title: Some aspects of the early evolution of photosynthesis.
abstract: The early evolution of a photocatalytic system of the porphyrin type, able to efficiently collect and utilize solar energy for primary electron transfer is discussed. Experimental results concerning some spectral and photochemical properties of the porphyrins, biosynthetic precursors of chlorophyll and their complexes with polymeric templates are reviewed. Protoporphyrin IX associated with pigmented proteinoid is demonstrated to be a favourable candidate for a role of a photosensitizer of the first photosynthetic reaction centers. The origin and early evolution of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain and of the phosphorylating mechanism are discussed with emphasis on the energetic mechanisms of archaebacteria.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Czechoslovakia Academy of Sciences, Prague.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Masinovsky
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Lozovaya
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sivash
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000378:metabolism; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004579:Electron Transport; D010777:Photochemistry; D010788:Photosynthesis; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D011166:Porphyrins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D013472:Sunlight
chemical_list: D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D011166:Porphyrins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C028025:protoporphyrin IX