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Govindjee G, Amesz B, Garab G, Stirbet A. Remembering Jan Amesz (1934-2001): a great gentleman, a major discoverer, and an internationally renowned biophysicist of both oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis a. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2024; 160:125-142. [PMID: 38687462 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-024-01102-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
We present here the research contributions of Jan Amesz (1934-2001) on deciphering the details of the early physico-chemical steps in oxygenic photosynthesis in plants, algae and cyanobacteria, as well as in anoxygenic photosynthesis in purple, green, and heliobacteria. His research included light absorption and the mechanism of excitation energy transfer, primary photochemistry, and electron transfer steps until the reduction of pyridine nucleotides. Among his many discoveries, we emphasize his 1961 proof, with L. N. M. Duysens, of the "series scheme" of oxygenic photosynthesis, through antagonistic effects of Light I and II on the redox state of cytochrome f. Further, we highlight the following research on oxygenic photosynthesis: the experimental direct proof that plastoquinone and plastocyanin function at their respective places in the Z-scheme. In addition, Amesz's major contributions were in unraveling the mechanism of excitation energy transfer and electron transport steps in anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria (purple, green and heliobacteria). Before we present his research, focusing on his key discoveries, we provide a glimpse of his personal life. We end this Tribute with reminiscences from three of his former doctoral students (Sigi Neerken; Hjalmar Pernentier, and Frank Kleinherenbrink) and from several scientists (Suleyman Allakhverdiev; Robert Blankenship; Richard Cogdell) including two of the authors (G. Garab and A. Stirbet) of this Tribute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Govindjee Govindjee
- Department of Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, and the Center of Biophysics & Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Bas Amesz
- Albertus Perkstraat 35, 1217 NL, Hilversum, The Netherlands
| | - Győző Garab
- Biological Research Centre, Institute of Plant Biology, HUN-REN, 6726, Szeged, Hungary
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 71000, Ostrava, Czech Republic
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Xin Y, Pan J, Collins AM, Lin S, Blankenship RE. Excitation energy transfer and trapping dynamics in the core complex of the filamentous photosynthetic bacterium Roseiflexus castenholzii. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2012; 111:149-156. [PMID: 21792612 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-011-9669-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2010] [Accepted: 07/02/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The light-harvesting core complex of the thermophilic filamentous anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium Roseiflexus castenholzii is intrinsic to the cytoplasmic membrane and intimately bound to the reaction center (RC). Using ultrafast transient absorption and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy with selective excitation, energy transfer, and trapping dynamics in the core complex have been investigated at room temperature in both open and closed RCs. Results presented in this report revealed that the excited energy transfer from the BChl 800 to the BChl 880 band of the antenna takes about 2 ps independent of the trapping by the RC. The time constants for excitation quenching in the core antenna BChl 880 by open and closed RCs were found to be 60 and 210 ps, respectively. Assuming that the light harvesting complex is generally similar to LH1 of purple bacteria, the possible structural and functional aspects of this unique antenna complex are discussed. The results show that the core complex of Roseiflexus castenholzii contains characteristics of both purple bacteria and Chloroflexus aurantiacus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueyong Xin
- Departments of Biology and Chemistry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
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Novoderezhkin VI, Razjivin AP. THEORETICAL STUDY OF CIRCULAR DICHROISM OF THE LIGHT-HARVESTING ANTENNA OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC PURPLE BACTERIA: A CONSIDERATION OF EXCITON INTERACTIONS and ENERGY DISORDER. Photochem Photobiol 2008. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-1097.1995.tb02405.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Timpmann K, Trinkunas G, Qian P, Hunter CN, Freiberg A. Excitons in core LH1 antenna complexes of photosynthetic bacteria: Evidence for strong resonant coupling and off-diagonal disorder. Chem Phys Lett 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cplett.2005.08.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Law CJ, Roszak AW, Southall J, Gardiner AT, Isaacs NW, Cogdell RJ. The structure and function of bacterial light-harvesting complexes. Mol Membr Biol 2004; 21:183-91. [PMID: 15204626 DOI: 10.1080/09687680410001697224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The harvesting of solar radiation by purple photosynthetic bacteria is achieved by circular, integral membrane pigment-protein complexes. There are two main types of light-harvesting complex, termed LH2 and LH1, that function to absorb light energy and to transfer that energy rapidly and efficiently to the photochemical reaction centres where it is trapped. This mini-review describes our present understanding of the structure and function of the purple bacterial light-harvesting complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Law
- Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Institute of Biomedical & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow Glasgow, UK
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Borisov AY, Sidorin YM. The revision of the model of primary energy conversion in purple bacteria. Bioelectrochemistry 2003; 59:113-9. [PMID: 12699827 DOI: 10.1016/s1567-5394(03)00017-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A simulation method is suggested which enables one to check whether a model for excitation energy exchange in an ensemble of dye molecules fits available experimental data. In particular, this method may deal with photosynthetic units (PSUs) in which excitation migration in antenna chlorophylls and their substantial trapping in reaction centers (RCs) take place. Its application to the purple bacteria has proved that the model, which was generally accepted during the last 20-30 years, is in contradiction with recent experimental facts and thus requires modernization. Two physical mechanisms are discussed: femtosecond polarization of mobile hydrogen atoms near the reaction center special pair ("water latch"), and the presence of excitons delocalized over several core-bacteriochlorophylls (BChls). Our considerations give evidence that neither of these mechanisms alone can resolve the conflict, but their cumulative action appears to be sufficient. Unfortunately, these mechanisms were as yet only partially addressed experimentally.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Y Borisov
- A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University 119899, Moscow, Russia.
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Neerken S, Amesz J. The antenna reaction center complex of heliobacteria: composition, energy conversion and electron transfer. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2001; 1507:278-90. [PMID: 11687220 DOI: 10.1016/s0005-2728(01)00207-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A survey is given of various aspects of the photosynthetic processes in heliobacteria. The review mainly refers to results obtained since 1995, which had not been covered earlier. It first discusses the antenna organization and pigmentation. The pigments of heliobacteria include some unusual species: bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) g, the main pigment, 8(1) hydroxy chlorophyll a, which acts as primary electron acceptor, and 4,4'-diaponeurosporene, a carotenoid with 30 carbon atoms. Energy conversion within the antenna is very fast: at room temperature thermal equilibrium among the approx. 35 BChls g of the antenna is largely completed within a few ps. This is then followed by primary charge separation, involving a dimer of BChl g (P798) as donor, but recent evidence indicates that excitation of the acceptor pigment 8(1) hydroxy chlorophyll a gives rise to an alternative primary reaction not involving excited P798. The final section of the review concerns secondary electron transfer, an area that is relatively poorly known in heliobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Neerken
- Department of Biophysics, Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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Permentier HP, Neerken S, Schmidt KA, Overmann J, Amesz J. Energy transfer and charge separation in the purple non-sulfur bacterium Roseospirillum parvum. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2000; 1460:338-45. [PMID: 11106774 DOI: 10.1016/s0005-2728(00)00200-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The antenna reaction centre system of the recently described purple non-sulfur bacterium Roseospirillum parvum strain 930I was studied with various spectroscopic techniques. The bacterium contains bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) a, 20% of which was esterified with tetrahydrogeranylgeraniol. In the near-infrared, the antenna showed absorption bands at 805 and 909 nm (929 nm at 6 K). Fluorescence bands were located at 925 and 954 nm, at 300 and 6 K, respectively. Fluorescence excitation spectra and time resolved picosecond absorbance difference spectroscopy showed a nearly 100% efficient energy transfer from BChl 805 to BChl 909, with a time constant of only 2.6 ps. This and other evidence indicate that both types of BChl belong to a single LH1 complex. Flash induced difference spectra show that the primary electron donor absorbs at 886 nm, i.e. at 285 cm(-1) higher energy than the long wavelength antenna band. Nevertheless, the time constant for trapping in the reaction centre was the same as for almost all other purple bacteria: 55+/-5 ps. The shape as well as the amplitude of the absorbance difference spectrum of the excited antenna indicated exciton interaction and delocalisation of the excited state over the BChl 909 ring, whereas BChl 805 appeared to have a monomeric nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- H P Permentier
- Department of Biophysics, Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
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Bernhardt K, Trissl H. Escape probability and trapping mechanism in purple bacteria: revisited. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2000; 1457:1-17. [PMID: 10692545 DOI: 10.1016/s0005-2728(99)00103-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Despite intensive research for decades, the trapping mechanism in the core complex of purple bacteria is still under discussion. In this article, it is attempted to derive a conceptionally simple model that is consistent with all basic experimental observations and that allows definite conclusions on the trapping mechanism. Some experimental data reported in the literature are conflicting or incomplete. Therefore we repeated two already published experiments like the time-resolved fluorescence decay in LH1-only purple bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas viridis chromatophores with open and closed (Q(A)(-)) reaction centers. Furthermore, we measured fluorescence excitation spectra for both species under the two redox-conditions. These data, all measured at room temperature, were analyzed by a target analysis based on a three-state model (antenna, primary donor, and radical pair). All states were allowed to react reversibly and their decay channels were taken into consideration. This leads to seven rate constants to be determined. It turns out that a unique set of numerical values of these rate constants can be found, when further experimental constraints are met simultaneously, i.e. the ratio of the fluorescence yields in the open and closed (Q(A)(-)) states F(m)/F(o) approximately 2 and the P(+)H(-)-recombination kinetics of 3-6 ns. The model allows to define and to quantify escape probabilities and the transfer equilibrium. We conclude that trapping in LH1-only purple bacteria is largely transfer-to-the-trap-limited. Furthermore, the model predicts properties of the reaction center (RC) in its native LH1-environment. Within the framework of our model, the predicted P(+)H(-)-recombination kinetics are nearly indistinguishable for a hypothetically isolated RC and an antenna-RC complex, which is in contrast to published experimental data for physically isolated RCs. Therefore RC preparations may display modified kinetic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Bernhardt
- Abteilung Biophysik, Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, University of Osnabrück, Barbarastr. 11, D-49069, Osnabrück, Germany
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Cogdell RJ, Isaacs NW, Howard TD, McLuskey K, Fraser NJ, Prince SM. How photosynthetic bacteria harvest solar energy. J Bacteriol 1999; 181:3869-79. [PMID: 10383951 PMCID: PMC93873 DOI: 10.1128/jb.181.13.3869-3879.1999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- R J Cogdell
- Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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Sundström V, Pullerits T, van Grondelle R. Photosynthetic Light-Harvesting: Reconciling Dynamics and Structure of Purple Bacterial LH2 Reveals Function of Photosynthetic Unit. J Phys Chem B 1999. [DOI: 10.1021/jp983722+] [Citation(s) in RCA: 672] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Owen GM, Hoff AJ, Jones MR. Excitonic Interactions between the Reaction Center and Antennae in Purple Photosynthetic Bacteria. J Phys Chem B 1997. [DOI: 10.1021/jp9633759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle M. Owen
- Department of Biophysics, Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arnold J. Hoff
- Department of Biophysics, Huygens Laboratory, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Michael R. Jones
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2UH, U.K
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Chiou HC, Lin S, Blankenship RE. Time-resolved spectroscopy of energy transfer and trapping upon selective excitation in membranes of Heliobacillus mobilis at low temperature. J Phys Chem B 1997; 101:4136-41. [PMID: 11540131 DOI: 10.1021/jp963384h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Transient absorption difference spectra in the Qy absorption band of bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) g and in the 670 nm absorption band of the primary acceptor A0 in membranes of Heliobacillus mobilis (Hc. mobilis) were measured at 20 K upon selective excitation at 668, 793, 810, and 815 nm with a 5 nm spectral bandwidth. When excited at 793 nm, the spectral equilibration of excitations from shorter to longer wavelength-absorbing pigments occurred within 3 ps and mostly localized at the band centered around 808 nm. When excited at 668 nm, the excitation energy transfer from the 670 nm absorbing pigment to the Qy band of BChl g took less than 0.5 ps, and the energy redistribution occurred and localized at 808 nm as in the case of the 793 nm excitation. All of the excitations were localized at the long wavelength pigment pool centered around 810 or 813 nm when excited at 810 or 815 nm. A slower energy transfer process with a time constant of 15 ps was also observed within the pool of long wavelength-absorbing pigments upon selective excitation at different wavelengths as has been observed by Lin et al. (Biophys. J. 1994, 67, 2479) when excited at 590 nm. Energy transfer from long wavelength antenna molecules to the primary electron donor P798 followed by the formation of P+ took place with a time constant of 55-70 ps for all excitations. Direct excitation of the primary electron acceptor A0, which absorbed at 670 nm, showed the same kinetic behavior as in the case when different forms of antenna pigments were excited in the Qy region. This observation generally supports the trapping-limited case of energy transfer in which the excitations have high escape probability from the reaction center (RC) until the charge separation takes place. Possible mechanisms to account for the apparent "uphill" energy transfer from the long wavelength antenna pigments to P798 are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- H C Chiou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-1604, USA
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The theory of Forster-type migration between clusters of strongly interacting molecules: application to light-harvesting complexes of purple bacteria. Chem Phys 1996. [DOI: 10.1016/0301-0104(96)00130-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Trissl HW. Antenna organization in purple bacteria investigated by means of fluorescence induction curves. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 1996; 47:175-185. [PMID: 24301825 DOI: 10.1007/bf00016180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/1995] [Accepted: 12/11/1995] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence induction curves of purple bacteria (Rs. rubrum, Rps. viridis and Rb. capsulatus) were measured in the sub-millisecond time range employing a xenon flash technique. The induction curves of all three species displayed a sigmoidal shape. Analysis of the curves showed that none of the species examined had an antenna organization of a lake (i.e. unrestricted energy transfer between photosynthetic units). The apparent time constants of inter-unit exciton transfer were estimated to be approximately 24 ps in the case of LHC 1-containing species (Rs. rubrum and Rps. viridis) and 40 ps in the case of the LHC 2-containing species Rb. capsulatus. This result demonstrates that LHC 2 (B800-850) acts as a sort of insulator between photosynthetic units. Assuming a coordination number of 6 in the LHC 1-containing species the mean single step energy transfer time between adjacent LHC 1 can be estimated to be 4-5 ps. This is not perfectly compatible with the much faster Förster transfer rate of <1ps that follows from the minimal chromophore-chromophore distances estimated from digital image processing of micrographs from stained membranes. It thus may be concluded that the photosynthetic units (reaction center plus LHC 1) are loosely arranged in the photosynthetic membrane, like in the fluid-mosaic-membrane model, rather than in a hexagonally crystalline configuration.
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Affiliation(s)
- H W Trissl
- Abteilung Biophysik, Fachbereich Biologie/Chemie, Universität Osnabrück, Barbarastraße 11, D-49069, Osnabrück, Germany
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Timpmann K, Freiberg A, Sundström V. Energy trapping and detrapping in the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas viridis: transfer-to-trap-limited dynamics. Chem Phys 1995. [DOI: 10.1016/0301-0104(95)00072-v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Dracheva T, Novoderezhkin V, Razjivin A. Excition theory of spectra and energy transfer in photosynthesis: spectral hole burning in the antenna of purple bacteria. Chem Phys 1995. [DOI: 10.1016/0301-0104(95)00038-p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Kinetics of Excitation Transfer and Trapping in Purple Bacteria. ADVANCES IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND RESPIRATION 1995. [DOI: 10.1007/0-306-47954-0_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Kennis JT, Aartsma TJ, Amesz J. Energy trapping in the purple sulfur bacteria Chromatium vinosum and Chromatium tepidum. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 1994. [DOI: 10.1016/0005-2728(94)90046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Novoderezhkin VI, Razjivin AP. Exciton states of the antenna and energy trapping by the reaction center. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 1994; 42:9-15. [PMID: 24307463 DOI: 10.1007/bf00019053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/1993] [Accepted: 05/06/1994] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Forward and back energy transfer between antenna and RC in the photosynthetic apparatus of purple bacteria was studied taking into account the exciton states of the antenna. The exciton states were calculated for core antenna configuration in the form of a circular aggregate of N identical BChl molecules with the CN-symmetry. The influence of pigment inhomogeneity on the proposed exciton description of the antenna and its interaction with RC was investigated. The ratio between the rate constants of forward and back energy transfer between the exciton levels of the antenna and RC was obtained as a function of the temperature, the number of antenna BChls and the antenna exciton level position with respect to BChl special pair level of RC. A versatile analytical expression for this ratio which is independent of the BChl special pair level position and its dipole orientation was derived. The proposed model results in an irreversible excitation trapping by RC even at room temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- V I Novoderezhkin
- International Laser Center of Moscow State University, Russian Academy of Science, 142092, Troitsk, Moscow Region, Russia
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