Phosphorylation of Photosystem II Components, CP43 Apoprotein, D1, D2, and 10 to 11 Kilodalton Protein in Chloroplast Thylakoids of Higher Plants

Abstract

Phosphorylated thylakoid proteins of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) were solubilized, fractionated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation, and analyzed by gel electrophoresis and crossed immunoelectrophoresis to identify the phosphoproteins. It was found that in addition to intense phosphorylation of light-harvesting chlorophyll complex II, four photosystem II components, CP43 apoprotein, D1, D2, and a 10 to 11 kilodalton protein, are substantially phosphorylated in the light. Furthermore, the CP43 apoprotein, D1 and D2 can be resolved into two electrophoretic subspecies, only one of which is phosphorylated. This indicates that only a fraction of the PSII polypeptides is phosphorylated. Finally, analysis of detergent procedures suggests that the 10 to 11 kilodalton phosphoprotein is a peripheral component of the O2-evolving PSII reaction center complex.