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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...
59.9K
Photosystem I01:27

Photosystem I

52.8K
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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Photosystems01:32

Photosystems

7.0K
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...
7.0K
The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis01:34

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

12.6K
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...
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The Photochemical Reaction Center01:29

The Photochemical Reaction Center

4.4K
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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Oxygenic Photosynthesis01:26

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

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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...
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Thermodynamics of the charge recombination in photosystem II.

Photosynthesis research·2014
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Rapid and simple isolation of pure photosystem II core and reaction center particles from spinach.

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Flash-induced redox changes in oxygen-evolving spinach Photosystem II core particles.

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Kok's oxygen clock: What makes it tick? The structure of P680 and consequences of its oxidizing power.

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Absorbance difference spectra of the S-state transitions in Photosystem II core particles.

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Electroluminescence.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Purification of Active Photosystem I-Light Harvesting Complex I from Plant Tissues
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Purification of Active Photosystem I-Light Harvesting Complex I from Plant Tissues

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Electron transfer in photosystem II.

H J Van Gorkom1

  • 1Department of Biophysics, Huygens Laboratory of the State University, P.O. Box 9504, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Photosynthesis Research
|January 21, 2014
PubMed
Summary

This study details the mechanism of photosystem II electron transport, covering excitation trapping, charge separation, and substrate reactions like water oxidation. It also briefly discusses photosystem II heterogeneity.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Plant Biology
  • Photosynthesis Research

Background:

  • Photosystem II is crucial for oxygenic photosynthesis.
  • Understanding its electron transport mechanism is key to comprehending light energy conversion.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the sequential reactions in photosystem II electron transport.
  • To describe excitation trapping, charge separation, and substrate interactions.
  • To discuss the heterogeneity of photosystem II.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on photosystem II mechanism.
  • Analysis of experimental data on electron transport pathways.
  • Discussion of theoretical models for photosystem II function.

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Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting
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Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting

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Proton Transfer and Protein Conformation Dynamics in Photosensitive Proteins by Time-resolved Step-scan Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy
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Proton Transfer and Protein Conformation Dynamics in Photosensitive Proteins by Time-resolved Step-scan Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy

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Last Updated: May 3, 2026

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Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting
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Proton Transfer and Protein Conformation Dynamics in Photosensitive Proteins by Time-resolved Step-scan Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy
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Main Results:

  • Detailed description of excitation energy transfer and charge separation within the photosystem II reaction center.
  • Explanation of the steps involved in plastoquinone reduction.
  • Overview of the water-splitting process catalyzed by photosystem II.
  • Identification of factors contributing to photosystem II heterogeneity.

Conclusions:

  • The current understanding of photosystem II electron transport involves a series of precisely regulated steps.
  • Plastoquinone reduction and water oxidation are key outputs of the photosystem II complex.
  • Photosystem II exhibits heterogeneity, influencing its overall function and efficiency.