Role of divalent cations and ascorbate in photochemical activitis of Anacystis membranes.

Photosynthetic membrane fragments were prepared from Anacystic nidulans by French pressure cell disruption. Ascorbate was required to stabilize photophosphorylation activity in membranes kept at near 0 degrees C. Divalent cations were required during mechanical disruption and during assays for Photosystem II activity, with Ca2+ serving best. The rate of photophosphorylation was severely inhibited by Ca2+ during assays. Results suggest that best rates are achieved when photosynthetic membranes contain Ca2+ exposed to the interior surface, facilitating Photosystem II activity, and Mg2+ exposed to the exterior surface during assays, facilitating photophosphorylation activity.