Photosynthesis redox energy

CYTOCHROME b-559 AS A TRANSDUCER OF REDOX ENERGY INTO ACID-BASE ENERGY IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS... 

An important aspect of the function of photosynthetic complexes is their asymmetric arrangement in respect to the membrane and to the external and internal phases of the cellular compartments. This arrangement allows the catalysis of vectorial electron transfer and the performance of electrical work by promoting charge separation across the membrane dielectric barrier. It allows also in some cases the net translocation of protons across the membrane. These two processes are at the basis of the mechanism of energy conservation in photosynthesis coupled to the formation of ATP, which is added, in oxygenic photosynthesis, to the conservation of redox energy in the form of reduced pyridine nucleotide coenzymes. 

The primary conversion of light energy into chemical redox energy in photosynthesis can therefore be described by a simple scheme [Kok (111)] ... 

Fig. 5. Simplified scheme of the conversion of light energy into redox energy in photosynthesis (KOK 111).

The chlorophyll molecule (309) is involved in initiating photosynthesis in green plants and contains magnesium coordinated to a partially reduced porphyrin (namely, a chlorin derivative). Life relies ultimately on the unique redox and electron transfer abilities of the chlorophylls which are necessary for the conversion of light to chemical energy. Chlorophyll mainly absorbs light from the far red region of the spectrum... 

The solid state and the surface chemistry of some of the solid Fe-phases impart to these oxides and sulfides the ability to catalyze redox reactions. Surface complexes and the solid phases themselves acting as semiconductors can participate in photoredox reactions, where light energy is used to drive a thermodynamically unfavorable reaction (heterogeneous photosynthesis) or to catalyze a thermodynamically favorable reaction (heterogeneous photocatalysis). 

We have already mentioned that photosynthesis and other biochemical processes are the main causes of disequilibrium in aqueous solutions. The conversion of luminous energy into chemical energy (formation of stable covalent bonds) involves local lowering of the redox state. For instance, the conversion of carbon dioxide into glucose ... 

Photodyncimics of metalloporphyrins have been extensively investigated on account of its importance in the understanding of photosynthesis and other processes of biological importance ( ). Particular atten-sion has been paid to the reason why the excited metalloporphyrins possess unique characteristics from the viewpoint of redox (2-4), energy transfer ( ), and other photodynamical processes (6,7). In comparison with the considerable knowledge accumulated on the photochemical properties of the lowest excited states, little has been known on the S2 - Sq fluorescence and Si Sq internal conversion processes which can also be regarded as unusual characters of metalloporphyrins. 

Proton gradients can be built up in various ways. A very unusual type is represented by bacteriorhodopsin (1), a light-driven proton pump that various bacteria use to produce energy. As with rhodopsin in the eye, the light-sensitive component used here is covalently bound retinal (see p. 358). In photosynthesis (see p. 130), reduced plastoquinone (QH2) transports protons, as well as electrons, through the membrane (Q cycle, 2). The formation of the proton gradient by the respiratory chain is also coupled to redox processes (see p. 140). In complex III, a Q,cycle is responsible for proton translocation (not shown). In cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV, 3), trans-... 

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