Primary electron transfer in reaction centers of YM210L and YM210L/HL168L mutants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

In memory of Vladimir Anatolievich Shuvalov (1943-2022): an outstanding biophysicist

We present here a tribute to one of the foremost biophysicists of our time, Vladimir Anatolievich Shuvalov, who made important contributions in bioenergetics, especially on the primary steps of conversion of light energy into charge-separated states in both anoxygenic and oxygenic photosynthesis. For this, he and his research team exploited pico- and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, photodichroism & circular dichroism spectroscopy, light-induced FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy, and hole-burning spectroscopy. We remember him for his outstanding leadership and for being a wonderful mentor to many scientists in this area. Reminiscences by many [Suleyman Allakhverdiev (Russia); Robert Blankenship (USA); Richard Cogdell (UK); Arvi Freiberg (Estonia); Govindjee Govindjee (USA); Alexander Krasnovsky, jr, (Russia); William Parson (USA); Andrei Razjivin (Russia); Jian- Ren Shen (Japan); Sergei Shuvalov (Russia); Lyudmilla Vasilieva (Russia); and Andrei Yakovlev (Russia)] have included not only his wonderful personal character, but his outstanding scientific research.

Dynamic Stark Effect in Two-Dimensional Spectroscopy Revealing Modulation of Ultrafast Charge Separation in Bacterial Reaction Centers by an Inherent Electric Field

Despite extensive study, mysteries remain regarding the highly efficient ultrafast charge separation processes in photosynthetic reaction centers (RCs). In this work, transient Stark signals were found to be present in ultrafast two-dimensional electronic spectra recorded for purple bacterial RCs at 77 K. These arose from the electric field that is inherent to the intradimer charge-transfer intermediate of the bacteriochlorophyll pair (P), P_A⁺P_B^-. By comparing three mutated RCs, a correlation was found between the efficient formation of P_A⁺P_B^- and a fast charge separation rate. Importantly, the energy level of P* was changed due to the Stark shift, influencing the driving force for P* → P⁺B_A^- electron transfer and hence its rate. Furthermore, the orientation and amplitude of the inherent electric field varied in different ways upon different mutation, leading to contrasting changes in the rates. This mechanism of modulation provides a solution to a long-lasting inconsistency between experimental observations and activation energy theory.