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Related Concept Videos

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

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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.
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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.
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Photosystem I01:27

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Although structurally similar to photosystem II (PSII), photosystem I (PSI) is has a different electron supplier and electron acceptor.
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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

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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting
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Do photosynthetic complexes use quantum coherence to increase their efficiency? Probably not.

Elinor Zerah Harush1,2, Yonatan Dubi3,2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.

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Quantum coherence in natural photosynthetic complexes has minimal impact on their efficiency. Evolution may have optimized structures for purposes other than quantum effects.

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Area of Science:

  • Quantum biology
  • Photosynthesis
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Quantum coherence was hypothesized to enhance efficiency in photosynthetic complexes.
  • Previous experiments suggested wave-like behavior in these natural systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To directly evaluate the role of quantum coherence in the efficiency of three natural photosynthetic complexes.
  • To quantify the "quantumness" and efficiency of these systems under physiological conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized an open quantum systems approach.
  • Simultaneously analyzed quantum coherence and efficiency.
  • Studied three natural photosynthetic complexes.

Main Results:

  • Natural complexes operate in a mixed quantum-classical regime with dephasing-assisted transport.
  • Quantum coherence showed a minute, at best, impact on efficiency.
  • Efficiency in this regime was independent of structural parameters.

Conclusions:

  • Quantum coherence does not substantially enhance the efficiency of natural photosynthetic complexes.
  • The observed mixed quantum-classical regime suggests evolutionary optimization for structural purposes beyond quantum effects.