Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Photosystem I01:27

Photosystem I

71.0K
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...
71.0K
Photosystem II01:22

Photosystem II

79.7K
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...
79.7K
The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis01:34

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

14.7K
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...
14.7K
Photosystems01:32

Photosystems

8.2K
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...
8.2K
The Photochemical Reaction Center01:29

The Photochemical Reaction Center

5.8K
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...
5.8K
Oxygenic Photosynthesis01:26

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

926
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...
926

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Bifunctional Pd-Al:SrTiO<sub>3</sub> photocatalyst sheet for m<sup>2</sup>-scale waste PET photoreforming and feasibility study.

Energy & environmental science·2026
Same author

Introduction to Semi-artificial Photosynthesis.

Chemical reviews·2026
Same author

Photoreforming of solid waste on 1 m<sup>2</sup> scale using single-source precursor-derived co-catalyst films.

Nature chemical engineering·2026
Same author

Semiartificial CO<sub>2</sub> Fixation Using Metal-Dependent Formate Dehydrogenase.

Chemical reviews·2026
Same author

Air-tolerant solar reforming of pre-treated biomass and plastics in viscous sustainable solvents.

Chemical science·2026
Same author

Extracellular electron transfer by the cultured coral photosymbiont Symbiodinium microadriaticum.

Photosynthesis research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Purification of Active Photosystem I-Light Harvesting Complex I from Plant Tissues
07:10

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

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.7K

Competing charge transfer pathways at the photosystem II-electrode interface.

Jenny Z Zhang1, Katarzyna P Sokol1, Nicholas Paul1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

Nature Chemical Biology
|October 11, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Researchers discovered a competing electron pathway in photosystem II (PSII) electrodes that hinders water oxidation. This finding helps optimize future designs for pigment-containing photoelectrodes and enzyme-electrode interfaces.

More Related Videos

A New Approach for the Comparative Analysis of Multiprotein Complexes Based on 15N Metabolic Labeling and Quantitative Mass Spectrometry
08:04

A New Approach for the Comparative Analysis of Multiprotein Complexes Based on 15N Metabolic Labeling and Quantitative Mass Spectrometry

Published on: March 13, 2014

12.7K
Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting
08:40

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

Published on: February 14, 2019

8.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 13, 2026

Purification of Active Photosystem I-Light Harvesting Complex I from Plant Tissues
07:10

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

Published on: February 3, 2023

1.7K
A New Approach for the Comparative Analysis of Multiprotein Complexes Based on 15N Metabolic Labeling and Quantitative Mass Spectrometry
08:04

A New Approach for the Comparative Analysis of Multiprotein Complexes Based on 15N Metabolic Labeling and Quantitative Mass Spectrometry

Published on: March 13, 2014

12.7K
Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting
08:40

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

Published on: February 14, 2019

8.8K

Area of Science:

  • Biophysical Chemistry
  • Photosynthesis Research
  • Bioelectrochemistry

Background:

  • Photosystem II (PSII) integrates into electrodes for electron harvesting and driving reactions.
  • PSII performance in photoelectrochemical systems remains suboptimal despite optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate charge transfer pathways at the enzyme-electrode interface.
  • Identify reasons for PSII underperformance in integrated systems.

Main Methods:

  • Protein-film photoelectrochemistry was performed on spinach and Thermosynechococcus elongatus PSII.
  • Enzyme immobilization within an electron-conducting fullerene matrix was utilized.

Main Results:

  • A competing charge transfer pathway, photo-induced O2 reduction at chlorophyll pigments, was identified.
  • This pathway short-circuits the water-oxidation process and is promoted by fullerene matrices.
  • Anaerobic conditions restored PSII photoresponse and revealed Q_A/Q_B charge transfer potentials.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding competing charge transfer pathways is crucial for PSII performance.
  • Findings guide rational design of pigment-containing photoelectrodes and enzyme-electrode interfaces.