Cytochrome bc 1 and b 6 f complexes of photosynthetic membranes

Transmembrane signaling and assembly of the cytochrome b6f-lipidic charge transfer complex

Structure-function properties of the cytochrome b6f complex are sufficiently unique compared to those of the cytochrome bc1 complex that b6f should not be considered a trivially modified bc1 complex. A unique property of the dimeric b6f complex is its involvement in transmembrane signaling associated with the p-side oxidation of plastoquinol. Structure analysis of lipid binding sites in the cyanobacterial b6f complex prepared by hydrophobic chromatography shows that the space occupied by the H transmembrane helix in the cytochrome b subunit of the bc1 complex is mostly filled by a lipid in the b6f crystal structure. It is suggested that this space can be filled by the domain of a transmembrane signaling protein. The identification of lipid sites and likely function defines the intra-membrane conserved central core of the b6f complex, consisting of the seven trans-membrane helices of the cytochrome b and subunit IV polypeptides. The other six TM helices, contributed by cytochrome f, the iron-sulfur protein, and the four peripheral single span subunits, define a peripheral less conserved domain of the complex. The distribution of conserved and non-conserved domains of each monomer of the complex, and the position and inferred function of a number of the lipids, suggests a model for the sequential assembly in the membrane of the eight subunits of the b6f complex, in which the assembly is initiated by formation of the cytochrome b6-subunit IV core sub-complex in a monomer unit. Two conformations of the unique lipidic chlorophyll a, defined in crystal structures, are described, and functions of the outlying β-carotene, a possible 'latch' in supercomplex formation, are discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Respiratory complex III and related bc complexes.

The bioenergetic role of dioxygen and the terminal oxidase(s) in cyanobacteria

Owing to the release of 13 largely or totally sequenced cyanobacterial genomes (see and ), it is now possible to critically assess and compare the most neglected aspect of cyanobacterial physiology, i.e., cyanobacterial respiration, also on the grounds of pure molecular biology (gene sequences). While there is little doubt that cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) do form the largest, most diversified and in both evolutionary and ecological respects most significant group of (micro)organisms on our earth, and that what renders our blue planet earth to what it is, viz. the O(2)-containing atmosphere, dates back to the oxygenic photosynthetic activity of primordial cyanobacteria about 3.2x10(9) years ago, there is still an amazing lack of knowledge on the second half of bioenergetic oxygen metabolism in cyanobacteria, on (aerobic) respiration. Thus, the purpose of this review is threefold: (1) to point out the unprecedented role of the cyanobacteria for maintaining the delicate steady state of our terrestrial biosphere and atmosphere through a major contribution to the poising of oxygenic photosynthesis against aerobic respiration ("the global biological oxygen cycle"); (2) to briefly highlight the membrane-bound electron-transport assemblies of respiration and photosynthesis in the unique two-membrane system of cyanobacteria (comprising cytoplasmic membrane and intracytoplasmic or thylakoid membranes, without obvious anastomoses between them); and (3) to critically compare the (deduced) amino acid sequences of the multitude of hypothetical terminal oxidases in the nine fully sequenced cyanobacterial species plus four additional species where at least the terminal oxidases were sequenced. These will then be compared with sequences of other proton-pumping haem-copper oxidases, with special emphasis on possible mechanisms of electron and proton transfer.

Kinetic modeling of the photosynthetic electron transport chain

A simulation model of the photosynthetic electron transport chain operating under steady state conditions is presented. The model enables the calculation of (1) the rates of electron transport and transmembrane proton translocation, (2) the proton/electron stoichiometry, (3) the number of electrons stored in the different redox centers and (4) the stationary transmembrane pH difference. Light intensity and proton permeability of the thylakoid membrane are varied in order to compare the predictions of the model with experimental data. The routes of electron transport and proton translocation are simulated by two coupled arithmetic loops. The first one represents the sequence of reaction steps making up the linear electron transport chain and the Q-cycle. This loop yields the electron flow rate and the proton/electron ratio. The second loop balances the H+ fluxes and yields the internal H+ concentration. The bifurcation of the electron transport pathways at the stage of plastoquinol oxidation is obligatory. The first electron enters always the linear branch and is transferred to photosystem I. The electron of the remaining semiquinone can enter the Q-cycle or, alternatively, the semiquinone can be lost from the cytochrome b6f complex. The competition between these two reactions explains the experimentally observed variability of the proton/electron ratio. We also investigated additional model variants, where the variation of the proton/electron stoichiometry is attributed to other loss reactions within the cytochrome b6f complex. However, the semiquinone detachment seems to be the best candidate for a satisfactory description of the experimental data. Additional calculations were done in order to assess the effects of the movement of the Rieske protein on linear electron transport; it was found that this conformational change does not limit the electron transport rate, if it occurs with a time constant of at least 1000 s(-1).

The cytochrome b(6)f complex: structural studies and comparison with the bc(1) complex

Electron crystallography of the chloroplastic b(6)f complex allowed the calculation of projection maps of crystals negatively stained or embedded in glucose. This gives insights into the overall structure of the extra- and transmembrane domains of the complex. A comparison with the structure of the bc(1) complex, the mitochondrial homologue of the b(6)f complex, suggests that the transmembrane domains of the two complexes are very similar, confirming the structural homology deduced from sequence analysis. On the other hand, the extramembrane organisation of the c-type cytochrome and of the Rieske protein seems quite different. Nevertheless, the same type of movement of the Rieske protein is observed in the b(6)f as in the bc(1) complex upon the binding of the quinol analogue stigmatellin. Crystallographic data also suggest movements in the transmembrane domains of the b(6)f complex, which would be specific of the b(6)f complex.

Conformational changes in the cytochrome b6f complex induced by inhibitor binding

Binding of stigmatellin, an inhibitor of the Q(o) site of the bc-type complexes, has been shown to induce large conformational changes of the Rieske protein in the respiratory bc(1) complex (Kim, H., Xia, D., Yu, C. A., Xia, J. Z., Kachurin, A. M., Zhang, L., Yu, L., and Deisenhofer, J. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 8026-8033; Iwata, S., Lee, J. W., Okada, K., Lee, J. K., Iwata, M., Rasmussen, B., Link, T. A., Ramaswamy, S., and Jap, B. K. (1998) Science 281, 64-71; Zhang, Z., Huang, L., Shulmeister, V. M., Chi, Y. I., Kim, K. K., Hung, L. W., Crofts, A. R., Berry, E. A., and Kim, S. H. (1998) Nature 392, 677-684). Such a movement seems necessary to shuttle electrons from the membrane-soluble quinol to the extramembrane heme of cytochrome c(1). To see whether similar changes occur in the related photosynthetic b(6)f complex, we have studied the effect of the binding of stigmatellin to the eukaryotic b(6)f complex by electron crystallography. Comparison of projection maps of thin three-dimensional crystals prepared with or without stigmatellin, and either negatively stained or embedded in glucose, reveals a similar type of movement to that observed in the bc(1) complex and suggests also the occurrence of conformational changes in the transmembrane region.

An engineered cytochrome b6c1 complex with a split cytochrome b is able to support photosynthetic growth of Rhodobacter capsulatus

The ubihydroquinone-cytochrome c oxidoreductase (or the cytochrome bc1 complex) from Rhodobacter capsulatus is composed of the Fe-S protein, cytochrome b, and cytochrome c1 subunits encoded by petA(fbcF), petB(fbcB), and petC(fbcC) genes organized as an operon. In the work reported here, petB(fbcB) was split genetically into two cistrons, petB6 and petBIV, which encoded two polypeptides corresponding to the four amino-terminal and four carboxyl-terminal transmembrane helices of cytochrome b, respectively. These polypeptides resembled the cytochrome b6 and su IV subunits of chloroplast cytochrome b6f complexes, and together with the unmodified subunits of the cytochrome bc1 complex, they formed a novel enzyme, named cytochrome b6c1 complex. This membrane-bound multisubunit complex was functional, and despite its smaller amount, it was able to support the photosynthetic growth of R. capsulatus. Upon further mutagenesis, a mutant overproducing it, due to a C-to-T transition at the second base of the second codon of petBIV, was obtained. Biochemical analyses, including electron paramagnetic spectroscopy, with this mutant revealed that the properties of the cytochrome b6c1 complex were similar to those of the cytochrome bc1 complex. In particular, it was highly sensitive to inhibitors of the cytochrome bc1 complex, including antimycin A, and the redox properties of its b- and c-type heme prosthetic groups were unchanged. However, the optical absorption spectrum of its cytochrome bL heme was modified in a way reminiscent of that of a cytochrome b6f complex. Based on the work described here and that with Rhodobacter sphaeroides (R. Kuras, M. Guergova-Kuras, and A. R. Crofts, Biochemistry 37:16280-16288, 1998), it appears that neither the inhibitor resistance nor the redox potential differences observed between the bacterial (or mitochondrial) cytochrome bc1 complexes and the chloroplast cytochrome b6f complexes are direct consequences of splitting cytochrome b into two separate polypeptides. The overall findings also illustrate the possible evolutionary relationships among various cytochrome bc oxidoreductases.

The 9 A projection structure of cytochrome b6f complex determined by electron crystallography

Thin three-dimensional crystals of the cytochrome b6 f complex from the unicellular algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii have been grown by BioBeads-mediated detergent removal from a mixture of protein and lipid solubilized in Hecameg. Frozen-hydrated crystals, exhibiting p22121 plane group symmetry, were studied by electron crystallography and a projection map at 9 A resolution was calculated. The crystals (unit cell dimensions of a=173.5 A, b=70.0 A and gamma=90.0 degrees) showed the presence of dimers, and within each monomer 14 domains of electron density were observed. The combination of the projection map obtained from ice-embedded crystals of cytochrome b6 f with a previous map obtained from negatively stained samples brings new insight in the organization of the complex. For example, it distinguishes some peaks and/or domains that are only extramembrane or transmembrane, and reveals the possible localization of single-stranded transmembrane alpha-helices (Pet subunits). Furthermore, the cross-correlation of our projection map from frozen hydrated samples with the atomic model of the transmembrane part of the cytochrome bc1 complex has allowed us to localize the cytochrome b6 at the dimer interface and to reveal structural differences between the two complexes.

Proton to electron stoichiometry in electron transport of spinach thylakoids

According to the concept of the Q-cycle, the H+/e- ratio of the electron transport chain of thylakoids can be raised from 2 to 3 by means of the rereduction of plastoquinone across the cytochrome b6f complex. In order to investigate the H+/e- ratio we compared stationary rates of electron transport and proton translocation in spinach thylakoids both in the presence of the artificial electron acceptor ferricyanide and in the presence of the natural acceptor system ferredoxin+NADP. The results may be summarised as follows: (1) a variability of the H+/e- ratio occurs with either acceptor. H+/e- ratios of 3 (or even higher in the case of the natural acceptor system, see below) are decreased towards 2 if strong light intensity and low membrane permeability are employed. Mechanistically this could be explained by proton channels connecting the plastoquinol binding site alternatively to the lumenal or stromal side of the cytochrome b6f complex, giving rise to a proton slip reaction at high transmembrane DeltapH. In this slip reaction protons are deposited on the stromal instead of the lumenal side. In addition to the pH effect there seems to be a contribution of the redox state of the plastoquinone pool to the control of proton translocation; switching over to stromal proton deposition is favoured when the reduced state of plastoquinone becomes dominant. (2) In the presence of NADP a competition of both NADP and oxygen for the electrons supplied by photosystem I takes place, inducing a general increase of the H+/e- ratios above the values obtained with ferricyanide. The implications with respect to the adjustment of a proper ATP/NADPH ratio for CO2 reduction are discussed.

Dimer to monomer conversion of the cytochrome b6 f complex. Causes and consequences

The molecular weight of the cytochrome b6 f complex purified from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii thylakoid membranes has been determined by combining velocity sedimentation measurements, molecular sieving analyses, and determination of its lipid and detergent content. The complex in its enzymatically active form is a dimer. Upon incubation in detergent solution, it converts irreversibly into an inactive, monomeric form that has lost the Rieske iron-sulfur protein, the b6 f-associated chlorophyll, and, under certain conditions, the small 32-residue subunit PetL. The results are consistent with the view that the dimer is the predominant form of the b6f in situ while the monomer observed in detergent solution is a breakdown product. Indirect observations suggest that subunit PetL plays a role in stabilizing the dimeric state. Delipidation is shown to be a critical factor in detergent-induced monomerization.

On the presence and role of a molecule of chlorophyll a in the cytochrome b6 f complex

Highly purified preparations of cytochrome b6 f complex from the unicellar freshwater alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii contain about 1 molecule of chlorophyll a/cytochrome f. Several lines of evidence indicate that the chlorophyll is an authentic component of the complex rather than a contaminant. In particular, (i) the stoichiometry is constant; (ii) the chlorophyll is associated with the complex at a specific binding site, as evidenced by resonance Raman spectroscopy; (iii) it does not originate from free chlorophyll released from thylakoid membranes upon solubilization; and (iv) its rate of exchange with free, radioactive chlorophyll a is extremely slow (weeks). Some of the putative functional roles for a chlorophyll in the b6f complex are experimentally ruled out, and its possible evolutionary origin is briefly discussed.

Axial heme ligation in the cytochrome bc1 complexes of mitochondrial and photosynthetic membranes. A near-infrared magnetic circular dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance study

The combination of EPR and low-temperature near-IR magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopies have been used to investigate the axial ligation of the cytochromes in the cytochrome bc1 complexes from bovine heart mitochondria, Rhodobacter capsulatus, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and Rhodospirillum rubrum, and the purified cytochromes c1 from bovine heart mitochondria, Rb. capsulatus and Rb. sphaeroides. The possibility of axial ligation of cytochrome c1 by the amino terminus of the polypeptide was also assessed by acetylating the N-terminus of Rb. capsulatus cytochrome c1 and comparing the properties of the acetylated and unmodified samples. The results are consistent with bis-histidine axial ligation for the high- and low-potential b-type cytochromes and histidine/methionine axial ligation for the c1-type cytochrome in the intact cytochrome bc1 complexes. Purified samples of cytochrome c1 are mixtures of two forms, one with histidine/methionine and the other with bis-histidine axial ligation. The form with bis-histidine axial ligation is also assembled in the M183L mutant of the Rb. capsulatus cyt bc1 complex in which the methionine residue coordinating cyt c1 is replaced by a leucine. The bis-histidine form appears to be an artifact of dissociation of cytochrome c1 from the cytochrome bc1 complex and is greatly enhanced particularly in the bacterial cytochromes c1 by sample handling and the addition of 50% (v/v) ethylene glycol or glycerol.

Nucleotide sequence of the PetM gene encoding a 4 kDa subunit of the cytochrome b6f complex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the PetM gene from the single celled alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The gene encodes a recently characterized, small protein of the cytochrome b6f complex, and based on this sequence, it is proposed that this protein spans the membrane by a single alpha-helix. Comparison of the nucleotide sequence with the deduced amino acid sequence reveals a 60-amino-acid presequence similar to a stroma-targeting peptide.

N-terminal mutants of chloroplast cytochrome f. Effect on redox reactions and growth in Chlamydomonas reinhardtII

The N-terminal tyrosine of cytochrome f, which provides the sixth ligand to the heme group, has been changed by site-directed mutagenesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to evaluate the role of this amino acid in assembly and function. The second and third residues, proline and valine, respectively, have also been mutated. Y1P is the only strain that did not grow photoautotrophically. The other strains show cytochrome b6f complex/photosystem I reaction center chlorophyll, photosystem I unit size and chlorophyll a+b/cell ratios comparable with wild-type cells. Rates of cytochrome f photooxidation in all strains were similar (t1/2 approximately = 300 microsec), whereas the rate of re-reduction sensitive to stigmatellin (at Eh = 0 mV, (where Eh is the ambient redox potential) for wild-type, Y1W, Y1F, Y1S, P2V, and V3P had a tl/2 of 3, 4, 5, 9, 40, and 2 ms, respectively. Rates of oxygen evolution by whole cells of P2V, Y1F, and Y1S were 67, 80, and 80% of wild-type rates, respectively. At low light intensity, all competent strains had the same growth rate whereas at saturating intensities, only P2V showed a significant inhibition. These results are considered in relation to structure-function relationships in the cytochrome f molecule.

Nuclear genes required for post-translational steps in the biogenesis of the chloroplast cytochrome b6f complex in maize

Nuclear genes essential for the biogenesis of the chloroplast cytochrome b6f complex were identified by mutations that cause the specific loss of the complex. We describe four transposon-induced maize mutants that lack cytochrome b6f proteins but contain normal levels of other photosynthetic complexes. The four mutations define two nuclear genes. To identify the step at which each mutation blocks protein accumulation, mRNAs encoding each subunit were examined by Northern hybridization analysis and the rates of subunit synthesis were examined in pulse-labeling experiments. In each mutant the mRNAs encoding the known subunits of the complex were normal in size and abundance and the major subunits were synthesized at normal rates. Thus, these mutations block the biogenesis of the cytochrome b6f complex at a post-translational step. The two nuclear genes identified by these mutations may encode previously unknown subunits, be involved in prosthetic group synthesis or attachment, or facilitate assembly of the complex. These mutations were also used to provide evidence for the authenticity of a proposed fifth subunit of the complex and to demonstrate a role for the cytochrome b6f complex in protecting photosystem II from light-induced degradation.

The deletion of petG in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii disrupts the cytochrome bf complex

The 4-kDa protein encoded by chloroplast petG copurifies with the cytochrome bf complex of spinach and is found in a number of other photosynthetic organisms, including the eukaryotic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. To determine whether petG is involved in the function or assembly of the cytochrome bf complex, the gene was cloned from C. reinhardtii, excised from the DNA fragment, and replaced with a spectinomycin resistance cassette. A petG deletion strain of C. reinhardtii was then obtained by biolistic transformation. The resulting homoplasmic petG deletion strains are unable to grow photosynthetically, and immunoblot analysis shows markedly decreased levels of cytochrome b6, cytochrome f, the Rieske iron-sulfur protein, and subunit IV. To verify that this phenotype was due to the removal of petG, we also constructed a strain with a deletion in the open reading frame (ORF56), which is found 25 base pairs downstream of petG. The ORF56 deletion strain grew photosynthetically and had wild-type levels of the four major cytochrome bf subunits. We conclude that the absence of the PetG protein affects either the assembly or stability of the cytochrome bf complex in C. reinhardtii.

Purification and characterization of the cytochrome b6 f complex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

A protocol has been developed for the purification of the cytochrome b6 f complex from the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. It is based on the use of the neutral detergent Hecameg (6-O-(N-heptylcarbamoyl)-methyl-alpha-D-glycopyranoside) and comprises only three steps: selective solubilization from thylakoid membranes, sucrose gradient sedimentation, and hydroxylapatite chromatography. The purified complex contains two b hemes (alpha bands, 564 nm; Em,8 = -84 and -158 mV) and one chlorophyll alpha (lambda max = 667-668 nm) per cytochrome f (alpha band, 554 nm; Em,8 = +330 mV). It is highly active in transferring electrons from decylplastoquinol to oxidized plastocyanin (turnover number 250-300 s-1). The purified complex contains seven subunits, whose identity has been established by N-terminal sequencing and/or peptide-specific immunolabeling, namely four high molecular weight subunits (cytochrome f, Rieske iron-sulfur protein, cytochrome b6, and subunit IV) and three approximately 4-kDa miniproteins (PetG, PetL, and PetX). Stoichiometry measurements are consistent with every subunit being present as two copies per b6 f dimer.

Functional activities of monomeric and dimeric forms of the chloroplast cytochrome b6f complex

A monomeric form of the isolated cytochrome b6f complex from spinach chloroplast membranes has been isolated after treatment of the dimeric complex with varying concentrations of Triton X-100. The two forms of the complex are similar as regards electron transfer components and subunit composition. In contrast to a previous report (Huang et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33: 4401-4409) both the monomer and dimer are enzymatically active. However, after incorporation of the respective complexes into phospholipid vesicles, only the dimeric form of the cytochrome complex shows uncoupler sensitive electron transport, an indication of coupling of electron transport to proton translocation. The absence of this activity with the monomeric form of the cytochrome complex may be related to an inhibition by added lipids.

The kinetics of reactions around the cytochrome bf complex studied in an isolated system

The kinetics of oxidation and reduction of P700, plastocyanin, cytochrome f and cytochrome b-563 were studied in a reconstituted system consisting of Photosystem I particles, cytochrome bf complex and plastocyanin, all derived from pea leaf chloroplasts. Decyl plastoquinol was the reductant of the bf complex. Turnovers of the system were initiated by laser flashes. The reaction between oxidised P700 and plastocyanin was non-homogeneous in that a second-order rate coefficient of c. 5×10(-7) M(-1) s(-1) applied to 80% of the P700(+) and c. 0.7×10(7) M(-1) s(-1) to the remainder. In the presence of bf complex, but without quinol, the electron transfer between cytochrome f and oxidised plastocyanin could be described by a second-order rate coefficient of c. 4×10(7) M(-1) s(-1) (forward), and c. 1.6×10(7) M(-1) s(-1) (reverse). The equilibrium coefficient was thus 2.5. Unexpectedly, there was little reduction of cytochrome f (+) or plastocyanin(+) by electrons from the Rieske centre. With added quinol, reduction of cytochrome b-563 occurred. Concomitantly, electrons appeared in the oxidised species. It was inferred that either the Rieske centre was not involved in the high-potential chain of electron transfer events, or that, only in the presence of quinol, electrons were quickly passed from the Rieske centre to cytochrome f (+). Additionally, the presence of quinol altered the equilibrium coefficient for the cyt f/PC interaction from 2.5 to c. 5. The reaction between quinol and the bf complex was describable by a second-order rate coefficient of about 3×10(6) M(-1) s(-1). The pattern of the redox reactions around the bf complex could be simulated in detail with a Q-cycle model as previously found for chloroplasts.

Evolution of photosynthetic reaction centers and light harvesting chlorophyll proteins

It is proposed that there is a single evolutionary origin for photosynthetic reaction centers and also for most light-harvesting chlorophyll proteins. It is generally accepted that the purple bacterial reaction center (quinone-reducing photosystem) and the plant and cyanobacterial PSII (oxygen-evolving photosystem) are homologous. It is also apparent that the green sulfur bacterial reaction center is homologous to cyanobacterial PSI (the pyridine nucleotide reducing photosystem). However, it is less obvious that PSI is related to the purple bacterial reaction center. It is herein proposed that PSI represents a gene fusion of the precursors of small light harvesting bacteriochlorophyll proteins from purple bacteria and purple bacterial reaction centers. Furthermore, it is proposed that reaction centers evolved from the membrane-spanning cytochrome b of the cytochrome bc1 complex and that most membrane-spanning cytochromes may have a common origin.

The protonmotive Q cycle in mitochondria and bacteria

The cytochrome bc1 complex is an oligomeric electron transfer enzyme located in the inner membrane of mitochondria and the plasma membrane of bacteria. The cytochrome bc1 complex participates in respiration in eukaryotic cells and also participates in respiration, cyclic photosynthetic electron transfer, denitrification, and nitrogen fixation in a phylogenetically diverse collection of bacteria. In all of these organisms, the cytochrome bc1 complex transfers electrons from ubiquinol to cytochrome c and links this electron transfer to translocation of protons across the membrane in which it resides, thus converting the available free energy of the oxidation-reduction reaction into an electrochemical proton gradient. The mechanism by which the cytochrome bc1 complex achieves this energy transduction is the protonmotive Q cycle. The Q cycle mechanism has been documented by extensive experimentation, and recent investigations have focused on structural features of the three redox subunits of the bc1 complex essential to the protonmotive and electrogenic activities of this membranous enzyme.

Flash-induced proton transfer in photosynthetic bacteria

A proton electrochemical potential across the membranes of photosynthetic purple bacteria is established by a light-driven proton pump mechanism: the absorbed light in the reaction center initiates electron transfer which is coupled to the vectorial displacement of protons from the cytoplasm to the periplasm. The stoichiometry and kinetics of proton binding and release can be tracked directly by electric (glass electrodes), spectrophotometric (pH indicator dyes) and conductimetric techniques. The primary step in the formation of the transmembrane chemiosmotic potential is the uptake of two protons by the doubly reduced secondary quinone in the reaction center and the subsequent exchange of hydroquinol for quinone from the membrane quinone-pool. However, the proton binding associated with singly reduced promary and/or secondary quinones of the reaction center is substoichiometric, pH-dependent and its rate is electrostatically enhanced but not diffusion limited. Molecular details of protonation are discussed based on the crystallographic structure of the reaction center of purple bacteriaRb. sphaeroides andRps. viridis, structure-based molecular (electrostatic) calculations and mutagenesis directed at protonatable amino acids supposed to be involved in proton conduction pathways.