- Oxygen evolving complex
The oxygen evolving complex, (OEC) also known as the water-splitting complex, is a water oxidizing enzyme involved in the photooxidation of water during the
light reactions of photosynthesis. Based on a widely accepted theory from 1970 by Kok, the complex can exist in 5 states: S0 to S4. Photons trapped byphotosystem II move the system from state S0 to S4. S4 is unstable and reacts with water to produce freeoxygen . Currently the functional mechanism of the complex is not completely understood. Much of the known data have been collected from flash experiments, EPR, and X-ray spectroscopy. [Kok, B., B. Forbush, and M. McGloin. 1970. Cooperation of charges in photosynthetic O2 evolution. I. A linear four-step mechanism. Photochem. Photobiol. 11:467–475.]The OEC appears to to have a metalloenzyme core containing both
manganese andcalcium , with the empirical formula for the inorganic core of Mn4Ca1OxCl1–2(HCO3)y. Other characteristics of it have been reviewed; see [ [http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/emrw/9780470862100/eic/article/ia128/current/abstract Abstract : Manganese: The Oxygen-Evolving Complex & Models1 : Encyclopedia of Inorganic Chemistry : Wiley InterScience ] ]References
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