Structure and Function of Photosynthetic Reaction Centers

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Photosynthesis is the process used by plants and photosynthetic bacteria to convert sunlight into chemical energy. This process involves light initiated electron transfer reactions which take place in a protein complex called the reaction center. The reaction centers from photosynthetic organisms are being studied by a variety of biophysical and structural techniques including X-ray crystallography. Dr. Okamura will devote a major effort of his research to the purification and characterization of reaction centers from Photosystem II. The cytochrome binding site will also be studied by site specific mutagenesis of specific amino acid residues on the reaction center in order to determine their role in cytochrome binding and electron transfer. This is an exciting new area which should yield new and interesting results concerning the molecular basis for photosynthesis.