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Related Concept Videos

Photosystem II01:22

Photosystem II

59.8K
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...
59.8K
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
Photosystem I01:27

Photosystem I

52.7K
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...
52.7K
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...
12.6K
Oxygenic Photosynthesis01:26

Oxygenic 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
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...
4.4K

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 29, 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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Photosystem II: its function, structure, and implications for artificial photosynthesis.

James Barber1

  • 1Department of Life Sciences, Sir Ernst Chain Building, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK. j.barber@imperial.ac.uk.

Biochemistry. Biokhimiia
|May 14, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Photosystem II (PSII) is a crucial enzyme that uses solar energy for water splitting, providing essential hydrogen for life. Its detailed structure, including the manganese-calcium cluster, is now understood, aiding artificial photosynthesis research.

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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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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Photosynthesis research
  • Bioenergetics

Background:

  • Photosystem II (PSII) emerged ~3 billion years ago, fundamentally altering Earth's chemistry and enabling biological activity.
  • PSII utilizes solar energy to split water, generating hydrogen equivalents for CO2 conversion into organic molecules.
  • This enzyme is vital for nearly all life on Earth, embedded within thylakoid membranes of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the detailed structure and organization of the Photosystem II complex.
  • To understand the precise arrangement of subunits and cofactors, particularly the water-splitting site.
  • To provide a structural basis for developing mechanistic schemes and artificial catalysts for water splitting.

Main Methods:

  • High-resolution X-ray crystallography of cyanobacterial dimeric PSII complex (up to 1.9 Å resolution).
  • Analysis of the organizational and structural details of PSII subunits and cofactors.
  • Characterization of the manganese-calcium cluster at the water-splitting site.

Main Results:

  • Detailed organizational and structural information of the 700 kDa cyanobacterial dimeric PSII complex is now well-understood.
  • The water-splitting site features a cluster of four manganese (Mn) ions and one calcium (Ca) ion.
  • The metal cluster has a cubane-like structure with specific oxo- and amino acid ligand arrangements.

Conclusions:

  • The detailed structure of PSII provides a framework for understanding the water-splitting mechanism.
  • The findings offer a blueprint for designing artificial catalysts for photo-electrochemical systems to generate solar fuels.
  • Understanding PSII's structure is crucial for advancing artificial photosynthesis and sustainable energy solutions.