Interactions between the donor and acceptor sides in bacterial reaction centers

The apparent equilibrium constant K'(2) for electron transfer between the primary (Q(A)) and secondary (Q(B)) quinone acceptors of the reaction center was measured in chromatophores of Rhodobacter capsulatus. In the presence of the oxidized primary donor P(+), we obtained a value of K'(2)(P(+)) approximately 100 at pH 7.2, based on the rates of recombination from P(+)Q(A-) and P(+)Q(B-). K'(2) was also measured in the presence of reduced P, from the damping of semiquinone oscillations during a series of single turnover flashes. A 5-fold smaller value, K'(2)(P) approximately 20, was found. Additional information on the interactions between the donor and acceptor sides was obtained by measuring the shift of the midpoint potential of P caused by the presence of Q(B-) or Q(A-)S (where S indicates the presence of the inhibitor stigmatellin). A stabilization of the oxidized state P(+) was observed in both instances, by 10 mV for Q(B-) and 30 mV for Q(A-)S. The larger stabilization of P(+)Q(A-)S with respect to P(+)Q(B-) does not account for the effect of P(+)/P on K'(2). Analysis of these results indicates that the interactions between P(+)/P and Q(A)/Q(A)(-) are markedly modified depending on the occupancy of the Q(B) pocket by ubiquinone or by stigmatellin. We propose that the large value of K'(2)(P(+)) results essentially from a conformational destabilization of the P(+)Q(A-) state, that is relieved when the proximal site of the Q(B) pocket is occupied by stigmatellin.