Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

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...

Photosystems

Photosystems

Photosystems are multiprotein complexes that form the functional units of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. They are found embedded in the membrane of tiny sac-like structures called thylakoids placed inside the chloroplast.
Functioning of Photosystems
Photosystems contain many pigment molecules, such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, arranged in a particular organization across two domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...

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...

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...

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

The light reactions of photosynthesis assume a linear flow of electrons from water to NADP+. During this process, light energy drives the splitting of water molecules to produce oxygen. However, oxidation of water molecules is a thermodynamically unfavorable reaction and requires a strong oxidizing agent. This is accomplished by the first product of light reactions: oxidized P680 (or P680+), the most powerful oxidizing agent known in biology. The oxidized P680 that acquires an electron from the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Optimized protocol for the determination of the singlet oxygen quantum yield for water-soluble phthalocyanines using imidazole and 4-nitroso-N,N-dimethylaniline trap.

Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology·2026

Same author

Two Key Substitutions in the Chromophore Environment of mKate2 Produce an Enhanced FusionRed-like Red Fluorescent Protein.

Acta naturae·2025

Same author

Effect of cationic antiseptics on the vectorial electron and proton transfer in chromatophores of photosynthetic bacteria.

Photosynthesis research·2025

Same author

Comparative modeling of fluorescence and P700 induction kinetics for alga Scenedesmus sp. obliques and cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Role of state 2-state 1 transitions and redox state of plastoquinone pool.

Cell biochemistry and biophysics·2024

Same author

Spectral and conformational characteristics of phycocyanin associated with changes of medium pH.

Photosynthesis research·2024

Same author

CAR-tropic extracellular vesicles carry tumor-associated antigens and modulate CAR T cell functionality.

Scientific reports·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H₂ Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Published on: October 5, 2019

Hybrid system based on quantum dots and photosystem 2 core complex.

E G Maksimov¹, V N Kurashov, M D Mamedov

¹Department of Biophysics, Biology Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia. emaksimoff@yandex.ru

Biochemistry. Biokhimiia

|July 24, 2012

Summary

Semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots) enhance light absorption in photosystem 2 core complexes. Energy transfer from quantum dots boosts photosystem 2 fluorescence and electron transfer rates by up to 60%.

More Related Videos

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Published on: October 9, 2012

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H2 Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Developing Photosensitizer-Cobaloxime Hybrids for Solar-Driven H₂ Production in Aqueous Aerobic Conditions

Published on: October 5, 2019

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Compact Quantum Dots for Single-molecule Imaging

Published on: October 9, 2012

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Materials Science
Photochemistry

Background:

Pigment-protein complexes, like photosystem 2 (PS2), are crucial for light harvesting in photosynthesis.
Semiconductor nanocrystals (quantum dots, QD) possess tunable optical properties.
Integrating QDs with biological systems offers potential for novel optoelectronic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the use of quantum dots (QDs) for enhancing the light absorption capacity of pigment-protein complexes.
To explore the mechanism of energy transfer between QDs and the photosystem 2 core complex (PS2).

Main Methods:

Preparation of mixtures containing PS2 core complexes and QDs.
Spectroscopic analysis, including fluorescence measurements, to quantify energy transfer.
Analysis of electron transfer rates (Q(A) reduction) in the presence of QDs.

Main Results:

A significant decrease in QD fluorescence was observed, indicating energy transfer to PS2.
Förster's inductive-resonance mechanism was proposed as the likely energy transfer pathway.
PS2 fluorescence and the rate of Q(A) reduction were enhanced by up to 60% due to QD-PS2 energy migration.

Conclusions:

Quantum dots can effectively enhance the light-harvesting capabilities of photosystem 2.
Efficient energy transfer from QDs to PS2 can significantly improve photosynthetic efficiency.
This study demonstrates a promising approach for bio-hybrid material development for light energy conversion.