Tracking Photosynthetic Electron Transfers in Leaves

Presented by Prof Fred Chow, Dr Husen Jia and Dr Dayong Fan

Thylakoid Structure & Function Lab, Photobioenergetics Group

Research in the Photobioenergetics Group is aimed at understanding the performance of the early light events in photosynthesis at the molecular level.  We will demonstrate kinetic absorption and fluorescence techniques used to probe the light reactions in situ using leaf tissue.  Measurements will: (1) demonstrate the charge transfer across the thylakoid membrane at Photosystem I, Photosystem II and Cytochrome b/f complexes; (2) quantify the rates of linear and cyclic electron flow through Photosystem I; (3) quantify the number of Photosystem II in leaf tissue by the oxygen evolved per flash, (4) the emission of chlorophyll fluorescence from Photosystem II and Photosystem I at liquid-nitrogen temperature, and (5) the use of chlorophyll fluorescence to assay photosynthesis at room temperature.  All these in vivo measurements are made on leaf tissue, free from any artefacts that may arise from isolating chloroplasts from the tissue.  They can be used to study the responses of leaves to environmental stresses.

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