title: Reaction centres: the structure and evolution of biological solar power.
abstract: Reaction centres are complexes of pigment and protein that convert the electromagnetic energy of sunlight into chemical potential energy. They are found in plants, algae and a variety of bacterial species, and vary greatly in their composition and complexity. New structural information has highlighted features that are common to the different types of reaction centre and has provided insights into some of the key differences between reaction centres from different sources. New ideas have also emerged on how contemporary reaction centres might have evolved and on the possible origin of the first chlorophyll-protein complexes to harness the power of sunlight.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London, UK E1 4NS.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heathcote
authors.forename: Paul K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Fyfe
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D005075:Biological Evolution; D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012993:Solar Energy
chemical_list: D045342:Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins