Abstract

There is a resurgence of interest in the role of electron transfer reactions involving β-carotene in photosynthesis. There is also current debate on the health benefits of dietary carotenoids and the possible deleterious effects on certain sub-populations such as smokers. The impact of dietary carotenoids on health may well be also related to radical reactions. A key parameter in biological systems is therefore the one-electron reduction potential of the carotenoid radical cation, now reported for the first time in a model biological aqueous environment. The value obtained is 1.06±0.01 V and is sufficiently high to oxidise cell membrane proteins, but is low enough to repair P 680 + in the photosynthetic reaction centre.

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