title: Scanning electrochemical microscopy of the photosynthetic reaction center of Rhodobacter sphaeroides in different environmental systems.
abstract: The present work uses a scanning electrochemical microscopy technique to study systems containing the membrane-bound reaction center protein (RC) from the purple photosynthetic bacteria Rhodobacter spheroides to chromatophores (spherical reorganization of cell membrane following its mechanical rupture) and liposomes (reconstituted membrane systems at lower degree of complexity). Scanning electrochemical microscopy is a useful tool to investigate redox processes involving a RC, because the effective heterogeneous rate constants for the redox reaction with different mediators can be measured. The technique is also able to provide information on the role of the outer cell membrane permeation on the kinetics of the electron-transfer processes and to obtain more insight into the nature of the species involved.
authors.affiliation: CNR ISPA Bari, Via Amendola 122/o, I-70126 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Longobardi
authors.forename: Pinalysa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cosma
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Milano
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agostiano
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mauzeroll
authors.forename: Allen J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bard
mesh_terms: D002856:Chromatophores / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004777:Environment; D008081:Liposomes; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012242:Rhodobacter sphaeroides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins