Photosynthetic Reactions of Chloroplasts with Unusual Structures

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Abstract
Photosynthetic reactions of whole leaves and isolated chloroplasts from various mutants of Nicotiana tabacum have been correlated to the lamellar structure seen in elec-tron micrographs of the chloroplasts. In this way it could be established that a fully active photosystem I can be associated with single unfolded thylakoids. The complete photosynthetic electron transport system including the oxygen evolving apparatus of photo-system n, on the other hand, appears to require a close packing of at least 2 thylakoids. The unusual high capacity for photosynthesis observed earlier for leaves of certain aurea mutants is reflected by a correspondingly high activity of the isolated chloroplasts in the Hill reaction. These chloroplasts contain extended areas where 2 thylakoids touch by forming simple lamellar overlappings instead of the familiar stacks of lamellar discs.