The requirement for Ca2+ in the Mn(2+)-dependent photoactivation of oxygen evolution was re-evaluated using 17 kDa/24 kDa-less photosystem II (PSII) membranes depleted of (Mn)4-clusters by NH2OH extraction. At optimum conditions (1 mM Mn2+/10 microM 2,6-dichlorphenolindophenol (DCIP)/20 mM Ca2+), the light-induced increase of oxygen-evolution activity, the increase of membrane-bound Mn, and the B-band thermoluminescence emission intensity occurred in parallel. The extent of recovery of the oxygen-evolution activity was equivalent to 88% and 66% of the activity shown by parent NaCl-extracted PSII membranes and by PSII membranes, respectively. Neither photodamage of primary electron transport nor photoligation of nonfunctional Mn > or = 3+ occurred. Analyses of the Ca2+ concentration dependence for the maximum recovery of oxygen evolution activity gave evidence for Ca(2+)-binding site(s) having Km values of approximately 38 and approximately 1300 microM. Illumination of membranes in the strict absence of Ca2+ resulted in large increases (up to 18 Mn/200 chlorophyll) of EDTA nonextractable, EPR silent, nonfunctional membrane-bound Mn > or = 3+ and small increases of oxygen-evolution capability, dependent on pH and concentrations of Mn2+ and DCIP. No photodamage of primary electron transport and only approximately 17% decrease of AT-band thermoluminescence occurred during the photoligation of the Mn > or = 3%. In the strict absence of Ca2+, significant recovery of oxygen-evolution activity was obtained under a limited set of conditions permitting photoligation of a limited abundance of the nonfunctional Mn > or = 3+. Small (NH2-OH, H2O2) as well as bulky external reductants readily reduced and dissociated the Mn > or = 3+ from the membranes. Reillumination of these membranes under optimal conditions for photoactivation (plus Ca2+) gave a high yield of (Mn)4-clusters and oxygen-evolution capability. Similarly, simple addition of Ca2+ to membranes containing nonfunctional Mn > or = 3+ followed by reillumination resulted in the conversion of Mn > or = 3+ to (Mn)4-clusters. It is argued that Ca2+ promotes the conformational change involved in the conversion of the Mn2+ mononuclear intermediate to the Mn(3+)-Mn2+ binuclear intermediate in the photoactivation mechanism, thereby permitting photoassembly of (Mn)4-clusters and preventing photo-inactivation by Mn > or = 3+ ions.

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Graphdiyne (GDY), a new kind of two-dimensional (2D) carbon allotropes, has extraordinary electrical, mechanical, and optical properties, leading to advanced applications in the fields of energy storage, photocatalysis, electrochemical catalysis, and sensors. However, almost all reported methods require metallic copper as a substrate, which severely limits their large-scale application because of the high cost and low specific surface area (SSA) of copper substrate. Here, freestanding three-dimensional GDY (3DGDY) is successfully prepared using naturally abundant and inexpensive diatomite as template. In addition to the intrinsic properties of GDY, the fabricated 3DGDY exhibits a porous structure and high SSA that enable it to be directly used as a lithium-ion battery anode material and a 3D scaffold to create Rh@3DGDY composites, which would hold great potential applications in energy storage and catalysts, respectively.

β-Graphdiyne (β-GDY) is a member of 2D graphyne family with zero band gap, and is a promising material with potential applications in energy storage, organic electronics, etc. However, the synthesis of β-GDY has not been realized yet, and the measurement of its intrinsic properties remains elusive. In this work, β-GDY-containing thin film is successfully synthesized on copper foil using modified Glaser-Hay coupling reaction with tetraethynylethene as precursor. The as-grown carbon film has a smooth surface and is continuous and uniform. Electrical measurements reveal the conductivity of 3.47 × 10 S m and the work function of 5.22 eV. TiO @β-GDY nanocomposite is then prepared and presented with an enhancement of photocatalytic ability compared to pure TiO .

A method for cellular fractionation of Chiamydomonas reinhardii, SAG 11-32/b, and isolation of intact chloroplasts from synchronized cells of the alga is described. The procedure for ceil fractionation comprises essentially four steps: (1) protoplast production with autolysine; (2) lysis of the protoplasts with digitonin; (3) aggregation of broken protoplasts; and (4) separation of organelles by differential centrifugations.Replacing the differential centrifugations (step 4) by Percoll cushion centrifugations yields intact chloroplasts. Starting with 100 milliliters of an algal culture containing 3000 micrograms chlorophyll, intact chloroplasts with 100 to 200 micrograms of chlorophyll can be isolated. Envelope integrity is about 90% (ferricyanide assay). Examination of the chloroplasts by electron microscopy and marker enzyme activities indicated some mitochondrial and cytoplasmic contamination.The biochemistry and physiology of unicellular green algae have been studied intensively because these algae can be maintained easily under laboratory conditions. Cultures can be synchronized (21) and some strains grow heterotrophically as well as autotrophically and mixotrophically. Many similarities with the metabolism of higher plants have been established. The pathway of photosynthetic CO2 reduction was primarily elucidated with unicellular green algae. Enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle and glycolate metabolism, previously found in higher plants, could also be measured in algae, proving the general occurrence of these pathways in plants. Although it was possible to relate these pathways and cycles to cellular organelles in higher plants, very few investigations are reported on the compartmentation of metabolism in unicellular green algae. The first detailed study of localization of enzymes in a unicellular alga of the Chlamydomonas type was made by Kombrink and Wober (16) who were able to demonstrate the activity of starch-metabolizing enzymes in chloroplasts of Dunaliella marina. In their investigation, they used a new method involving DEAE-dextran for cell lysis.One reason for the difficulties in cell fractionation of unicellular