Synthetic Model of the Oxygen-Evolving Center: Photosystem II under the Spotlight

Chembiochem. 2015 Sep 21;16(14):1981-3. doi: 10.1002/cbic.201500302. Epub 2015 Aug 20.

Abstract

The oxygen-evolving center (OEC) in photosystem II catalyzes a water splitting reaction. Great efforts have already been made to artificially synthesize the OEC, in order to elucidate the structure-function relationship and the mechanism of the reaction. Now, a new synthetic model makes the best mimic yet of the OEC. This recent study opens up the possibility to study the mechanism of photosystem II and photosynthesis in general for applications in renewable energy and synthetic biology.

Keywords: metal clusters; oxygen-evolving centers; photosynthesis; photosystem II; water splitting.

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetic Materials / chemical synthesis
  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Biomimetic Materials / metabolism*
  • Biomimetics
  • Catalysis
  • Manganese / chemistry
  • Manganese / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxygen / metabolism*
  • Photosynthesis
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / chemical synthesis
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / chemistry*
  • Photosystem II Protein Complex / metabolism*
  • Renewable Energy
  • Water / metabolism*

Substances

  • Photosystem II Protein Complex
  • Water
  • Manganese
  • Oxygen