Roles of manganese in photosystem II dynamics to irradiations and temperatures

Abstract

The most amazing chemistry is the light-driven water splitting reaction occurred in the oxygen-evolving complex of phototsystem II in higher plants, green algae, and cyanobacteria. Mn, in the form of Mn4CaO5 cluster in photosystem II, is responsible for the catalytic water splitting reaction as well as plays roles in photosystem II dynamics to irradiation and temperatures. Manganese hypothesis of UV-initiated photoinhibition as a direct target is established, and thermal inactivation of photosystem II involves the valence and structural changes of manganese. Recent progresses in understanding the roles of manganese in photoinhibition especially under UV light and in thermal inactivation including elevated temperatures using synthetic models and native PS II complexes are summarized and evaluated. Potential problems and possible solutions are discussed and presented.