High quantum yield of charge separation in reaction centers of Chloroflexus aurantiacus

Abstract

The relative quantum yield of charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centers of Chloroflexus aurantiacus and Rhodobacter sphaeroides was measured on the nanosecond timescale. Thereby the quantum yield becomes independent of a potential loss of both quinones during reaction center isolation. Based on the quantum yield of 1.02±0.04 for reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides at room temperature (Wraight, C.A. and Clayton, R.K. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 333, 246–260), the quantum yield of initial charge separation in reaction centers of Chloroflexus aurantiacus at 280 K was determined to be 1.06 ± 0.11.