Inter-subunit energy transfer processes in a minimal plant photosystem II supercomplex

Sci Adv. 2024 Feb 23;10(8):eadh0911. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adh0911. Epub 2024 Feb 23.

Abstract

Photosystem II (PSII) is an integral part of the photosynthesis machinery, in which several light-harvesting complexes rely on inter-complex excitonic energy transfer (EET) processes to channel energy to the reaction center. In this paper, we report on a direct observation of the inter-complex EET in a minimal PSII supercomplex from plants, containing the trimeric light-harvesting complex II (LHCII), the monomeric light-harvesting complex CP26, and the monomeric PSII core complex. Using two-dimensional (2D) electronic spectroscopy, we measure an inter-complex EET timescale of 50 picoseconds for excitations from the LHCII-CP26 peripheral antenna to the PSII core. The 2D electronic spectra also reveal that the transfer timescale is nearly constant over the pump spectrum of 600 to 700 nanometers. Structure-based calculations reveal the contribution of each antenna complex to the measured inter-complex EET time. These results provide a step in elucidating the full inter-complex energy transfer network of the PSII machinery.

MeSH terms

  • Chlorophyll* / metabolism
  • Energy Transfer
  • Photosynthesis
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex* / chemistry
  • Plants / metabolism
  • Thylakoids / metabolism

Substances

  • Photosystem II Protein Complex
  • Chlorophyll