Regulation of energy transfer by cations and protein phosphorylation in relation to thylakoid membrane organisation.

A brief review is given of the state of knowledge which indicates that the State I-State II transition in higher plants and green algae is due to the reversible phosphorylation of the chlorophyll a/b light harvesting complex. The importance of membrane reorganisational changes in this process is discussed in terms of changes in electrostatic parameters as emphasised by the interplay of the effect of phosphorylation and the background levels of cations surrounding the membrane. It is argued that recognition of this interplay is vital when using the bipartite or tripartite models of Butler to obtain quantitative information of energy transfer between the various pigment complexes.