A 160 kDa protein with carbonic anhydrase activity is complexed with rubisco on the outer surface of thylakoids.

This study provides evidence that, in the soluble fraction from buffer-washed pea thylakoids, one form of soluble carbonic anhydrase (CA) is associated with rubisco in a stromal protein complex. On native-PAGE gels, it is present as a protein band with MW approximately 160 kDa. On SDS-PAGE gels, it is resolved as a single 25-kDa polypeptide.

Hypothesis: the peroxydicarbonic acid cycle in photosynthetic oxygen evolution.

Peroxydicarbonic acid (Podca), a proposed intermediate in photosynthetic oxygen evolution, was synthesized electrochemically. Consistent with literature descriptions of this compound, it was shown to be a highly reactive molecule, spontaneously hydrolyzed to H2O2, as well as susceptible to oxidative and reductive decomposition. In the presence of Mn2+ or Co2+, Podca was quickly broken down with release of O2.

Differing responses of the two forms of photosystem II carbonic anhydrase to chloride, cations, and pH.

The effects of Cl(-), Mn(2+), Ca(2+), and pH on extrinsic and intrinsic photosystem II carbonic anhydrase activity were compared. Under the conditions of our in vitro experiments, extrinsic CA activity, located on the OEC33 protein, was optimum at about 30 mM Cl(-), and strongly inhibited above this concentration. This enzyme is activated by Mn(2+) and stimulated somewhat by Ca(2+).

The bicarbonate effect, oxygen evolution, and the shadow of Otto Warburg.

A short list of the twentieth century's dominant figures in photosynthesis would unquestionably include Otto Warburg. One of his many discoveries, the 'bicarbonate effect' remains a lasting puzzle to his heirs in the field. Recent developments in this area of research have renewed interest and call for a re-examination of the ideas surrounding this controversial topic.

Carbonic anhydrase activity of the photosystem II OEC33 protein from pea.

The purpose of this study was to identify the location of one of the two sources of carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity associated with the PSII complex in chloroplast membranes. We tested the hypothesis that the extrinsic 33 kDa protein, OEC33, associated with the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), is one source of CA activity. We found that precursor OEC33 expressed in Escherichia coli exhibits CA activity, but the expressed precursors of OEC24 or OEC17 do not.

Extrinsic photosystem II carbonic anhydrase in maize mesophyll chloroplasts.

One form of carbonic anhydrase (CA) has been observed in maize (Zea mays) thylakoids and photosystem II (PSII)-enriched membranes. Here, we show that an antibody produced against a thylakoid lumen-targeted CA found in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reacts with a single 33-kD polypeptide in maize thylakoids. With immunoblot analysis, we found that this single polypeptide could be identified only in mesophyll thylakoids and derived PSII membranes, but not in bundle sheath thylakoids.