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The Antenna Complex

The Antenna Complex

Plants and other photosynthetic organisms comprise pigments capable of absorption of direct sunlight. These pigments are present in the reaction center - the main site of photochemical reactions as well as in the antenna complex. Under average light conditions, the rate at which reaction center pigments absorb light is far below the electron transport chain's capacity. As a result, the reaction center alone cannot provide enough energy to drive photosynthesis. The photosynthetic efficiency can...

Channel Rhodopsins

Channel Rhodopsins

Most organisms use photoreceptors to sense and respond to light. Examples of photoreceptors include bacteriorhodopsins and bacteriophytochromes in some bacteria, phytochromes in plants, and rhodopsins in the photoreceptor cells of the vertebral retina. The light-sensitive property of these receptors is because of the bound chromophores, such as bilin in the phytochromes and retinal in the rhodopsins.
Rhodopsins belong to the family of cell surface proteins called G-protein coupled receptors,...

The Photochemical Reaction Center

The Photochemical Reaction Center

Reaction centers are pigment-protein complexes that initiate energy conversion from photons to chemical entities. Therefore, photochemical reaction center is a more appropriate term that describes these complexes. The Nobel laureates Robert Emerson and William Arnold provided the first experimental evidence of photochemical reaction centers by demonstrating the participation of nearly 2,500 chlorophyll molecules for the release of just one molecule of oxygen. Despite thousands of photosynthetic...

Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light

Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light

Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.

Photosystem I

Photosystem I

Although structurally similar to photosystem II (PSII), photosystem I (PSI) is has a different electron supplier and electron acceptor.
Both these photosystems work in concert. An excited electron from PSII is relayed to PSI via an electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, which is comprised of the carrier molecule plastoquinone, the dual-protein cytochrome complex, and plastocyanin. As electrons move between PSII and PSI, they lose energy and must be re-energized...

Photosystem II

Photosystem II

The multi-protein complex photosystem II (PS II) harvests photons and transfers their energy through its bound pigments to its reaction center, and ultimately to photosystem I (PSI) through the electron transport chain. The pigments responsible for caputirng the light energy in photosystems include chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids.
The pigment molecules are arranged across two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 31, 2026

Isolating and Incorporating Light-Harvesting Antennas from Diatom Cyclotella Meneghiniana in Liposomes with Thylakoid Lipids

Isolating and Incorporating Light-Harvesting Antennas from Diatom Cyclotella Meneghiniana in Liposomes with Thylakoid Lipids

Published on: August 28, 2018

DNA-directed artificial light-harvesting antenna.

Palash K Dutta¹, Reji Varghese, Jeanette Nangreave

¹Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-5601, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society

|July 1, 2011

Summary

Researchers used DNA nanotechnology to create artificial light-harvesting antennas. These structures efficiently funnel energy, mimicking photosynthesis for potential applications in energy transfer.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae

Published on: October 10, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 31, 2026

Isolating and Incorporating Light-Harvesting Antennas from Diatom Cyclotella Meneghiniana in Liposomes with Thylakoid Lipids

Isolating and Incorporating Light-Harvesting Antennas from Diatom Cyclotella Meneghiniana in Liposomes with Thylakoid Lipids

Published on: August 28, 2018

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae

Published on: October 10, 2014

Area of Science:

Artificial photosynthesis
Supramolecular chemistry
Nanotechnology

Background:

Efficient artificial light-harvesting antennas are crucial for energy transfer applications.
Controlling chromophore arrangement in artificial systems remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To assemble structurally defined artificial light-harvesting triads using DNA nanotechnology.
To investigate energy transfer dynamics within these DNA-templated systems.

Main Methods:

Utilized a seven-helix DNA bundle (7HB) scaffold for organizing chromophores.
Incorporated pyrene (Py), Cy3, and acceptor (AF) chromophores with controlled spacing.
Performed steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (TCSPC, streak camera).

Main Results:

Demonstrated efficient, stepwise energy transfer from primary donor (Py) to acceptor (AF) via an intermediate donor (Cy3).
Observed that energy transfer efficiency and light-harvesting ability depend on donor ratios and interchromophore distances.
Confirmed picosecond-timescale energy transfer dynamics.

Conclusions:

DNA nanoscaffolds provide a robust platform for designing artificial photonic antennas.
Structural control at the nanoscale enables efficient energy harvesting and transport.
These findings pave the way for advanced artificial photosynthetic systems.