Zinc-inhibited Electron Transport of Photosynthesis in Isolated Barley Chloroplasts.

In isolated barley chloroplasts, the presence of 2 millimolar ZnSO(4) inhibits the electron transport activity of photosystem II, as measured by photoreduction of dichlorophenolindophenol, O(2) evolution, and chlorophyll a fluorescence. The inhibition of photosystem II activity can be restored by the addition of the electron donor hydroxylamine or diphenylcarbazide, but not by benzidine and MnCl(2). These observations suggest that Zn inhibits electron flow at the oxidizing side of photosystem II at a site prior to the electron donating site(s) of hydroxylamine and diphenylcarbazide. No inhibition of photosystem I-dependent electron transport by 3 millimolar ZnSO(4) is observed. However, with concentrations of ZnSO(4) above 5 millimolar, photosystem I activity is partially inactivated. Washing Zn(2+)-treated chloroplasts partially restores the O(2)-evolving activity.