Interaction of electron acceptors with thylakoids from halophytic and non-halophytic species

Thylakoid membranes isolated from halophytic species showed differences in their interactions with ionic and lipophilic electron acceptors when compared to thylakoids from non-halophytes. FeCN was considerably less efficient as electron acceptor with halophyte thylakoids, supporting much lower rates of O2 evolution and having a lower affinity. FeCN accepted electrons at a different, DMMIB insensitive, site with these thylakoids. 1,4-Benzo-quinones with less positive midpoint potentials were less effective in accepting electrons from halophyte thylakoids compared to nonhalophyte thylakoids, also reflected in lower rates of O2 evolution and lower affinity. Considering the lipolphilic nature and the fact that there was no apparent change in the site donating electrons to the quinones, an alteration in the midpoint potential of this site by about +100mV is postulated for the halophyte thylakoids.