Metal photosynthetic electron transport

Photosynthesis can be affected in many ways. Metals can influence biosynthesis of biomembranes and photosynthetic pigments, especially chlorophyll. They may inactivate enzymes by oxidising SH-groups necessary for catalytic activity or by substitution for other divalent cations in metalloenzymes. They finally can also interact with the photosynthetic electron transport and with the related photophosphorylation. 

In-vitro approach Data are available in abundance concerning metal effects on isolated chloroplasts (for a review, see Clijsters and Van Assche, 1985). All the metals studied were found to be potential inhibitors of photosystem 2 (PS 2) photosystem 1 (PS 1) was reported to be less sensitive. From the in-vitro experiments, at least two potential metal-sensitive sites can be derived in the photosynthetic electron transport chain the water-splitting enzyme at the oxidising side of PS 2, and the NADPH-oxido-reductase (an enzyme with functional SH-groups) at the reducing side of PS 1 (Clijsters and Van Assche, 1985). Moreover, in vitro, non cyclic photophosphorylation was very sensitive to lead (Hampp et al., 1973 b) and mercury (Honeycutt and Korgmann, 1972). Both cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation were proven to be inhibited by excess of copper (Uribe and Stark, 1982) and cadmium (Lucero et al, 1976). 

Copper (Cu) is an essential microelement of h et plants and algae and has a direct impact on photosynthesis. The Cu-containing protein plastocyanin is a constiment of the primary electron donor of photosystem I. However, high copper concentration inhibits the photosynthetic electron transport, especially at the level of PSII. Since copper has become a widespread pollutant due to its use as algaecide and fin cide in agriculture, the sensitivity of PSII to this metal could be exploited for the development of sensors and assays. 

Compared with classical analytical methods such as gas chromatt raphy, HPLC, atomic absorption or mass spectrometry, the detection of pollutants by biosensors is generally less specific. These devices provide valuable information on a class of pollutants rather than a mere information about a specific compound, although the use of mutants that are resistant to specific pollutants can render them more selective. Biosensors provide valuable information about the real biological effects of the pollutants in a sample since phytotoxicity is determined from the measurement of electron transport activity, photocurrent or photosynthetic oxj en evolution. It is important to note that althoi the PSII complex is sensitive to various pollutants (herbicides, heavy metals, sulphites, nitrates, carbonates), its susceptibility to these compounds is highly variable, tanging from nanomolar to milhmolar concentrations. 

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