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F Koenig

Publications and source records attributed to F Koenig.

70 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Determination of the molecular weight and the hydrodynamic properties of a polypeptide from the thylakoid membrane by sedimentation, diffusion and binding measurements in dodecyl sulphate solutions.

The molecular weight and hydrodynamic properties of a polypeptide isolated from the lamellar system of Antirrhinum chloroplasts were determined in sodium dodecyl sulphate solution by measurement of sedimentation velocity, diffusion and effective partial specific volume. The polypeptide fraction exhibits a molecular weight of 25000 which agrees with the apparent molecular weight found by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight of the polypeptide-sodium dodecyl sulphate micelle was 54 000, with a friction ratio of 1.6 which indicates an effective asymmetric hydrodynamic shape. For binding measurements self-diffusion equilibrium dialysis with dodecyl [35S] sulphate was used. In this case, dialysis equilibrium was reached within about 10 hours, in contrast to the dialysis with initial concentration differences which requires much longer times. A binding value of deltaD=1.15 g sodium dodecyl sulphate per g polypeptide was obtained which corresponds to a molar binding ratio of 100 mol dodecyl sulphate bound per mol of polypeptide. After the removal of dodecyl sulphate the polypeptide is present in an aggregated state. In phosphate buffers of pH 6.8 and 7.5 the aggregates preponderantly have sedimentation coefficients of 11.7 and 6.8 Svedberg units respectively. Assuming equivalent spheres the molecular weights were calculated to be 340 000 and 150 000.

Chloroplasts↗

Inhibition of electron transport on the oxygen-evolving side of photosystem II by an antiserum to a polypeptide isolated from the thylakoid membrane.

A polypeptide fraction with the apparent molecular weight 11 000 was isolated from stroma-freed chloroplasts from Anthirrhinum majus. An antiserum to this polypeptide fraction inhibits photosynthetic electron transport in chloroplasts from Nicotiana tabacum. The relative degree of inhibition is pH dependent and has its maximum at pH 7.4. The maximal inhibition observed was 93%. The dependence of the inhibition on the amount of antiserum yields a sigmoidal curve which hints at a cooperative effect. A calculation of the Hill interaction coefficient gave the value of 10. The inhibition occurs on the water splitting side of photosystem II between the sites of electron donation of tetramethyl benzidine and diphenylcarbazide. Tetramethyl benzidine donates its electrons before the site where diphenylcarbazide feeds in its electrons. Analysis of the steady state level of the variable fluorescence also indicates that the inhibition site is on the water splitting side of photosystem II. Tris-washed chloroplasts are equally inhibited by the antiserum and the inhibition is also observed in the presence of an inhibitor of photophosphorylation like dicyclohexyl carbodiimide and in the presence of the uncoupler carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) which means that the inhibitory action is directed towards the electron transport chain. Valinomycin which is supposed to affect the cation permeability of the thylakoid membrane has no influence on the inhibitory action of the antiserum. The same is valid for gramicidin. Methylamine on the other hand can induce a state in the thylakoids in which the antiserum is not effective. If the antibodies are already adsorbed prior to the methylamine addition then the high inhibitory effect by the antiserum remains unchanged upon addition of methylamine. From the experiments it follows that a component from the vicinity of photosystem II is accessible to antibodies that is, the component is located in the outer surface of the thylakoid membrane. It appears that the inhibitory effect is produced in the course of the light reaction.

Benzidines↗

Effect of an antiserum to a thylakoid membrane polypeptide on the primary photoreaction of photosystem II.

As was described previously, an antiserum to polypeptide 11000 inhibited photosynthetic electron transport on the oxygen evolving side of photosystem II. The effect of the antiserum on chloroplasts from two tobacco mutants also clearly showed that the inhibition site is on the photosystem II-side of the electron transport chain. One of the two tobacco mutants lacks the oxygen evolving capacity but exhibits some electron transport with tetramethyl benzidine, an artificial donor to PS II. In this mutant electron transport was barely inhibited. The effect of the antiserum on the primary photoevents showed that the initial amplitude of the absorption change of chlorophyll aII at 690 nm and that of the primary electron acceptor X320 at 334 nm both diminished in the presence of the antiserum. Both signals were restored upon addition of diphenylcarbazide another artificial donor to photosystem II. Comparison of the degree of inhibition on the amplitudes of the fast and slow components of the 690 nm absorption change with the manometrically measured inhibition of electron transport shows that besides a full inactivation of a part of the reaction centers of photosystem II another part apparently mediates a fast cyclic electron flow around photosystem II as reported by Renger and Wolff earlier for tris-treated chloroplasts. Moreover, the antiserum affects the low temperature fluorescence in a way which is opposite to Murata's effect of the Mg2+-ion induced inhibition of energy spill-over from photosystem II to phytosystem I. The antiserum under the condition in which the Hill reaction is inhibited lowered the 686 nm emission and enhanced the 732 nm emission which indicates an enhanced energy spill-over to photosystem I.

Chloroplasts↗

Localization and functional characterization of three thylakoid membrane polypeptides of the molecular weight 66000.

Three polypeptide fractions with the apparent molecular weight 66 000 were isolated from stromafreed Antirrhinum chloroplasts which were solubilized with dodecyl sulfate. Antisera to these fractions affect electron transport in distinctly different ways. For the characterization of the three antisera photochemical reactions of chloroplast preparation with artificial electron donors and acceptors as well the analysis of fluorescence rise curves were used. Antiserum 66 000 PSI-96 inhibits electron transport apparently on the acceptor side of photosystem I, provided the antibodies are adsorbed onto the outer surface of the thylakoid membrane. Antiserum 66 000 PSI-88 probably acts directly on the reaction centre I or on its immediate vicinity, if the antibodies are adsorbed at the inner surface of the thylakoid membrane. Antiserum 66 000 PSII-42 inhibits electron transport in the region of photosystem II. The antigen towards which the antiserum is directed appears to belong to the reaction centre II, as also in the condition of high inhibition degrees, the fluorescence intensity remains unchanged. The determinants are located at the outer surface of the thylakoid membrane.

Antibodies↗