Three Dimensional Structure of a Membrane Protein Complex, Photosynthetic Reaction Center and Molecular Mechanism of Electron-Transfer Reaction in Photosynthetic Membranes

Abstract

The molecular mechanism of the electron-transfer reaction occurred in photosynthetic membranes has been reviewed on the basis of the structure of the reaction center complex, where the initial key re-actions in the primary step of photosynthesis are induced by absorption of light. This three-dimensional structure of the reaction center from a photosynthetic bacterium has been determined by x-ray crystallography in consequence of the first success in crystallization of membrane proteins. The present structure has also revealed some remarkable common features of proteins in biological membranes.