Ruptured pea (Pisum sativum cv. Massey Gem) chloroplasts exhibited ascorbate peroxidase activity as determined by H202-dependent oxidation of ascorbate and ascorbate-dependent reduction of H202. The ratio of ascorbate peroxidase to NADP-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase activity was constant during repeated washing of isolated chloroplasts. This To date, detailed studies on the mechanism(s) of 02 evolution coupled to H202 reduction have not been presented. Here, we report such studies using ruptured chloroplasts. Reaction 5 is also consistent with catalase activity. Although catalase is predominantly a peroxisomal enzyme (13), residual catalase activity is invariably associated with isolated chloroplast preparations (1). Accordingly, evidence is presented which excludes the possibility that catalase activity is involved in the operation of reaction 5 in ruptured chloroplasts, in the light.
MATERIALS AND METHODSChemicals. Chemicals were obtained from the sources described previously (16). H202 and t-butyl hydroperoxide concentrations were determined by titration with standardized KMnO4. The GSH contained 6% GSSG (16).Chloroplast Preparation. Unwashed, sonicated, or osmotically shocked chloroplasts were prepared as described previously (15, 16) from pea seedlings (Pisum sativum cv. Massey Gem). In the studies reported here, the unwashed chloroplasts were repeatedly washed (4 times) with a washing medium (16)