Multiparticle Direct Simulation of Photosynthetic Electron Transport Processes

SummaryIn our previous study [3] we described the method for a direct three-dimensional (3D) computer simulation of ferredoxin-dependent cyclic electron transport around the photosystem 1 pigment-protein complex. Simulations showed that the spatial organization of the system plays a significant role in shaping the kinetics of the redox turnover of P700 (the reaction center of a photosystem 1 pigment-protein complex). In this paper we develop the direct 3D model of cyclic electron transport and apply it to study the nature of fast and slow components of the P700+ dark reduction process. We demonstrate that the slow phase of this process is diffusion controlled and is determined by the diffusion of reduced plastoquinone and plastocyanin molecules from the granal to the stromal areas of the thylakoid membrane.