Energy transfer and fluorescence mechanisms in photosynthetic membranes

Abstract

Energy transfer in photosynthetic membranes involves the migration of excitons from light‐harvesting antenna chlorophyll‐protein complexes to the reaction center complexes. Recent efforts have focused on determining the time of arrival of excitons (trapping times) at the reaction centers following excitation with a single picosecond laser pulse. Three different approaches have been utilized: (1) determination of appearance of separated charges within the reaction centers by differential absorbtion spectroscopy, (2) determination of appearance of separated charges by fast photoemf measurements, and (3) kinetics of decay of fluorescence. The first two methods provide more direct information on exciton trapping by reaction centers than fluorescence methods, but are experimentally difficult to realize. Therefore, much activity has centered around the accurate measurement and analysis of fluorescence‐decay profiles by single‐photon counting methods. In green plants, about three different components with lifetimes of about 100 psec, 200 to 500 psec, and >1 nsec, have been reported. The first two components are believed to be related to trapping rates by reaction centers, while the third component is attributed to a charge recombination (Klimov) mechanism. Results from photoemf and exciton‐exciton annihilation experiments are consistent with the interpretation that the first decay component reflects exciton‐trapping rates. A critical analysis and discussion of these fast energy‐transfer phenomena in photosynthetic membranes of green plants are offered in this review.