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Excitation energy transfer and charge separation in the isolated Photosystem II reaction center

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Abstract

The nature of excitation energy transfer and charge separation in isolated Photosystem II reaction centers is an area of considerable interest and controversy. Excitation energy transfer from accessory chlorophyll a to the primary electron donor P680 takes place in tens of picoseconds, although there is some evidence that thermal equilibration of the excitation between P680 and a subset of the accessory chlorophyll a occurs on a 100-fs timescale. The intrinsic rate for charge separation at low temperature is accepted to be ca. (2 ps)−1, and is based on several measurements using different experimental techniques. This rate is in good agreement with estimates based on larger sized particles, and is similar to the rate observed with bacterial reaction centers. However, near room temperature there is considerable disagreement as to the observed rate for charge separation, with several experiments pointing to a ca. (3 ps)−1 rate, and others to a ca. (20 ps)-1 rate. These processes and the experiments used to measure them will be reviewed.

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Abbreviations

Chl:

chlorophyll

FWHM:

full-width at half-maximum

Pheo:

pheophytin

PS II:

Photosystem II

P680:

primary electron donor of the Photosystem II reaction center

RC:

reaction center

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Argonne National Laboratory, Chemistry Division, 60439-4831, Argonne, IL, USA

    Scott R. Greenfield & Michael R. Wasielewski

  2. Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 60208-3113, Evanston, IL, USA

    Michael R. Wasielewski

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  1. Scott R. Greenfield
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  2. Michael R. Wasielewski
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Greenfield, S.R., Wasielewski, M.R. Excitation energy transfer and charge separation in the isolated Photosystem II reaction center. Photosynth Res 48, 83–97 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00040999

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