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Functional Models for the Oxygen-Evolving Complex of Photosystem II
Clyde W Cady1, Robert H Crabtree, Gary W Brudvig
1Department of Chemistry, Yale University, P.O. Box 208107, New Haven, CT 06520-8107, USA.
Coordination Chemistry Reviews
|September 28, 2011
Summary
Recent advances in chemical models for the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) of photosystem II (PSII) are reviewed. Functional models have expanded significantly, aiding mechanistic proposals for water oxidation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Photosynthesis research
- Bioinorganic chemistry
Background:
- The oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) within photosystem II (PSII) is crucial for photosynthesis.
- Understanding the OEC's structure and function is a key challenge in biochemistry.
- Previous reviews highlighted limited chemical models for the OEC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in functional chemical models of the OEC in PSII.
- To highlight the progress in mimicking the natural water-splitting system.
- To provide an overview of emerging mechanistic proposals for water oxidation.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on PSII functional models.
- Analysis of chemical systems designed to mimic the OEC.
- Synthesis of mechanistic proposals for photosynthetic water oxidation.
Main Results:
- Significant growth in the number and diversity of functional PSII model systems.
- Emergence of two primary families of functional OEC model systems.
- Numerous new mechanistic proposals for water oxidation have been developed.
Conclusions:
- Functional model chemistry has rapidly advanced in parallel with studies of the natural OEC.
- The developed model systems provide valuable insights into photosynthetic water oxidation mechanisms.
- Continued research in this area is essential for understanding and potentially engineering artificial photosynthesis.
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