Pheophytin

Pheophytin a, i.e. chlorophyll a without the Mg²⁺ ion.

Pheophytin or phaeophytin (abbreviated Pheo) is a chemical compound that serves as the first electron carrier intermediate in the electron transfer pathway of photosystem II (PS II) in plants, and the photosynthetic reaction center (RC P870) found in purple bacteria. In both PS II and RC P870, light drives electrons from the reaction center through pheophytin, which then passes the electrons to a quinone (Q_A) in RC P870 and RC P680. The overall mechanisms, roles, and purposes of the pheophytin molecules in the two transport chains are analogous to each other.

Structure

Biochemically, pheophytin is a chlorophyll molecule lacking a central Mg²⁺ ion. It can be produced from chlorophyll by treatment with a weak acid, producing a dark bluish waxy pigment. The probable etymology comes from this description, with pheo meaning dusky and phyt meaning vegetation.

History and discovery

In the 1970s, scientists Karapetyan and Klimov performed a series of experiments to prove that it is pheophytin and not plastoquinone that serves as the primary electron acceptor in photosystem II. Using several experiments, including electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), they were led to believe that pheophytin was reducible and, therefore, the primary electron acceptor between P680 and plastoquinone. This discovery was met with fierce objection, since many believed pheophytin to be a byproduct of chlorophyll degradation. Therefore, more testing ensued to prove that pheophytin is indeed the primary electron acceptor of PSII, occurring between P680 and plastoquinone. The data that was obtained is as follows:

1. Photo-reduction of pheophytin has been observed in various mixtures containing PSII reaction centers.
2. The quantity of pheophytin is in direct proportion to the number of PSII reaction centers.
3. Photo-reduction of pheophytin occurs at temperatures as low as 100K, and is observed after the reduction of plastoquinone.

These observations are all characteristic of photo-conversions of reaction center components.

Reaction in purple bacteria

Pheophytin is the first electron carrier intermediate in the photoreaction center (RC P870) of purple bacteria. Its involvement in this system can be broken down into 5 basic steps. The first step is excitation of the bacteriochlorophylls (Chl)₂ or the special pair of chlorophylls. This can be seen in the following reaction.

• (Chl)₂ + 1 exciton → (Chl)₂^* (excitation)

The second step involves the (Chl)₂ passing an electron to pheophytin producing a negatively charged radical (the pheophytin) and a positively charged radical (the special pair of chlorophylls), which results in a charge separation.

• (Chl)₂^* + Pheo → ·(Chl)₂⁺ + ·Pheo^- (charge separation)

The third step is the rapid electron movement to the tightly bound menaquinone, Q_A, which immediately donates the electrons to a second, loosely bound quinine (Q_B). Two electron transfers convert Q_B to its reduced form (Q_BH₂).

• 2·Pheo^- + 2H⁺ + Q_B → 2Pheo + Q_BH₂ (quinone reduction)

The fifth and final step involves the filling of the “hole” in the special pair by an electron from a heme in cytochrome c. This regenerates the substrates and completes the cycle, allowing for subsequent reactions to take place.

Involvement in photosystem II

In photosystem II, pheophytin plays a very similar role. It again acts as the first electron carrier intermediate in the photosystem. After P680 becomes excited to P680^*, it transfers an electron to pheophytin, which converts the molecule into a negatively charged radical. The negatively charged pheophytin radical quickly passes its extra electron to two consecutive plastoquinone molecules. Eventually, the electrons pass through the cytochrome b₆f molecule and leaves photosystem II. See the reactions above in the purple bacteria to get a better idea of the actual movement of the electrons through pheophytin and the photosystem in general. The overall scheme is:

1. Excitation
2. Charge separation
3. Plastoquinone reduction
4. Regeneration of substrates

Relationship to food preparation

In Western cultures, it is generally held that bright-green cooked vegetables are more appealing than darker, olive-colored vegetables. The presence of pheophytin is a cause of the undesirable color. Pheophytin can be produced by an acidic cooking environment or by prolonged cooking. To promote brightness, it is helpful to cook the vegetable using methods that will minimize the creation of pheophytin. Cooking in an uncovered vessel allows the escape of volatile acids that create pheophytin, and shorter cooking times also help preserve greenness.

References

• Klimov VV (2003). "Discovery of pheophytin function in the photosynthetic energy conversion as the primary electron acceptor of Photosystem II". Photosyn. Res. 76 (1-3): 247–53. doi:10.1023/A:1024990408747. PMID 16228584. 
• McWilliams, Margaret (1982). Illustrated Guide to Food Preparation (4th ed.). Redondo Beach, CA: Plycon Press. 
• Nelson, David L.; Cox, Michael M. (2005). Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (4th ed.). New York: W. H. Freeman. 
• "Photosynthetic Molecules Section." Library of 3-D Molecular Structures. 22 April 2007
• Xiong, Ling, and Richard Sayre. "The Identification of Potential Pheophytin Binding Sites in the Photosystem II Reaction Center of Chlamydomondas by Site-Directed Mutagenesis." (2000). America Society of Plant Biologists. 22 Apr. 2007.

See also

• Photosynthesis
• Photosystem
• Chlorophyll
• Reaction center
• P680