Interaction between the respiratory and photosynthetic electron transport chains of intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata mediated by membrane potential.

1. The inhibition of respiration by light and the relief from this inhibition by uncoupling agents have been studied in intact cells of Rhodopseudomonas capsulata. 2. The same concentration range of carbonylcyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone [CF3OPhzC(CN)2] prevented light-inhibition of respiration and depressed the membrane potential (delta psi) in illuminated, aerobic bacterial suspensions. 3. For a wide range of CF3OPhzC(CN)2 concentration the dependence of the respiration rate on delta psi in darkened cells coincided with that in illuminated cells. 4. When present separately, antimycin A and low concentrations of CF3OPhzC(CN)2 had little effect on light-inhibition of respiration or on delta psi in illuminated, aerobic cells, but added together they gave relief from light-inhibition and they lowered delta psi. 5. In the absence of CF3OPhzC(CN)2 even very low light intensities were sufficient to inhibit respiration and increase delta psi. In the presence of CF3OPhzC(CN)2 much higher light intensities were necessary. 6. The results are interpreted as evidence that light-inhibition of respiration is mediated by delta psi. The modification of the response by uncouplers, inhibitors and with light intensity is critically determined by the ionic conductance properties of the membrane in accordance with the findings in [Clark, A.J., Cotton, N.P.J., and Jackson, J.B. (1983) Eur. J. Biochem. 130, 575-580].