Energetics of the primary electron transfer reaction revealed by ultrafast spectroscopy on modified bacterial reaction centers

The modification of reaction centers from Rhodobacter sphaeroides by the introduction of pheophytins instead of bacteriopheophytins leads to interesting changes in the primary photosynthetic reaction: long-living populations of the excited electronic state of the special pair P* and the bacteriochlorophyll anion Bi show up. The data allow the determination of the energetics in the reaction center. The free energy of the first intermediate P+Br , where the electron has reached the accessory bacteriochlorophyll BA lies = 450 cm-’ below the initially excited special pair P*.