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Relationship: 3863
Title
PSII inhibition leads to Decreased PSII electron transport
Upstream event
Downstream event
Key Event Relationship Overview
AOPs Referencing Relationship
| AOP Name | Adjacency | Weight of Evidence | Quantitative Understanding | Point of Contact | Author Status | OECD Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atrazine-induced photosystem II inhibition leading to yield loss in rice (Oryza sativa) | adjacent | Moderate | Low | SURIYA S (send email) | Under development: Not open for comment. Do not cite |
Taxonomic Applicability
Sex Applicability
Life Stage Applicability
Key Event Relationship Description
Inhibition of the photosystem II complex blocks the transfer of electrons from QA to QB, directly resulting in a decreased rate of electron transport through the photosystem II complex.
Evidence Collection Strategy
A literature search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar using keywords: "atrazine", "photosystem II", "D1 protein", and "electron transport". Studies measuring chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) and oxygen evolution in isolated chloroplasts or whole leaves were prioritized.
Evidence Supporting this KER
Multiple studies demonstrate temporal and dose concordance. Binding of atrazine to the D1 protein occurs rapidly (within minutes), followed immediately by a measurable decrease in electron transport rate (ETR). The inhibition is dose-dependent, with higher concentrations of atrazine causing a near-complete block of electron flow from QA to QB.
Biological Plausibility
High. The structural and functional relationship between the D1 protein binding site and the electron transport chain is canonically established in plant physiology.
Empirical Evidence
Multiple studies demonstrate temporal and dose concordance. Binding of atrazine to the D1 protein occurs rapidly (within minutes), followed immediately by a measurable decrease in electron transport rate (ETR). The inhibition is dose-dependent, with higher concentrations of atrazine causing a near-complete block of electron flow from QA to QB.
Uncertainties and Inconsistencies
No significant inconsistencies in the core mechanism exist; the relationship is universally conserved across higher plants. Minor uncertainties may arise from differences in experimental conditions (e.g., light intensity, temperature) affecting baseline ETR values.
Known modulating factors
Quantitative Understanding of the Linkage
The relationship is highly quantitative. The binding affinity (Kd) of atrazine to the QB site directly predicts the fractional inhibition of electron transport, which can be modeled using standard receptor-ligand kinetics.
Response-response Relationship
A sigmoidal dose-response curve describes the relationship, where increasing the concentration of bound atrazine leads to a proportional decrease in electron transport rate.
Time-scale
Rapid: Inhibition of electron transport occurs within seconds to minutes of exposure to atrazine.
Known Feedforward/Feedback loops influencing this KER
Domain of Applicability
Taxonomic: Higher plants (Embryophyta), specifically Oryza sativa. Life Stage: All photosynthetic life stages. Sex: Not applicable.
References
1. Trebst, A. (2007). Inhibitors of photosystem II: Their history and mode of action. Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 62(3-4), 173-182.