Photosynthesis tunes quantum-mechanical mixing of electronic and vibrational states to steer exciton energy transfer
Abstract
Photosynthetic light-harvesting antennae transfer energy toward reaction centers with high efficiency, but in high light or oxidative environments, the antennae divert energy to protect the photosynthetic apparatus. For a decade, quantum effects driven by vibronic coupling, where electronic and vibrational states couple, have been suggested to explain the energy transfer efficiency, but questions remain whether quantum effects are merely consequences of molecular systems. Here, we show evidence that biology tunes interpigment vibronic coupling, indicating that the quantum mechanism is operative in the efficient transfer regime and exploited by evolution for photoprotection. Specifically, the Fenna–Matthews–Olson complex uses redox-active cysteine residues to tune the resonance between its excitons and a pigment vibration to steer excess excitation toward a quenching site.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 09, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1073/pnas.2018240118
Entities
People
- Gregory S. Engel
- Jacob S. Higgins
- John P Otto
- Lawson T. Lloyd
- Marco A Allodi
- Po-Chieh Ting
- Rafael G. Saer
- Robert E. Blankenship
- Ryan E. Wood
- Sara C Massey
- Sara H. Sohail
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation
- Division of Materials Research
- National Science Foundation
- Office of Basic Energy Sciences
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Chicago
- Washington University in St. Louis