Primary radical ion pairs in photosystem II core complexes

Ultrafast absorption spectroscopy with 20-fs resolution was applied to study primary charge separation in spinach photosystem II (PSII) reaction center (RC) and PSII core complex (RC complex with integral antenna) upon excitation at maximum wavelength 700–710 nm at 278 K. It was found that the initial charge separation between P680* and ChlD1 (Chl-670) takes place with a time constant of ∼1 ps with the formation of the primary charge-separated state P680* with an admixture of: P680*(1−δ) (P680δ+1ChlD1δ−), where δ ∼ 0.5. The subsequent electron transfer from P680δ+ChlD1δ− to pheophytin (Pheo) occurs within 13 ps and is accompanied by a relaxation of the absorption band at 670 nm (ChlD1δ−) and bleaching of the PheoD1 bands at 420, 545, and 680 nm with development of the Pheoband at 460 nm. Further electron transfer to QA occurs within 250 ps in accordance with earlier data. The spectra of P680+ and Pheo− formation include a bleaching band at 670 nm; this indicates that Chl-670 is an intermediate between P680 and Pheo. Stimulated emission kinetics at 685 nm demonstrate the existence of two decaying components with time constants of ∼1 and ∼13 ps due to the formation of P680δ+ChlD1δ− and P680+PheoD1−, respectively.