Spectroscopic and Structural Studies of Primary Photochemical Processes in Photochemical Processes in Photosynthesis

光化学反应中心位于 光合膜，吸收的光能 转化为化学能。 虽然最近的生物化学 有证据表明， 光系统II和细菌反应中心，组分 在光系统I（PSI）反应中心复合物中 定义更模糊。 只是在过去的几年里， 已经有了很好的高等植物PSI制剂 在体内保留PSI的结构和功能 都是可用的。 氧进化生物的PSI反应中心复合体， 这是目前项目的重点， 尽管已知其在功能上 不同于其他复合物，因为它含有低 潜在电子受体系统 马尔金医生会检查 分离的PSI中多肽亚基的性质 络合物与特异性电子转移的关联 具有特定亚基的载体。 的化学计量 复合体内的各个亚单位和 这些亚基的含量响应环境信号 也将被定义。

The photochemical reaction center is the site in the photosynthetic membrane where absorbed light energy is converted into chemical energy. While recent biochemical evidence has supported the structural similarity between photosystem II and the bacterial reaction center, components in the photosystem I (PSI) reaction center complex remain more poorly defined. It is only in the past several years that well-characterized higher plant PSI preparations which retain the structural and functional aspects of PSI in vivo have been available. The PSI reaction center complex of oxygen-evolving organisms, which is the focal point of the current project, is less well characterized although it is known to be functionally different than the other complexes since it contains a low potential electron acceptor system. Dr. Malkin will examine the nature of the polypeptide subunits in the isolated PSI complex and the association of specific electron transfer carriers with specific subunits. The stoichiometry of the individual subunits within the complex and changes in the content of these subunits in response to environmental signal will also be defined.