Photosynthetic light-energy conversion: Clarification of the molecular mechanism of light-driven electron transfer

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25291033
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biophysics
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: Noguchi Takumi 名古屋大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (60241246)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KATO Chihiro 神奈川県産業技術センター, 化学技術部, 専門研究員 (50233804)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MINO Hiroyuki 名古屋大学, 大学院理学研究科, 准教授 (70300902) ; KATO Yuki 名古屋大学, 大学院理学研究科, 助教 (10376634)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 電子移動 / 光合成 / 光化学系II / 赤外分光法 / 量子化学計算 / 酸化還元電位 / 水分解 / プロトン移動

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The molecular mechanism of regulation of electron transfer reactions in photosystem II (PSII) protein complexes, which perform photosynthetic water oxidation in plants and cyanobacteria, was investigated using spectroscopic method such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and quantum chemical calculations. From the obtained results, it was shown that electron-proton transfer reactions of cofactors in PSII, such as quinone electron acceptors, non-heme iron, and redox-active tyrosines YZ and YD, are regulated by immediate molecular interactions with surrounding proteins, proton transfer pathways, and long-range interactions between cofactors.

Free Research Field

光合成の生物物理学