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The polarization model in bacterial photosynthesis
1A. N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University.
Abstract:
The widely accepted model of reaction center /RC/ functioning is proved to come into contradiction with some recent data. In particular, it cannot explain why only a minor part of electronic excitations (approximately 10%) escapes from excited RC special pairs back to antenna BChls. Therefore we believe that the model must be substantially modernized. In 1981 we developed a new model/1,2/. We suggested a femtosecond state to precede primary e-transfer reaction due to reorientation of water molecule dipole in the electric field of excited RC dimer. This mechanism is responsible for energy trapping before the primary e-transport occurs. During last years his mechanism got support from various experimental works. Now this polarization model claims to fit all reliable experimental data at least in bacterial photosynthesis.
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