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Related Concept Videos

Photosystem II01:22

Photosystem 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...
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Photosystem I01:27

Photosystem I

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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...
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The Antenna Complex01:15

The Antenna Complex

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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...
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Photosystems01:32

Photosystems

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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...
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The Photochemical Reaction Center01:29

The Photochemical Reaction Center

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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...
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Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV01:43

Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV

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During the electron transport chain, electrons from NADH and FADH2 are first transferred to complexes I and II, respectively. These two complexes then transfer the electrons to ubiquinol, which carries them further to complex III. Complex III passes the electrons across the intermembrane space to Cyt c, which carries them further to complex IV. Complex IV donates electrons to oxygen and reduces it to water. As electrons pass through complexes I, III, and IV, the energy released aids the pumping...
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Purification of Active Photosystem I-Light Harvesting Complex I from Plant Tissues
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Copper in photosystem II: association with LHC II.

P R Sibbald1, B R Green

  • 1Botany Department, University of British Columbia, # 3529-6270 University Blvd., V6T 2B1, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Photosynthesis Research
|January 17, 2014
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Summary

Copper in Photosystem II (PSII) particles from spinach and barley is primarily bound to the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein (LHCII). This copper association suggests it does not play a role in oxygen evolution during photosynthesis.

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Area of Science:

  • Plant molecular biology
  • Photosynthesis research
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Photosystem II (PSII) is crucial for oxygenic photosynthesis.
  • The role of trace metals, such as copper (Cu), in PSII structure and function is not fully understood.
  • Previous studies have not definitively characterized copper localization within PSII.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify copper content in Photosystem II particles from spinach and barley.
  • To determine the specific protein association of copper within PSII.
  • To investigate the potential role of PSII-associated copper in oxygen evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of Photosystem II (PSII) particles from spinach and barley.
  • Quantification of copper content using spectrophotometric methods.
  • Analysis of copper association with specific PSII protein complexes, including light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein (LHCII), using biochemical techniques.
  • Experiments to confirm copper's endogenous association with PSII and rule out procedural contamination.

Main Results:

  • PSII particles from spinach and barley contained significant amounts of copper (2.5 and 4.2 Cu per 300 chlorophylls, respectively).
  • This copper was resistant to removal by EDTA, indicating strong binding.
  • A substantial proportion of PSII copper was associated with the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein (LHCII): 76% in spinach and 46% in barley.
  • Experimental controls confirmed that the copper was an intrinsic component of the isolated PSII particles.

Conclusions:

  • Copper is an integral component of Photosystem II particles in spinach and barley.
  • The majority of PSII-associated copper is localized to the light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein (LHCII).
  • Based on its primary association with LHCII, PSII-bound copper is unlikely to be directly involved in the oxygen evolution process.