20.6: Photosystèmes

Photosystems are multiprotein complexes that form the functional units of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. They are found embedded in the membrane of tiny sac-like structures called thylakoids placed inside the chloroplast.

Functioning of Photosystems

Photosystems contain many pigment molecules, such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, arranged in a particular organization across two domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules distributed in the antenna complex is to absorb light in the form of photons and funnel them to the special chlorophyll pair of the reaction center.

There are two types of photosystems — photosystem II (PSII) and photosystem I (PSI) that are structurally similar but differ on the basis of the source of the low-energy electron supplier and the acceptor to which they deliver their energized electrons. Both these photosystems work in concert.

The PSII reaction center, also known as P680, absorbs a photon that excites an electron in the chlorophyll. The high-energy electron breaks free and is passed on to the primary electron acceptor, and ultimately to PSI through the electron transport chain. P680's missing electron is replaced by extracting a low-energy electron from water; thus, water is "split" during this stage of photosynthesis, and PSII is re-reduced after every photoact. Splitting one H₂O molecule releases two electrons, two hydrogen atoms, and one atom of oxygen. The oxygen molecules are released into the environment while the hydrogen ions play a critical role in establishing a proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane that is essential for the synthesis of ATP in the chloroplast.

As electrons move through the proteins that reside between PSII and PSI, they lose energy and must be re-energized by PSI; hence, another photon is absorbed by the PSI antenna. This energy is relayed to the PSI reaction center called P700. P700 is oxidized and sends a high-energy electron to NADP⁺ to form NADPH. Thus, PSII captures the energy to create proton gradients to make ATP, and PSI captures the energy to reduce NADP⁺ into NADPH.

After the energy from the sun is converted into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH molecules, the cell has the fuel needed to build carbohydrate molecules for long-term energy storage. This is achieved in the second phase of photosynthesis, also known as the light-independent or dark phase of photosynthesis, which occurs in the chloroplast stroma.

This text is adapted from Openstax, Biology 2e, Chapter 8, Section 8.2:The Light-dependent Reactions of Photosynthesis.

Les organismes photosynthétiques captent la lumière du soleil à travers les complexes pigment-protéine appelés photosystèmes, intégrés dans la membrane thylakoïde du chloroplaste.

Ces complexes sont classés en photosystème I ou PSI et photosystème II ou PSII.

À l’intérieur du chloroplaste, les complexes PSI sont principalement situés dans les régions non empilées, appelées lamelles stromales, tandis que les complexes PSII sont présents dans les lamelles granales empilées.

Chaque photosystème est une collection d’environ 200 molécules de chlorophylle et 50 molécules de pigment caroténoïde, réparties dans deux domaines différents du photosystème : le domaine central appelé centre de réaction et un domaine périphérique appelé complexe d’antennes.

Bien que toutes les molécules de pigment absorbent des photons, seules quelques molécules de chlorophylle associées au centre de réaction peuvent convertir l’énergie lumineuse absorbée en énergie chimique.

Les pigments du complexe d’antennes ne font que canaliser l’énergie absorbée vers le centre de réaction.

Les photosystèmes ont également des cofacteurs associés essentiels à leur fonctionnement.

Par exemple, le PSI a un cofacteur de ferrédoxine, une jonction clé dans la chaîne de transport d’électrons, tandis que le PSII contient un complexe d’évolution de l’oxygène qui catalyse l’oxydation de l’eau, une étape cruciale pour la photosynthèse.