title: Photosynthetic energy conversion: natural and artificial.
abstract: Photosystem II (PSII) is the water splitting enzyme of photosynthesis. Its appearance during evolution dramatically changed the chemical composition of our planet and set in motion an unprecedented explosion in biological activity. Powered by sunlight, PSII supplies biology with the 'hydrogen' needed to convert carbon dioxide into organic molecules. The questions now are can we continue to exploit this photosynthetic process through increased use of biomass as an energy source and, more importantly, can we address the energy/CO2 problem by developing new photochemical technologies which mimic the natural system? (Critical review, 82 references).
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK SW7 2AZ.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barber
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D032701:Biomimetics; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D010788:Photosynthesis; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D012993:Solar Energy; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D014867:Water