title: Reaction centres of purple bacteria.
abstract: The bacterial reaction centre is undoubtedly one of the most heavily studied electron transfer proteins and, as this article has tried to describe, it has made some unique contributions to our understanding of biological electron transfer and coupled protonation reactions, and has provided fascinating information in areas that concern basic properties such as protein heterogeneity and protein dynamics. Despite intensive study, much remains to be learned about how this protein catalyses the conversion of solar energy into a form that can be used by the cell. In particular, the dynamic roles played by the protein are still poorly understood. The wide range of time-scales over which the reaction centre catalyses electron transfer, and the relative ease with which electron transfer can be triggered and monitored, will ensure that the reaction centre will continue to be used as a laboratory for testing ideas about the nature of biological electron transfer for many years to come.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, Division of Physics and Astronomy, Department of Biophysics and Physics of Complex Systems, Free University of Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1081, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: van Brederode
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D012242:Rhodobacter sphaeroides / Q000378:metabolism*; D012241:Rhodopseudomonas / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins