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Functional mechanism of water splitting photosynthesis

  • Personal Perspective
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Abstract

A personal account is given on physico-chemical aspects of photosynthesis. The article starts with the way I entered the field of photosynthesis. Then, selected results from our research group are discussed. Three methods used for functional analysis in our laboratory are described: the repetitive flash spectroscopy; the electrochromic volt- and ammeter; and the membrane energization by a battery. Our subsequent studies deal with the two photoreaction centers, the primary charge separation, the plastoquinones as a transmembrane link between the two centers and the vectorial electron- and proton pathways. The results led to a picture of the elementary functional mechanism of the molecular machinery in the thylakoid membrane. The perspective then focuses on the coupling between the electric field, protons and phosphorylation. This section is followed by our observations and analysis of the mechanism of water cleavage and its coupling with the functioning of reaction center II. Finally, information is provided on structural aspects of the two reaction centers. The article ends with a retrospect.

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Abbreviations

ADP(ATP):

adenosine di(tri)phosphate

A0, A1 :

electron carriers

Car:

carotenoid

Chl-a 1 (P700):

chlorophyll-a 1

Chl-a II (P680):

chlorophyll-a II

Cyt:

cytrochrome

Fd:

ferredoxin

FeS:

iron sulphur

Fe:

iron

FX, FA, FB :

FeS clusters

HA:

hydroxylamine

Mn:

manganese

NADP+ (TPN):

nictoinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

PC:

plastocyanin

Pheo:

pheophytin

PQ:

plastoquinone

P:

phosphate

QA (QB):

primary (secondary) plastoquinone acceptor

RC I(II):

reaction center I (II)

S0, 1, 2, 3, 4 :

different states of the water splitting enzyme S

Tyr:

tyrosine

X,Y,Z:

unknown redox components

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  1. Max-Volmer-Institut für Biophysikalische und Physikalische Chemie, Technische Universität Berlin, Straße des 17. Juni 135, D-1000, Berlin 12, Germany

    Horst Tobias Witt

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  1. Horst Tobias Witt
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This article was written at the invitation of Govindjee.

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Witt, H.T. Functional mechanism of water splitting photosynthesis. Photosynth Res 29, 55–77 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00035377

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