Commentary on: "Photosynthesis and negative entropy production" by Jennings and coworkers.
This commentary argues against the view that photochemical energy conversion violates the second law of thermodynamics, as expressed in a recent paper [R.C. Jennings, E. Engelmann, F. Garlaschi, A.P. Casazza, G. Zucchelli. Photosynthesis and negative entropy production. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1709 (2005) 251-255]. The basic principles of free energy conversion by a photo-electrochemical cell are outlined, emphasizing the fact that the potential depends on the relative population of the excited state and thus on the illumination intensity.
Lavergne
Jérôme
J
Unité Mixte de Recherche 6191 CNRS-CEA-Aix Marseille II, Département d'Ecophysiologie Végétale et de Microbiologie, CEA Cadarache, 13108 Saint Paul-lez-Durance Cedex, France.
D004735:Energy Transfer / Q000502:physiology*; D019277:Entropy; D005453:Fluorescence; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016082:Solar System; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000502:physiology*
D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex