Open AccessMolecular Basis for the Photosynthetic Primary Process
Author(s) -
Francis K. Fong
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.71.9.3692
Subject(s) - photosynthetic reaction centre , photosynthesis , primary (astronomy) , excitation , singlet state , chemistry , photochemistry , antenna (radio) , chemical physics , atomic physics , excited state , physics , telecommunications , computer science , quantum mechanics , biochemistry
In this paper, the molecular details for the primary reaction in photosynthesis are deduced from several recent critical experimental observations. A symmetrical structure is proposed for the basic unit of the reaction center in plant photosynthesis. A mathematical consequence of the symmetrical arrangement is the creation of an anomalously long-lived trap state, which makes possible the summation of a reaction-center triplet excitation and an antenna chlorophyll singlet excitation to bring the photoactive chlorophylls to a charge-transfer state prior to entering into a primary photochemical reaction.