Efficiency of energy funneling in the photosystem II supercomplex of higher plants.

ABSTRACT: The investigation of energy transfer properties in photosynthetic multi-protein networks gives insight into their underlying design principles. Here, we discuss the excitonic energy transfer mechanisms of the photosystem II (PS-II) C₂S₂M₂ supercomplex, which is the largest isolated functional unit of the photosynthetic apparatus of higher plants. Despite the lack of a definite energy gradient in C₂S₂M₂, we show that the energy transfer is directed by relaxation to low energy states. C₂S₂M₂ is not organized to form pathways with strict energetically downhill transfer, which has direct consequences for the transfer efficiency, transfer pathways and transfer limiting steps. The exciton dynamics

SUBMITTER: Kreisbeck C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6014079 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature