Biomimetic Chemistry Relevant to Photosystem II

William H.阿姆斯特朗，化学系，波士顿学院，是由无机，生物无机和有机化学计划的化学部的支持，仿生化学相关的光系统II的研究。总的目标是获得一个更清晰的理解水的氧化是由光系统II，其活性位点含有氧桥锰簇催化。将制备光系统II中四锰位点的复制品。将研究它们在氧化还原和pH变化下的行为，以了解酶簇如何响应催化循环期间经历的变化。关于O-O键形成和释放分子氧的机制的假设将使用模型化合物进行评估。重点将放在氯和钙辅因子所扮演的角色的调查。光合作用利用阳光的能量来驱动大气中氧气的产生和二氧化碳转化为有机物质。这项研究的重点是更好地了解光系统2如何将水氧化为氧气。这些知识可能有助于制造人工光合细胞，有效地分解水产生氧气和氢气。这种进步将促进我们的能源经济向氢的转变。研究生，本科生和博士后学生将获得这个项目的培训。此外，高中生将有机会参加该项目。

Dr. William H. Armstrong, Chemistry Department, Boston College, is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry Program of the Chemistry Division for a study of biomimetic chemistry relevant to Photosystem II. The overall objective is to gain a sharper understanding of water oxidation that is catalyzed by Photosystem II, whose active site contains an oxygen-bridged manganese cluster. Replicas of the tetramanganese site in Photosystem II will be prepared. Their behavior under redox and pH changes will be investigated to learn how the enzyme cluster may respond to changes experienced during the catalytic cycle. Hypotheses regarding the mechanism of O-O bond formation and release of dioxygen will be evaluated using the model compounds. Emphasis will be placed on investigating the roles played by chloride and calcium cofactors.Photosynthesis harnesses sunlight energy to drive the production of atmospheric oxygen and the conversion of carbon dioxide into organic material. The focus of this research is to gain a greater understanding of how Photosystem 2 oxidizes water to oxygen. This knowledge may aid the effort to make artificial photosynthetic cells that efficiently split water to produce oxygen and hydrogen gas. Such an advance would facilitate the conversion of our energy economy to hydrogen. Graduate, undergraduate, and postdoctoral students will gain training on this project. In addition, high school students will be given the opportunity to participate in the project.