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A possible conformational change, which accompanies electron tranport in Rb. sphaeroides photosynthetic reaction center (RC), was studied using quantum-chemical approach. A kinetic model which takes into account two conformational states of RC is proposed. The model quantitatively describes experimental temperature dependencies of recombination reaction rate P⁺Q_A^- → PQ_A. Quantum-chemical modeling of primary quinone (Q_A) binding site permits one to propose a minor shift of Q_A as a conformational change of interest. The shift is accompanied by break of a hydrogen bond between 4–C=O group of Q_A and histidine M²¹⁹, and formation of a new hydrogen bond between Q_A and hydroxyl group of threonine M²²². Characteristics of this conformational change were obtained from quantum-chemical calculations and match parameters of kinetic model in qualitative fashion.

We consider an approach based on linear algebra methods to analyze the rate of electron transport through the cytochrome $b_6 f$ complex. In the proposed approach, the dependence of the quasi-stationary electron flux through the complex on the degree of reduction of pools of mobile electron carriers is considered a response function characterizing this process. We have developed software in the Python programming language that allows us to construct the master equation for the complex according to the scheme of elementary reactions and calculate quasi-stationary electron transport rates through the complex and the dynamics of their changes during the transition process. The calculations are performed in multithreaded mode, which makes it possible to efficiently use the resources of modern computing systems and to obtain data on the functioning of the complex in a wide range of parameters in a relatively short time. The proposed approach can be easily adapted for the analysis of electron transport in other components of the photosynthetic and respiratory electron-transport chain, as well as other processes in multienzyme complexes containing several reaction centers. Cryo-electron microscopy and redox titration data were used to parameterize the model of cytochrome $b_6 f$ complex. We obtained dependences of the quasi-stationary rate of plastocyanin reduction and plastoquinone oxidation on the degree of reduction of pools of mobile electron carriers and analyzed the dynamics of rate changes in response to changes in the redox state of the plastoquinone pool. The modeling results are in good agreement with the available experimental data.

Photosynthetic apparatus of a plant cell consists of multiple photosynthetic electron transport chains (ETC). Each ETC is capable of capturing and utilizing light quanta, that drive electron transport along the chain. Light assimilation efficiency depends on the plant’s current physiological state. The energy of the part of quanta that cannot be utilized, dissipates into heat, or is emitted as fluorescence. Under high light conditions fluorescence levels gradually rise to the maximum level. The curve describing that rise is called fluorescence rise (FR). It has a complex shape and that shape changes depending on the photosynthetic apparatus state. This gives one the opportunity to investigate that state only using the non invasive measuring of the FR.

When measuring fluorescence in experimental conditions, we get a response from millions of photosynthetic units at a time. In order to reproduce the probabilistic nature of the processes in a photosynthetic ETC, we created a Monte Carlo model of this chain. This model describes an ETC as a sequence of electron carriers in a thylakoid membrane, connected with each other. Those carriers have certain probabilities of capturing light photons, transferring excited states, or reducing each other, depending on the current ETC state. The events that take place in each of the model photosynthetic ETCs are registered, accumulated and used to create fluorescence rise and electron carrier redox states accumulation kinetics. This paper describes the model structure, the principles of its operation and the relations between certain model parameters and the resulting kinetic curves shape. Model curves include photosystem II reaction center fluorescence rise and photosystem I reaction center redox state change kinetics under different conditions.

The approach for the analysis of some large-scale biological systems, on the base of quasiequilibrium stages is proposed. The approach allows us to reduce the detailed large-scaled models and obtain the simplified model with an analytical solution. This makes it possible to reproduce the experimental curves with a good accuracy. This approach has been applied to a detailed model of the primary processes of photosynthesis in the reaction center of photosystem II. The resulting simplified model of photosystem II describes the experimental fluorescence induction curves for higher and lower plants, obtained under different light intensities. Derived relationships between variables and parameters of detailed and simplified models, allow us to use parameters of simplified model to describe the dynamics of various states of photosystem II detailed model.