Dual action of ionophore A23187 on intact chloroplasts

1. Ionophore A23187 induces uncoupling of potassium ferricyanide-dependent O2 evolution by envelope-free chloroplasts and oxaloacetate-dependent O2 evolution by intact chloroplasts. The half maximal concentration (C1/2) for stimulation of oxygen evolution in both cases is approximately 4 micrometer . 100 microgram chlorophyll . ml-1. 2. Ionophore A23187 also induces inhibition of CO2 and 3-phosphoglycerate-dependent O2 evolution by intact chloroplasts in the presence of 3 mM MgCl2. The half maximal concentrations (C1/2) for inhibition of O2 evolution are 3 micrometer and 5 micrometer respectively . 100 microgram-1 chlorophyll . ml-1. 3. A very high concentration of ionophore A23187 (10 microgram . 20 microgram-1 chlorophyll . ml-1) plus 0.1 mM EDTA lowers the fluorescence yield of intact chloroplasts suspended in a cation-free medium in the presence of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, indicating loss of divalent cation from the diffuse double layers of the thylakoid membranes. 4. These results are discussed in relation to ionophore A23187-induced divalent cation/proton exchange at both the thylakoid and the envelope membranes of intact chloroplasts.