The distribution of photosystem I (PS I) and photosystem II (PS II) in a primitive green alga Tetraselmis subcordiformis, which belongs to Prasinophyceae and does not have grana in its chloroplast, was studied by immunoelectron microscopy. Two PS I antibodies were used: one against a PS I component of maize, the other against the 60 and 62 KDa PS I reaction centre proteins of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus. Both antibodies showed that 76-78% of the labelling is on the appressed thylakoid membranes and only 22-24% is located on the unappressed membranes. Use of antiserum against cp-47 of PS II from S. elongatus also gives 76% of the labelling on appressed thylakoid membranes and 24% on unappressed thylakoid membranes. Cytochemical detection of PS I activity by the photooxidation of 3,3$ sp prime$-diaminobenzidine and of PS II activity by the photoreduction of distyryl nitroblue tetrazolium chloride also revealed that PS I and PS II activities exist on both types of thylakoid membranes. Therefore, our results indicate that the distribution of PS I and PS II in green algae may differ from that in higher plants.

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