Listening to PS II: Enthalpy, entropy, and volume changes

Photosystem II, located in the thylakoid membranes of green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, uses sunlight to split water into protons, electrons, and a dioxygen molecule. The mechanism of its electron transfers and oxygen evolution including the structure of the protein and rates of the S-state cycle has been extensively investigated. Substantial progress has been made; however, the thermodynamics of PS II electron transfer and of the oxygen cycle are poorly understood. Recent progress in thermodynamic measurements in photosynthesis provides novel insights on the enthalpic and entropic contribution to electron transfer in proteins. In this review the thermodynamic parameters including quantum yield, enthalpy, entropy, and volume changes of PS II photochemistry determined by photoacoustics and other laser techniques are summarized and evaluated. Light-driven volume changes via electrostriction are directly related to the photoreaction in PS II and thus can be a useful measurement of PS II activity and function. The enthalpy changes of the reactions observed can be directly measured by photoacoustics. The apparent reaction entropy can also be estimated when the free energy is known. Dissecting the free energy of a photoreaction into enthalpic and entropic components provides critical information about mechanisms of PS II function. Potential limitations and future direction of the study of the thermodynamics of PS II electron transfer and oxygen evolution are presented.

Recent thermodynamic measurements in photosystem II provide novel insights in the electron transfer mechanisms. In this review the thermodynamic parameters including quantum yield, enthalpy, entropy, and volume changes of photosystem II photochemistry determined by photoacoustics and other laser techniques are summarized and evaluated. Potential limitations and future direction in this area are presented.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights
► Thermodynamics of electron transfers in PS II are summarized and evaluated.
► The parameters include quantum yield, enthalpy, entropy, and volume changes.
► Photoacoustics uncovers the enthalpic and entropic contribution in PS II.