Three rate-determining protein roles in photosyntheic O2-evolution addressed by time-resolved experiments on genetically modified photosystems
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ABSTRACT: Light-driven water splitting by plants, algae and cyanobacteria is pivotal for global bioenergetics and biomass formation. A manganese cluster bound to the photosystem II proteins catalyzes the complex reaction at high rate, but the rate-determining factors are insufficiently understood. Here we traced the oxygen-evolution transition by time-resolved polarography and infrared spectroscopy for cyanobacterial photosystems genetically modified at two strategic sites, complemented by computational chemistry. Our results highlight three rate-determining roles of the protein environment of the metal cluster: acceleration of proton-coupled electron transfer, acceleration of substrate-water insertion after O2-formation, and balancing of rate-determining enthalpic and entropic contributions. Whereas in general the substrate-water insertion step may be unresolvable in time-resolved experiments, here it likely became traceable because of deceleration by genetic modification. Our results may stimulate new time-resolved experiments on substrate-water insertion in photosynthesis, clarification of enthalpy-entropy compensation in enzyme catalysis, and knowledge-guided development of inorganic catalyst materials.
INSTRUMENT(S):
ORGANISM(S): Synechocystis Sp. Pcc 6803
TISSUE(S): Cell Culture
SUBMITTER:
Quanqing Zhang
LAB HEAD: Richard J. Debus
PROVIDER: PXD068038 | Pride | 2025-09-17
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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