title: Electrostatics of photosynthetic reaction centers in membranes.
abstract: Photosynthetic reaction centers are integral membrane complexes. They have potential application as molecular photovoltaic structures and have been used in diverse technological applications. A three-dimensional electrostatic model of the photosystem I reaction center (PSI) embedded in a lipid membrane is presented. The potential is obtained by solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation with the finite element method (FEM). Simulations showing the potential distribution in a vesicle containing PSI reaction centers under different conditions are presented. The results of the simulations are compared with previous findings and a possible application of PSI to provide light activation of voltage-gated ion channels is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg Univ., Denmark. cpennisi@hst.aau.dk
authors.forename: Cristian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greenbaum
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D007700:Kinetics; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex / Q000737:chemistry; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex