Distillates - September 2011

Inorganic complex proves calcium is vital for photosynthesis

The first model of photosystem (PS) II - a key part of the biological machinery that drives photosynthesis - has been constructed. The manganese and calcium cluster model reveals in unprecedented detail how PS II turns water into oxygen, a discovery that could lead to the creation of efficient catalysts for producing clean fuels.

The oxygen evolving complex (OEC) at the heart of the PS II protein is where water is split using the power of the sun. It is the most important part of PS II, but is difficult to study accurately. Huge strings of protein surround the complex, making it tricky to observe directly and previous attempts to synthesise PS II's core have been hampered by the formation of complex mixtures of products.