Selective disruption of energy flow from phycobilisomes to Photosystem I

Efficient production of ATP and NADPH by the 'light' reactions of oxygen-evolving photosynthesis demands continuous adjustment of transfer of absorbed light energy from antenna complexes to Photosystem I (PS I) and II (PS II) reaction center complexes in response to changes in light quality. Treatment of intact cyanobacterial cells with N-ethylmaleimide appears to disrupt energy transfer from phycobilisomes to Photosystem I (PS I). Energy transfer from phycobilisomes to Photosystem II (PS II) is unperturbed. Spectroscopic analysis indicates that the individual complexes (phycobilisomes, PS II, PS I) remain functionally intact under these conditions. The results are consistent with the presence of connections between phycobiliproteins and both PS II and PS I, but they do not support the existence of direct contacts between the two photosystems.