Jq. Zhao et al., STUDY ON THE ENERGY-TRANSFER PROCESSES IN PHYCOBILISOMES FROM BLUE-GREEN-ALGAE BY THE USE OF STOCHASTIC SIMULATION APPROACH, Biochimica et biophysica acta. Bioenergetics, 1229(1), 1995, pp. 39-48
A more natural model is used for simulating the energy transfer proces
ses in phycobilisomes from cyanobacteria. In the model, the crystal st
ructure data of C-phycocyanins are applied and the linker polypeptides
are taken into account to calculate Forster transfer rates between ne
ighboring disks. Applying computer simulation, the single-step dynamic
nature and the step-by-step paths for excitation transfer are investi
gated. The time constant and mean number of transfer events through a
single-step provide a quantitative description of not only the dynamic
property of each step but also the dominant pathways in phycobilisome
s of blue-green algae. It is estimated that about 90% of the excitatio
n energy is transferred to the core through beta(84) chromophores. The
simulation also shows that the excitation energy is transferred in a
natural phycobilisome most likely in partially reversible manner.