Influence of the Donor Side of Photosystem II on the Photogeneration of Superoxide Radicals and Chlorophyll a Fluorescence

Direct EPR evidence of the photo-generation of superoxide radicals ( $O_2$$^{-.}$) was obtained by using spin trapping techniques in spinach photosystem II (PSII) membranes. $O_2$$^{-.}$ was detected by following the formation of 5-diethoxyphosphoryl-5-methyl-1 -pyrroline-N-oxide (DEPMPO) superoxide adducts, DEPMPO-OOH. The significant increase of the EPR signal amplitude of DEPMPO-OOH in N$H_2O$H-, CaC $l_2$- and NaCl-treated PSII membranes showed that the oxygen-evolving system has a close relation to the $O_2$$^{-.}$ production. PSII membranes with inactivated donor side could not prevent the $O_2$$^{-.}$ production efficiently. Treatments on PSII donor side also influence the maximum level and the kinetics of Chlorophyll (Chi) a fluorescence. Results suggested that manganese cluster and extrinsic proteins might affect Chi a fluorescence in ways different from that happens at the acceptor side of PSII.SII.SII.