1
|
Sirohiwal A, Neese F, Pantazis DA. Protein Matrix Control of Reaction Center Excitation in Photosystem II. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:18174-18190. [PMID: 33034453 PMCID: PMC7582616 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c08526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Photosystem II (PSII) is a multisubunit pigment-protein complex that uses light-induced charge separation to power oxygenic photosynthesis. Its reaction center chromophores, where the charge transfer cascade is initiated, are arranged symmetrically along the D1 and D2 core polypeptides and comprise four chlorophyll (PD1, PD2, ChlD1, ChlD2) and two pheophytin molecules (PheoD1 and PheoD2). Evolution favored productive electron transfer only via the D1 branch, with the precise nature of primary excitation and the factors that control asymmetric charge transfer remaining under investigation. Here we present a detailed atomistic description for both. We combine large-scale simulations of membrane-embedded PSII with high-level quantum-mechanics/molecular-mechanics (QM/MM) calculations of individual and coupled reaction center chromophores to describe reaction center excited states. We employ both range-separated time-dependent density functional theory and the recently developed domain based local pair natural orbital (DLPNO) implementation of the similarity transformed equation of motion coupled cluster theory with single and double excitations (STEOM-CCSD), the first coupled cluster QM/MM calculations of the reaction center. We find that the protein matrix is exclusively responsible for both transverse (chlorophylls versus pheophytins) and lateral (D1 versus D2 branch) excitation asymmetry, making ChlD1 the chromophore with the lowest site energy. Multipigment calculations show that the protein matrix renders the ChlD1 → PheoD1 charge-transfer the lowest energy excitation globally within the reaction center, lower than any pigment-centered local excitation. Remarkably, no low-energy charge transfer states are located within the "special pair" PD1-PD2, which is therefore excluded as the site of initial charge separation in PSII. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations suggest that modulation of the electrostatic environment due to protein conformational flexibility enables direct excitation of low-lying charge transfer states by far-red light.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Sirohiwal
- Max-Planck-Institut
für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
- Fakultät
für Chemie und Biochemie, Ruhr-Universität
Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Frank Neese
- Max-Planck-Institut
für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - Dimitrios A. Pantazis
- Max-Planck-Institut
für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kavanagh MA, Karlsson JKG, Colburn JD, Barter LMC, Gould IR. A TDDFT investigation of the Photosystem II reaction center: Insights into the precursors to charge separation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:19705-19712. [PMID: 32747579 PMCID: PMC7443915 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1922158117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Photosystem II (PS II) captures solar energy and directs charge separation (CS) across the thylakoid membrane during photosynthesis. The highly oxidizing, charge-separated state generated within its reaction center (RC) drives water oxidation. Spectroscopic studies on PS II RCs are difficult to interpret due to large spectral congestion, necessitating modeling to elucidate key spectral features. Herein, we present results from time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations on the largest PS II RC model reported to date. This model explicitly includes six RC chromophores and both the chlorin phytol chains and the amino acid residues <6 Å from the pigments' porphyrin ring centers. Comparing our wild-type model results with calculations on mutant D1-His-198-Ala and D2-His-197-Ala RCs, our simulated absorption-difference spectra reproduce experimentally observed shifts in known chlorophyll absorption bands, demonstrating the predictive capabilities of this model. We find that inclusion of both nearby residues and phytol chains is necessary to reproduce this behavior. Our calculations provide a unique opportunity to observe the molecular orbitals that contribute to the excited states that are precursors to CS. Strikingly, we observe two high oscillator strength, low-lying states, in which molecular orbitals are delocalized over ChlD1 and PheD1 as well as one weaker oscillator strength state with molecular orbitals delocalized over the P chlorophylls. Both these configurations are a match for previously identified exciton-charge transfer states (ChlD1+PheD1-)* and (PD2+PD1-)*. Our results demonstrate the power of TDDFT as a tool, for studies of natural photosynthesis, or indeed future studies of artificial photosynthetic complexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maeve A Kavanagh
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, W12 0BZ London, United Kingdom
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, W12 0BZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Joshua K G Karlsson
- Molecular Photonics Laboratory, School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan D Colburn
- School of Chemistry, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews KY16 9ST, Scotland
| | - Laura M C Barter
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, W12 0BZ London, United Kingdom;
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, W12 0BZ London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian R Gould
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, W12 0BZ London, United Kingdom;
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, W12 0BZ London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
The design of optimal light-harvesting (supra)molecular systems and materials is one of the most challenging frontiers of science. Theoretical methods and computational models play a fundamental role in this difficult task, as they allow the establishment of structural blueprints inspired by natural photosynthetic organisms that can be applied to the design of novel artificial light-harvesting devices. Among theoretical strategies, the application of quantum chemical tools represents an important reality that has already reached an evident degree of maturity, although it still has to show its real potentials. This Review presents an overview of the state of the art of this strategy, showing the actual fields of applicability but also indicating its current limitations, which need to be solved in future developments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carles Curutchet
- Departament de Fisicoquímica, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona , Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benedetta Mennucci
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Chimica Industriale, University of Pisa , via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nadtochenko VA, Shelaev IV, Mamedov MD, Shkuropatov AY, Semenov AY, Shuvalov VA. Primary radical ion pairs in photosystem II core complexes. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2014; 79:197-204. [PMID: 24821445 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297914030043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Ultrafast absorption spectroscopy with 20-fs resolution was applied to study primary charge separation in spinach photosystem II (PSII) reaction center (RC) and PSII core complex (RC complex with integral antenna) upon excitation at maximum wavelength 700-710 nm at 278 K. It was found that the initial charge separation between P680* and ChlD1 (Chl-670) takes place with a time constant of ~1 ps with the formation of the primary charge-separated state P680* with an admixture of: P680*((1-δ)) (P680(δ+)ChlD1(δ-)), where δ ~ 0.5. The subsequent electron transfer from P680(δ+)ChlD1(δ-) to pheophytin (Pheo) occurs within 13 ps and is accompanied by a relaxation of the absorption band at 670 nm (ChlD1(δ-)) and bleaching of the PheoD1 bands at 420, 545, and 680 nm with development of the Pheo(-) band at 460 nm. Further electron transfer to QA occurs within 250 ps in accordance with earlier data. The spectra of P680(+) and Pheo(-) formation include a bleaching band at 670 nm; this indicates that Chl-670 is an intermediate between P680 and Pheo. Stimulated emission kinetics at 685 nm demonstrate the existence of two decaying components with time constants of ~1 and ~13 ps due to the formation of P680(δ+)ChlD1(δ-) and P680(+)PheoD1(-), respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V A Nadtochenko
- Semenov Institute of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Conductivity by Electron Pairs. Chem Phys 2012. [DOI: 10.1201/b11524-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
|
6
|
Kitagawa Y, Matsuda K, Hasegawa JY. Theoretical study of the excited states of the photosynthetic reaction center in photosystem II: Electronic structure, interactions, and their origin. Biophys Chem 2011; 159:227-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2011.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2011] [Revised: 06/17/2011] [Accepted: 06/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
7
|
König C, Neugebauer J. Quantum chemical description of absorption properties and excited-state processes in photosynthetic systems. Chemphyschem 2011; 13:386-425. [PMID: 22287108 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.201100408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The theoretical description of the initial steps in photosynthesis has gained increasing importance over the past few years. This is caused by more and more structural data becoming available for light-harvesting complexes and reaction centers which form the basis for atomistic calculations and by the progress made in the development of first-principles methods for excited electronic states of large molecules. In this Review, we discuss the advantages and pitfalls of theoretical methods applicable to photosynthetic pigments. Besides methodological aspects of excited-state electronic-structure methods, studies on chlorophyll-type and carotenoid-like molecules are discussed. We also address the concepts of exciton coupling and excitation-energy transfer (EET) and compare the different theoretical methods for the calculation of EET coupling constants. Applications to photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes and reaction centers based on such models are also analyzed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolin König
- Institute for Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, Technical University Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
P680 (PD1PD2) and ChlD1 as alternative electron donors in photosystem II core complexes and isolated reaction centers. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY B-BIOLOGY 2011; 104:44-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2011.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2010] [Revised: 01/25/2011] [Accepted: 02/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
9
|
Nilsson Lill SO. On the dimerization of chlorophyll in photosystem II. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2011; 13:16022-7. [DOI: 10.1039/c1cp21390c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
|
10
|
Lembo A, Tagliatesta P, Guldi DM, Wielopolski M, Nuccetelli M. Porphyrin−β-Oligo-Ethynylenephenylene−[60]Fullerene Triads: Synthesis and Electrochemical and Photophysical Characterization of the New Porphyrin−Oligo-PPE−[60]Fullerene Systems. J Phys Chem A 2009; 113:1779-93. [DOI: 10.1021/jp809557e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Lembo
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Egerlandstrasse 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany, and Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Tagliatesta
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Egerlandstrasse 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany, and Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Dirk M. Guldi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Egerlandstrasse 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany, and Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Mateusz Wielopolski
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Egerlandstrasse 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany, and Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Nuccetelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Egerlandstrasse 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany, and Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Novoderezhkin VI, Dekker JP, van Grondelle R. Mixing of exciton and charge-transfer states in Photosystem II reaction centers: modeling of Stark spectra with modified Redfield theory. Biophys J 2007; 93:1293-311. [PMID: 17526589 PMCID: PMC1929038 DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.106.096867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We propose an exciton model for the Photosystem II reaction center (RC) based on a quantitative simultaneous fit of the absorption, linear dichroism, circular dichroism, steady-state fluorescence, triplet-minus-singlet, and Stark spectra together with the spectra of pheophytin-modified RCs, and so-called RC5 complexes that lack one of the peripheral chlorophylls. In this model, the excited state manifold includes a primary charge-transfer (CT) state that is supposed to be strongly mixed with the pure exciton states. We generalize the exciton theory of Stark spectra by 1), taking into account the coupling to a CT state (whose static dipole cannot be treated as a small parameter in contrast to usual excited states); and 2), expressing the line shape functions in terms of the modified Redfield approach (the same as used for modeling of the linear responses). This allows a consistent modeling of the whole set of experimental data using a unified physical picture. We show that the fluorescence and Stark spectra are extremely sensitive to the assignment of the primary CT state, its energy, and coupling to the excited states. The best fit of the data is obtained supposing that the initial charge separation occurs within the special-pair PD1PD2. Additionally, the scheme with primary electron transfer from the accessory chlorophyll to pheophytin gave a reasonable quantitative fit. We show that the effectiveness of these two pathways is strongly dependent on the realization of the energetic disorder. Supposing a mixed scheme of primary charge separation with a disorder-controlled competition of the two channels, we can explain the coexistence of fast sub-ps and slow ps components of the Phe-anion formation as revealed by different ultrafast spectroscopic techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir I Novoderezhkin
- A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Lembo A, Tagliatesta P, Guldi DM. Synthesis and Photophysical Investigation of New Porphyrin Derivatives with β-Pyrrole Ethynyl Linkage and Corresponding Dyad with [60] Fullerene. J Phys Chem A 2006; 110:11424-34. [PMID: 17020252 DOI: 10.1021/jp062735h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Two new beta-substituted arylethynyl meso-tetraphenylporphyrins, 2-[(4'-formyl)phenyl]ethynyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (system A) and 2-[(4'-methyl)phenyl]ethynyl-5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin (system B) and their zinc derivatives were synthesized by palladium catalysis, using a synthetic approach that affords high yields of the target systems. Comparative ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), NMR, and cyclic voltammetry studies of such macrocycles reveal the presence of an extensive conjugation between the tetrapyrrolic ring and the linker, through pi-pi orbital interaction. This interaction was observed in the form of a "push-pull" effect that moves the electronic charge between the porphyrin and the aldehyde group of system A. System B, bearing a methyl group instead of the formyl group, was synthesized in order to evaluate the effect of the substitution on the charge delocalization, which is necessary to corroborate the push-pull mechanism hypothesis. The new porphyrin, system A, was also used as a starting material for the synthesis of new porphyrin-fullerene dyads in which the [60]fullerene is directly linked to the tetrapyrrolic rings by ethynylenephenylene subunits. Fluorescence and transient absorption measurements of the new dyads reveal that ultrafast energy and electron transfer occur, respectively, in nonpolar and polar solvents, with high values of the rate constant. The UV-vis, NMR, and cyclic voltammetry results show that it is possible for both energy and electron transfer between porphyrin and fullerene to take place through the pi-bond interaction. Such results evidence that the coupling between the donor and acceptor moieties is strong enough for possible photovoltaic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Lembo
- Institute for Physical Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürberg, Egerlandstrasse 3, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | | | | |
Collapse
|