Biophysics Seminar - Prof. Graham Fleming (University of California)

Start: Friday 1 November 2024, 2pm.
Location: Physics Building, 4th Floor, A1/3.

Prof. Graham Fleming (University of California)
Title: How to design an antenna for a really dangerous photochemical reaction: the photosystem II supercomplex

Abstract: The intuitive description of an antenna and photochemical reaction center most likely looks like the biological equivalent of a satellite dish – a large collector focusing the input on a central functional component.  Many photochemical systems in nature do resemble this picture, using an energy “funnel” to focus solar excitation at a reaction center.  However, Photosystem II (PSII), unique in its ability to split water into protons and molecular oxygen, does not use an energy funnel.  Instead its energy landscape is rather flat even though, in the C2S2M2 supercomplex, over 300 chlorophyll molecules surround two PSII reaction centers.  I will discuss the design principles of the PSII supercomplex revealed by ultrafast spectroscopy, theory and modeling.

Host: Alexandra Olaya-Castro (a.olaya@ucl.ac.uk)