The light-induced carotenoid absorbance changes in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides: an analysis and interpretation of the band shifts.

An analysis has been made of the spectrum of the carotenoid absorption band shift generated by continuous illumination of chromatophores of the GlC-mutant of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides at room temperature by means of three computer programs. There appears to be at least two pools of the same carotenoid, only one of which, comprising about 20% of the total carotenoid content, is responsible for the light-induced absorbance changes. The 'remaining' pool absorbs at wavelengths which were about 5 nm lower than those at which the 'changing' pool absorbs. This difference in absorption wavelength could indicate that the two pools are influenced differently by permanent local electric fields. The electrochromic origin of the absorbance changes has been demonstrated directly; the isosbestic points of the absorption difference spectrum move to shorter wavelengths upon lowering of the light-induced electric field. Band shifts up to 1.7 nm were observed. A comparison of the light-induced absorbance changes with a KCl-valinomycin-induced diffusion potential has been used to calibrate the electrochromic shifts. The calibration value appeared to be 137 +/- 6 mV per nm shift.