Zolotareva E. Proton regulation of energy transformation processes in thylakoid membranes

The object of study: Transformation of light energy into chemical energy in photosynthetic membranes of higher plants. Purpose: elucidation of mechanisms of the proton regulation of photosynthetic energy transformation, and physiological role of thylakoid membrane components of higher plant chloroplasts in the light-dependent binding and transfer of hydrogen ions. Methods of study: isotopic, preparative biochemical methods, amperometric, potentiometric and bioluminescent methods.Theoretical and practical results, novelty: A conception of participation of membrane-bound bicarbonate in the energy coupling of photosynthetic electron transport and photo photophosphorylation as a basic buffer system of thylakoid membranes is proposed.Heterogeneity of distributing of membrane-bound tritium was shown, that at comparison with the before found facts indicated different funds of protons in thylakoid membranes. The protein components of thylakoids participated in the light-induced proton-tritium exchange as wellas conditions influenced this process were determined. It was shown that depending on the functional state the tritium transferred by different ways supported by results of kinetic experiments. Field of application: biochemistry, biophysics, bioenergetics, plant physiology, radiobiology.