Volume : 2, Issue : 3, March - 2013

nthetic Electron Transport in Chloroplast of Higher Cells: Evidence with Electron Spin Resonance (Esr) Spectroscopy

Santosh Kumari

Abstract :

Flash induced primary charge separation was detected as photosystem1 (PS1) signal by ESR in intact leaf discs and isolated chloroplasts of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and ‘Morden’ cultivar of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). PS1 signal was enhanced after incubation of samples in increasing concentrations i.e. 0.5M and 1M concentrations of potassium cyanide (KCN) and sodium cyanide (NaCN). Our data indicate that a respiratory electron transport pathway involving a cyanide sensitive component is located in chloroplasts and competes with photosynthetic electron transport for reducing equivalents from the plastoquinone pool