Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Irrungen, Wirrungen? The Mehler reaction in relation to cyclic electron transport in C3 plants

  • Chapter
Discoveries in Photosynthesis

Part of the book series: Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration ((AIPH,volume 20))

Abstract

Plants not only evolve but also reduce oxygen in photosynthesis. Considerable oxygen uptake occurs during photorespiration of C3 plants. Controversies exist on whether direct oxygen reduction in the Mehler reaction together with associated electron transport is also a major sink of electrons when leaves are exposed to sunlight. Here, preference is given to the view that it is not. Whereas photorespiration consumes ATP, the Mehler reaction does not. In isolated chloroplasts photosynthesizing in the presence of saturating bicarbonate, the Mehler reaction is suppressed. In the water — water cycle of leaves, which includes the Mehler reaction, water is oxidized and electrons flow through Photosystems II and I to oxygen producing water. The known properties of coupled electron transport suggest that the water — water cycle cannot act as an efficient electron sink. Rather, by contributing to thylakoid acidification it plays a role in the control of Photosystem II activity. Cyclic electron transport competes with the Mehler reaction for electrons. Both pathways can help to defray possible ATP deficiencies in the chloroplast stroma, but play a more important role by making intrathylakoid protein protonation possible. This is a necessary step for the dissipation of excess excitation energy as heat. Linear electron flow to oxygen relieves the inhibition of cyclic electron transport, which is observed under excessive reduction of intersystem electron carriers. In turn, cyclic electron transport replaces functions of the linear pathway in the control of Photosystem II when oxygen reduction is decreased at low temperatures or, experimentally, when the oxygen concentration of the gas phase is low. Thus, cyclic electron flow acts in flexible relationship with the water-water cycle to control Photosystem II activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 349.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 449.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Arnon DI (1977) Photosynthesis 1950–1975: changing concepts and perspectives. In: Trebst A and Avron M (eds) Encyclopedia of Plant Physiology, New Series, Vol 5, pp 7–56. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnon DI and Chain RK (1975) Regulation of ferredoxin-catalysed photosynthetic phosphorylations. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 72: 4961–4965

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Asada K (1999) The water-water cycle in chloroplasts: scavenging of active oxygens and dissipation of excess photons. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 50: 601–639

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avron M and Neumann J (1968) Photophosphorylation in chloroplasts. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 19: 137–166

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Backhausen JE, Kitzmann C and Scheibe R (1994) Competition between electron acceptors in photosynthesis: regulation of the malate valve during CO2 fixation and nitrite reduction. Photosynth Res 42: 75–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Badger MR, von Caemmerer S, Ruuska S and Nakano H (2000) Electron flow to oxygen in higher plants and algae: rates and control of direct photoreduction (Mehler reaction) and rubisco oxygenase. Phil Trans R Soc London Ser B 355: 1433–1446

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bendall DS and Manasse RS (1995) Cyclic photophosphorylation and electron transport. Biochim Biophys Acta 1229: 23–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biehler K and Fock H (1996) Evidence for the contribution of the Mehler-peroxidase reaction in dissipating excess electrons in drought-stressed wheat. Plant Physiol 112: 265–72

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Behrens PW, Marsho TV and Radmer RJ (1982) Photosynthetic oxygen exchange kinetics in isolated soybean cells. Plant Physiol 70: 179–185

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarke JE and Johnson GA (2001) In vivo temperature dependence of cyclic and pseudocyclic electron transport in barley. Planta 212: 808–816

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cornic G, Bukhov NG, Wiese C, Bligny R and Heber U (2000) Flexible coupling between light-dependent electron and vectorial proton transport in illuminated leaves of C3 plants. Role of Photosystem I-dependent proton pumping. Planta 210: 468–477

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forti G (1999) Personal recollections of 40 years in photosynthesis research. Photosynth Res 60: 99–110

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Foyer CH and Noctor G (2000) Oxygen processing in photosynthesis: regulation and signalling. New Phytol 146: 359–388

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furbank RT and Badger MR (1983) Oxygen exchange associated with electron transport and photophosphorylation in spinach thylakoids. Biochim Biophys Acta 723: 400–409

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furbank RT and Horton P (1987) Regulation of photosynthesis in isolated barley protoplasts: the contribution of cyclic photophosphorylation. Biochim Biophys Acta 89: 332–338

    Google Scholar 

  • Genty B, Briantais JM and Baker NR (1989) The relationship between the quantum yield of photosynthetic electron transport and quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Biochim Biophys Acta 990: 87–92

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerst U, Schreiber U, Neimanis S and Heber U (1995) Photosystem I-dependent cyclic electron flow contributes to the control of Photosystem II in leaves when stomata close under water stress. In: Mathis P (ed) Photosynthesis: From Light to Biosphere. Proc Xth International Photosynth Congress II, pp 835–838. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilmore AM and Govindjee (1999) How higher plants respond to excess light: energy dissipation in Photosystem II. In: Singhal GS, Renger G, Soporysi SK, Irrgang K-D and Govindjee (eds) Concepts in Photobiology: Photosynthesis and Photomorphogenesis. pp 513–548. Narosa Publishing House, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Grant BR and Whatley FR (1967) Some factors affecting the onset of cyclic photophosphorylation. In: Goodwin TW (ed) Biochemistry of Chloroplasts. pp 505–521, Academic Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hager A (1969) Lichtbedingte pH-Erniedrigung in einem Chloroplasten-Kompartiment als Ursache der enzymatischen Violaxanthin → Zeaxanthin-Umwandlung; Beziehungen zur Photophosphorylierung. Planta 89: 224–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haraux F and de Kouchkovsky (1998) Energy coupling and ATP synthase. Photosynth Res 57: 231–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harbinson J and Foyer CH (1991) Relationship between the efficiencies of Photosystems I and II and stromal redox state in CO2-free air. Evidence for cyclic electron flow in vivo. Plant Physiol 97: 41–49

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harbinson J, Genty B and Baker NR (1989) Relationship between the quantum efficiencies of Photosystems I and II in pea leaves. Plant Physiol 90: 1029–1034

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heber U (1969) Conformational changes of chloroplasts induced by illumination of leaves in vivo. Biochim Biophys Acta 180: 302–319

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heber U and Walker D (1992) Concerning a dual function of coupled cyclic electron transport in leaves. Plant Physiol 100: 1621–1626

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heber U, Egneus H, Hanck U, Jensen M and Köster S (1978) Regulation of photosynthetic electron transport and phosphorylation in intact chloroplasts and leaves of Spinacia oleracea. L. Planta 143: 41–49

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heber U, Neimanis S, Siebke K, Schönknecht G and Katona E (1992) Chloroplast energization and oxidation of P700/plastocyanin in illuminated leaves at reduced levels of CO2 or oxygen. Photosynth Res 34: 433–447

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heber U, Bukhov NG, Shuvalov VA, Kobayashi Y and Lange OL (2001) Protection of the photosynthetic apparatus against damage by excessive illumination in homoiohydric leaves and poikilohydric mosses and lichens. J Exp Bot 52: 1999–2006

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hormann H, Neubauer C and Schreiber U (1994) An active Mehlerperoxidase sequence can prevent cyclic PS I electron transport in the presence of dioxygen in intaxct chloroplasts. Photosynth Res 41: 429–437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ivanov B, Kobayashi Y, Bukhov NK and Heber U (1998) Photosystem I-dependent cyclic electron flow in intact spinach chloroplasts: occurence, dependence on redox conditions and electron acceptors and inhibition by antimycin A. Photosynth Res 57: 61–70

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser WM (1979) Reversible inhibition of the Calvin cycle and activation of the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle in isolated chloroplasts by hydrogen peroxide. Planta 145: 377–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi Y and Heber U (1994) Rates of vectorial proton transport supported by cyclic electron flow during oxygen reduction by illuminated intact chloroplasts. Photosynth Res. 41: 419–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X-P, Björkman O, Shih C, Grossman AR, Rosenquist M, Jansson S and Niyogi KK (2000) A pigment-binding protein essential for regulation of photosynthetic light harvesting. Nature 403: 391–395

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehler AH (1951) Studies on reactions of illuminated chloroplasts. I. Mechanisms of the reduction of oxygen and other Hill reagents. Arch Biochem Biophys 33: 65–77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miyake C, Schreiber U, Hormann H, Sano S and Asada K (1995) The FAD enzyme monodehydroascorbate radical reductase mediates photoproduction of superoxide radicals in spinach thylakoid membranes. Plant Cell Physiol 39: 821–829

    Google Scholar 

  • Neubauer C and Yamamoto HY (1992) Mehler-peroxidase reaction mediates zeaxanthin formation and zeaxanthin-related fluorescence quenching in intact chloroplasts. Plant Physiol 99: 1354–1361

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Niyogi KK (1999) Photoprotection revisited. Genetic and molecular approaches. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol 50: 333–359

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Noctor G and Foyer CH (1998) A re-evaluation of the ATP:NADPH budget during C3 photosynthesis. A contribution from nitrate assimilation and its associated respiratory activity? J Exp Bot 49: 1895–1908

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Osmond CB and Grace CE (1995) Perspectives on photoinhibition and photorespiration in the field: quintessential inefficiencies of the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis? J Exp Bot 46: 1351–1362

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pfündel EE and Dilley RA (1993) The pH dependence of violaxanthin deepoxidation in isolated pea chloroplasts. Plant Pysiol 101: 65–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Rich PR (1991) The osmochemistry of electron-transfer complexes. Biosci Rep 11: 539–571

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rumberg B, Schubert K, Strelow F and Tran-Anh T (1990) The H+/ATP coupling ratio at the H+-ATP-synthase of spinach chloroplasts is four. In: Baltscheffsky M (ed) Current Research in Photosynthesis III. pp 125–128. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruuska SA, Badger MR, Andrews TJ and von Caemmerer S (2000) Photosynthetic electron sinks in transgenic tobacco with reduced amounts of Rubisco: little evidence for significant Mehler reaction. J Exp Bot 51: 357–368

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheibe R (1987) NADP+ dehydrogenase in C3 plants: regulation and role of a light-activated enzyme. Physiol Plant 71: 393–400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scheibe R (1990) Light/dark modulation: regulation of chloroplast metabolism in a new light. Bot Acta 103: 327–334

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber U and Neubauer C. 1990. O2-dependent electron flow, membrane energization asnd the mechanisms of nonphotochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. Photosynth Res 25: 279–293

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schreiber U, Reising H and Neubauer C (1991) Contrasting pH optima of light-driven O2-and H2O2-reduction in spinach chloroplasts as measured via chlorophyll fluorescence quenching. Z Naturforsch 46c: 635–643

    Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, Neimanis S and Heber U (1991) Photorespiration is more effective than the Mehler reaction to protect the photosynthetic apparatus against photoinhibition. Bot Acta 104: 283–291

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ziem-Hanck U and Heber U (1980) Oxygen requirement of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. Biochim Biophys Acta 591: 266–274

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Julius von Sachs Institute, University of Würzburg, 97082, Würzburg, Germany

    Ulrich Heber

Authors
  1. Ulrich Heber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Govindjee

  2. University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    J. Thomas Beatty

  3. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Howard Gest

  4. Queen Mary University of London, London, UK

    John F. Allen

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Heber, U. (2005). Irrungen, Wirrungen? The Mehler reaction in relation to cyclic electron transport in C3 plants. In: Govindjee, Beatty, J.T., Gest, H., Allen, J.F. (eds) Discoveries in Photosynthesis. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 20. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3324-9_51

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation