Structure of the red absorption band of chlorophyll a in Aspidistra elatior

Abstract

The red absorption band of chlorophyll a in chloroplasts of Aspidistra elatior consists of a main maximum and a number of weak shoulders. This number may vary in chloroplast preparations from different leaves. At most, five shoulders were noticed.

Heat treatment affects the shoulders in a mutually different way.

Upon storage at 23°, the red absorption band changes in two regions: both the main peak and one of the shoulders around 660 mμ shift to the long-wave side. As a rule, the shift of the main maximum needs 1–2 h for completion, while that of the shoulder is finished within 20–30 min.

Indication is obtained that the time course of the slow shift parallels that of the loss of ability to perform the reaction with 0.02 M p-benzoquinone as the oxidant.

It is concluded that, most probably, at least six forms of chlorophyll a occur in Aspidistra chloroplasts. To what extent their functions may be different remains to be studied.