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Why are photosynthetic reaction centres dimeric?

Natasha Taylor1, Ivan Kassal2

  • 1School of Chemistry and University of Sydney Nano Institute , University of Queensland , QLD 4072 , Australia.

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Photosynthetic reaction centers dimerized to improve light-harvesting efficiency by creating a deeper excitonic trap. This adaptation enhanced energy transfer, outweighing negative effects on charge transfer, and likely occurred after antenna evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Photosynthesis research
  • Biophysics
  • Evolutionary biology

Background:

  • Photosynthetic organisms utilize dimeric reaction centers for solar energy conversion via charge separation.
  • The evolutionary reasons for the widespread dimerisation of reaction centers and the disappearance of monomeric forms remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary advantages of reaction center dimerisation in photosynthesis.
  • To determine the most probable explanation for the transition from monomeric to dimeric reaction centers.

Main Methods:

  • Review and analysis of proposed explanations for reaction center dimerisation.
  • Hypothetical modeling based on weak assumptions about the primordial dimerisation event.

Main Results:

  • Dimerisation likely enhanced light-harvesting efficiency by deepening the excitonic trap.
  • This deepening involved increasing exciton transfer rate from antenna complexes and decreasing back transfer rate.
  • The benefits of enhanced light harvesting outweighed the detrimental effects on intra-reaction center charge transfer.

Conclusions:

  • Reaction center dimerisation most probably evolved to optimize light-harvesting efficiency.
  • This adaptation likely occurred subsequent to the evolution of the first photosynthetic antenna complexes.
  • The proposed mechanism explains the bright nature of the special pair's lower-energy state in dimeric centers.