Highly purified D1/D2/cyt b559 preparations from spinach do not contain the non-heme iron center.

57Fe enriched D1/D2/cyt b559 preparations were isolated from spinach grown hydroponically on a 57Fe containing medium. In terms of polypeptide and pigment composition these samples are of high purity and functional integrity of P680. Mössbauer spectra measured in D1/D2/cyt b559 complexes revealed that these preparations are completely deprived of the non-heme iron center. Possible implications of this finding are discussed for the electron transfer from Pheo-. to exogenous electron acceptors.