The cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis contains a long wavelength-absorbing pigment C738 (F76077K) at room temperature.

Spirulina platensis is a cyanobacterium which usually lives under high-light conditions. Nonetheless, it is thought to contain the most red-shifted antenna pigment of all known Chl a-containing phototrophic organisms, as shown by its 77 K fluorescence peaking at 760 nm. To exclude preparation artifacts and to exclude the possibility that long wavelength-absorbing pigments form only when the temperature is lowered to 77 K, we carried out experiments with whole cells at room temperature.

Why does the light-gradient photovoltage from photosynthetic organelles show a wavelength-dependent polarity?

The light-gradient photovoltage from photosynthetic organisms and organelles is thought to arise from the primary charge separation in the reaction centers. The current explanation of the effect is the stronger excitation of the membrane side of a vesicle facing the light source than the one on the opposite side. Together with the known orientation of reaction centers, this explanation predicts unequivocally the polarity of the photovoltage.

II. Electrical measurements in the nanosecond range of the charge separation from chloroplasts spread at a heptane-water interface. Application of a novel capacitive electrode.

Spinach chloroplasts are spread at a heptane-water interface. Applying a novel capacitative electrode introduced in the preceding paper (Trissl, H.-W.