Interaction of Triton X-100 with the pigment-protein complexes of photosynthetic membranes

Abstract

The interaction of the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 with photosynthetic pigment-protein membrane components of Pisum sativum (pea) is described. The detergent affected both the wavelength and the intensity of the 77.degree. K fluorescence-emission peaks of both Photosystem I and Photosystem II preparations, in addition to the effects on whole thylakoids recently described by Murphy et Woodrow. Below its critical micellar concentration, Triton X-100 had no effect on 77.degree. K fluorescence emissions even after prolonged incubations of .ltoreq. 30 min. Above the critical micellar concentration of .apprx. 0.16 mg .cntdot. ml-1, Triton X-100 caused a dramatic increase in the intensity of the 680 nm emission. The intensity of the 680 nm fluorescence emission continued to increase as more Triton X-100 was added, until limiting concentrations of detergent were reached. These limiting concentrations were proportional to the amount of membrane present and generally occurred at Triton X-100/chlorophyll (wt/wt) ratios of 100-200:1. In all cases the detergent effect was seen within 10 min, and often considerably faster, with longer detergent treatments causing no further effects. The data are discussed in terms of a 3-stage mechanism for detergent solubilization of membrane components.