation due to electron transfer between YZ of the water-oxidizing complex and the primary plastoquinone QA, a phase with tau approximately 120 microsec and maximum amplitude approximately 30% of the amplitude of the fast phase was observed under the first flash in proteoliposomes containing potassium ferricyanide, which is known as an oxidant of the non-heme iron (Fenh) on the acceptor side of Photosystem II. This additional phase was absent under the second laser flash but was completely restored after 5 min dark adaptation. The phase of the photoelectric response with tau approximately 120 microsec is probably due to electron transfer from QA to Fenh(III) and likely includes a component related to H+ transfer.