Lift the mystery veil on chlorophyllases

Abstract

Photosystem II (PSII) is a large membrane-protein complex that catalyzes the splitting of water into protons, electrons, and oxygen via harvesting light energy (Johnson, 2016). The reaction center of PSII, operating like an electron pump, is a special pair of chlorophyll a (Chl a), referred to as P680, bound to D1 and D2 subunits, each with its set of electron carriers. Upon absorption of light energy, P680 is excited and donates an electron to the neighboring pheophytin (Pheo), producing a pair of radicals (⋅P680+ and ⋅Pheo−), called charge separation.