In thylakoids of cyanobacteria and other photosynthetic organisms, the light-induced production of molecular oxygen is catalyzed by the lipid-pigment-protein complex called photosystem II (PSII). The oxygen-evolving complex (manganese cluster) is located deep in luminal site of PSII, therefore water molecules to reach the active site, and oxygen molecules to release from active site of enzyme, need to pass through the protein environment. Previous studies aimed at finding oxygen and water channels in PSII were based on analysis cavities in static structure or experiments with penetration molecules of noble gas into PSII crystals under pressure. It allowed describe some possible exiting pathways of molecules and static positions of molecular oxygen. In this work movement of water and oxygen molecules in PSII transport network is simulated by molecular dynamics method. Program for automation process of analysis molecular dynamics movement trajectory in PSII was created and criteria were offered.
photosystem II, molecular dynamics
1. Umena Y., Kawakami K., Shen J.R. [et al.] Crystal structure of oxygen-evolving photosystem II at a resolution of 1.9 Å. Nature, 2011, vol. 473, pp. 55-60.
2. Yano J., Yachandra V. Mn4Ca Cluster in Photosynthesis: Where and How Water is Oxidized to Dioxygen. Chem. Rev., 2014, vol. 114, pp. 4175-4205.
3. Gabdulhakov A., Guskov A. [et al.] Probing the Accessibility of the Mn4Ca Cluster in Photosystem II: Channels Calculation, Noble Gas Derivatization, and Cocrystallization with DMSO. Structure, 2009, vol. 17, pp. 1223-1234.
4. Ho F.M., Styring S. Access channels and methanol binding site to the CaMn4 cluster in Photosystem II based on solvent accessibility simulations, with implications for substrate water access. Biochim. Biophys. Acta - Bioenerg., 2008., vol. 1777, no. 2, pp. 140-153.
5. Murray J.W., Maghlaoui K., Kargul J. [et al.] Analysis of xenon binding to photosystem II by X-ray crystallography. Photosynth. Res., 2008, vol. 98, no. 1-3, pp. 523-527.