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Temperature dependence of the primary electron transfer reaction in pigment-modified bacterial reaction centers

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Abstract

The initial electron transfer steps in pigment modified reaction centers, where bacteriopheophytin is replaced by plant pheophytin (R26.Phe-a RCs) have been investigated over a wide temperature range by femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. The experimental data obtained in the maximum of the bacteriochlorophyll anion band at 1020 nm show the existence of a high and long-lived population of the primary acceptor P+BA − even at 10 K. The data suggest a stepwise electron transfer mechanism with BA as primary acceptor also in the low temperature domain. A detailed data analysis suggests that the pigment modification leads to a situation with almost isoenergetic primary and secondary acceptor levels, approximately 450 cm−1 below P*. A Gaussian distribution (with σ = 400 cm −1) of the ΔG values has to be assumed to account for the strong dispersive character of the kinetics in this sample. Based on these assumptions, a model is presented that reproduces the observed kinetics, heterogeneity and temperature dependence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Institut für Medizinische Optik, Oettingenstr. 67, 80538, München, Germany

    Heinz Huber, Wolfgang Zinth & Josef Wachtveitl

  2. Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Botanisches Institut, Menzinger Str. 67, 80638, München, Germany

    Michaela Meyer & Hugo Scheer

Authors
  1. Heinz Huber
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  2. Michaela Meyer
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  3. Hugo Scheer
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  4. Wolfgang Zinth
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  5. Josef Wachtveitl
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Huber, H., Meyer, M., Scheer, H. et al. Temperature dependence of the primary electron transfer reaction in pigment-modified bacterial reaction centers. Photosynthesis Research 55, 153–162 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006013613075

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