Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
07:10
Purification of Active Photosystem I-Light Harvesting Complex I from Plant Tissues
Published on: February 3, 2023
1.5K
Origin and early evolution of photosynthesis
1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for the Study of Early Events in Photosynthesis, Arizona State University, 85287-1604, Tempe, AZ, USA.
Photosynthesis Research
|January 11, 2014
Summary
Ancient photosynthesis, dating back 3.5 billion years, likely involved early forms of cyanobacteria. Analyzing reaction centers reveals two main groups, suggesting lateral gene transfer influenced photosynthetic evolution.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Evolutionary Biology
- Astrobiology
Background:
- Photosynthesis existed on Earth at least 3.5 billion years ago.
- Ancient photosynthetic organisms likely resembled modern cyanobacteria.
- The evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis involved early non-oxygen evolving stages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the evolutionary relationships of reaction center complexes in extant photosynthetic organisms.
- To understand the early development of photosynthesis and its key components.
Main Methods:
- Sequence analysis of reaction center proteins.
- Biophysical measurements of reaction center function.
Main Results:
- Reaction centers cluster into two main groups based on early electron acceptors: pheophytin-quinone and iron-sulfur cluster types.
- A simple linear evolutionary model does not explain the distribution of reaction centers.
- Lateral gene transfer is a probable factor in the evolution of photosynthetic organisms.
Conclusions:
- The early evolution of photosynthesis involved complex pathways, including the development of two photosystems and oxygen evolution.
- Understanding reaction center evolution provides insights into the origins of life and early Earth biochemistry.
- Further research can explore scenarios for primitive reaction center development and the emergence of linked photosystems.
More Related Videos
07:58Author Spotlight: Non-Invasive High-Resolution Measurement of Chlorophyll Synthesis During De-Etiolation
Published on: January 12, 2024
1.3K
09:45Laboratory Simulation of an IronII-rich Precambrian Marine Upwelling System to Explore the Growth of Photosynthetic Bacteria
Published on: July 24, 2016
11.5K
Related Concept Videos
01:26Origin of Photosynthesis
112
Photosynthesis represents a fundamental biological process that transformed Earth's atmosphere and paved the way for complex life. Emerging roughly 3.4–3.8 billion years ago, the earliest photosynthetic organisms harnessed light energy to produce organic compounds. These anoxygenic phototrophs used electron donors like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) or ferrous iron (Fe²⁺), rather than water, and did not release molecular oxygen (O₂) as a byproduct. Various groups, including...
112
01:08The Anatomy of Chloroplasts
7.0K
Green algae and plants, including green stems and unripe fruit, harbor specialized organelles called chloroplasts to carry out photosynthesis. They coordinate both stages of photosynthesis — the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions. The light-dependent reactions use sunlight to release oxygen and produce chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH, and the light-independent reactions capture CO2 and use ATP and NADPH to produce sugar.
Structure of...
Structure of...
7.0K
01:24Origin of Cellular Life
116
The origin of life on Earth is a complex and enigmatic event rooted in ancient biochemical processes and geological conditions. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that life began with the spontaneous formation of organic molecules such as RNA nucleotides, amino acids, and lipids under early Earth conditions. Factors like volcanic activity, intense UV radiation, and a reducing atmosphere without free oxygen likely facilitated these reactions. Hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor are...
116
01:24Eukaryotic Evolution
19.5K
The endosymbiont theory is the most widely accepted theory of eukaryotic evolution; however, its progression is still somewhat debated. According to the nucleus-first hypothesis, the ancestral prokaryote first evolved a membrane to enclose DNA and form the nucleus. Conversely, the mitochondria-first hypothesis suggests that the nucleus was formed after endosymbiosis of mitochondria.
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
Contrary to the endosymbiont theory, the eukaryote-first hypothesis proposes that the simpler prokaryotic and...
19.5K
01:26Oxygenic Photosynthesis
994
Oxygenic photosynthesis is a fundamental process in which light energy is harnessed to drive the oxidation of water, leading to the production of molecular oxygen (O₂), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This process is essential for sustaining aerobic life on Earth and is primarily carried out by cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The core of oxygenic photosynthesis lies in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments facilitate...
994
01:22Photosystem II
59.9K
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...
The pigment molecules are arranged across two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment...
59.9K