Reflections on the Nature and Function of the Photosystem II Reaction Centre

Abstract

The reaction centre of photosystem II (PSII) converts light energy into chemical potential used by higher photosynthetic organisms to produce atmospheric oxygen. Water is the source of the oxygen and also the reductant required to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide. The purpose of this paper is to identify the physical location of the reaction centre complex in the thylakoid membrane, quantitate the core chlorophyll pigment stoichiometry in the isolated complex, discuss the primary charge-separation process, and examine current information on the nature of the primary electron donor of PSII.