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Unique features of the ‘photo-energetics’ of purple bacteria: a critical survey by the late Aleksandr Yuryevich Borisov (1930–2019)

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Abstract

We provide here an edited version of the “Farewell discussion” by the late Aleksandr (Alex) Yuryevich (Yu) Borisov (1930–2019) on several aspects related to the excitation energy transfer in photosynthetic bacteria. It is preceded by a prolog giving the events that led to our decision to publish it. Further, we include here a few photographs to give a personal glimpse of this unique biophysicist of our time. In addition, we provide here a reminiscence, by Andrei B. Rubin, on the scientific beginnings of Borisov. This article follows a Tribute to Borisov by Semenov et al. (2019, Photosynthesis Research, this issue).

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Acknowledgements

We thank Mahir Mamedov for reading this manuscript and for discussing its content with one of us (APR) and for approving it for publication. We thank Andrei Borisov, son of Alex Borisov, for the photographs except Fig. 2. We whole-heartedly thank the two anonymous readers for their critical comments that led us to quote Abraham Maslow and to add caveats—hoping for others to examine, extend, challenge and provide a final picture on the overall mechanism of the photo-(bio) energetics of purple bacteria, as stated by Alex Borisov. We are highly grateful to Andrei B. Rubin for his reminiscence of the early days of Borisov’s beginning career.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Center of Biophysics & Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Govindjee

  2. Department of Photosynthesis, A.N.Belozersky Research Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia

    Andrei P. Razjivin & Vladimir S. Kozlovsky

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  1. Govindjee
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  2. Andrei P. Razjivin
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  3. Vladimir S. Kozlovsky
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Correspondence to Govindjee.

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Although Govindjee continues to publish under one name, his formal name since 2019 is “Govindjee Govindjee”

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Govindjee, Razjivin, A.P. & Kozlovsky, V.S. Unique features of the ‘photo-energetics’ of purple bacteria: a critical survey by the late Aleksandr Yuryevich Borisov (1930–2019). Photosynth Res 146, 17–24 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-019-00683-0

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