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Keiuke Kawashima, Department of Applied Chemistry, won a Photosynthesis seminat 2016, Mimuro award

 

 

 

<About awarded research>

Unlike photosynthesis in green plants, purple photosynthetic bacteria do not evolve O2 in photosynthesis. Both photosynthetic reaction centers have similar electron transfer pathways, using the same quinone molecule (i.e., menaquinone). On the other hand, the redox potential values of the quinones in the two reaction centers differ significantly (~500 mV). In the present study, using theoretical approaches and the protein crystal structures, we clarified the factor that differentiates the redox potential values of the quinones in the two reaction centers.

 

<Comments>
I would like to thank prof. Ishikita and members of Ishikita lab for discussions and supports.
I want to work harder to understand the mechanism of photosynthesis.