[Photochemical electron transfer in reaction centers of photosynthesis]

Recent works of the Laboratory are reviewed in terms of modern concepts on the nature of primary photoprocesses in reaction centers of photosynthesis. The main feature of the primary charge separation in reaction centers is the fast (within several picoseconds) electron transfer between the pigments of chlorophyllous nature followed by electron transfer stage to nonchlorophyllous electron carriers for several hundreds of picoseconds The primary charge separation is determined by the ability of excited chlorophyll and its analogues to be reversibly oxidized or reduced as well as by peculiar molecular arrangement of pigment system in reaction centers. The stabilization of photochemically generated electron and the hole is realized at the expense of its spatial separation and some loss of energy in the course of electron transfer.