Investigating changes in the redox state of Photosystem I at low pH

•Low pH can regulate cyclic electron flow (CEF) around PSI.•Faster dark re-reduction of PSI takes place at low pH.•Low pH increases intersystem electron pool or PQ pool if DCMU is absent.•In the presence of DCMU other stromal components also contribute.

Changes in the redox state of Photosystem I (PSI) were studied in spinach leaf discs suspended in buffers of different pH (pH 7.5, 6.5, 5.5 and 4.5). By measuring absorbance changes at 820 nm, it was observed that under normal conditions, the electrons were supplied by Photosystem II (PSII) for the photo-oxidation of P700 while in the presence of DCMU when electrons coming from PSII are blocked, cyclic electron flow (CEF) around PSI was the major source for the absorbance changes observed at 820 nm. This was supported by complete inhibition in the reduction of both single turnover (ST) area and multiple turnover (MT) area, in the presence of DCMU, which is generally filled up by the electrons coming from PSII. In the absence of DCMU, the intersystem electron pool or plastoquinone (PQ) pool was increased at low pH which was probably due to enhanced cyclic electron flow around PSI. Our results also suggest that at low pH, in the absence of DCMU, the major contribution for faster dark re-reduction of P700+ is attributed mainly by PSII and CEF PSI while in the presence of DCMU, the significant contribution is provided by CEF PSI and other stromal components.