The photonic 'smart grid' of the chloroplast in action

摘要

The evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis allowed life to colonize vast new ecological niches, but at the same time exposed its hosts to new perils. This is because, although light is a powerful and abundant energy source, it is also a dangerous one. Photosynthesis not only generates highly reactive intermediates (chlorophyll triplets and highly reducing electron transfer intermediates), but also produces the molecular oxygen with which these intermediates can interact to produce toxic reactive oxygen species.