Anoxygenic photosynthetic hydrogen production and electron transport in the cyanobacterium oscillatoria limnetica

The induction of anoxygenic photosynthesis in the cyanobacterium Oscillatoria limnetica by sulfide was shown to involve the synthesis of a "sulfide oxidizing factor"; this factor, partly adsorbed on the thylakoid membrane, can be recovered in the soluble phase and is active also on membranes from oxygenically grown cells. The factor is required for sulfide dependent light-induced hydrogen evolution. It accelerates electron transport from sulfide to the electron donor of photosystem I, P700, in membranes from cells in which anoxygenic photosynthesis is induced. The plastiquinone analogue DBMIB does not inhibit electron transport to P700 but accelerates it. The analogue might promote cyclic electron transport involving P700, thus preventing electrons to reach hydrogenase.