Energy Pipeline Model of the Photosynthetic Apparatus

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present an overall view of how energy distribution in a photosynthetic apparatus can be measured, calculated and visualized by means of the energy pipeline model. Energy distribution is a term for all phenomena which are correlated to the energetic constellation within the photosynthetic apparatus between the absorption events of photons and the first redox reactions of the electron transport chain. The complex scope of energy distribution correlates fluxes and forces, to pool sizes of pigments as well as to distances between pigments. The fluxes are 1) light absorption fluxes of PSI and PSII indicated as and J₁ and J₂ energy fluxes within the photosynthetic unit: Excitation fluxes or excitation rates of the pigment pool i are indicated as E. and de-excitation fluxes from one location i to another location j are indicated as E_ij The forces which drive the energy fluxes are embodied in the excited pigment which is defined as the exciton density of the pigment i and indicated as P_i*. The energy fluxes are proportional to the exciton density. The de-excitation rate constant k_ij is the proportionality factor. E_ij = P_i*. k_ij* All equations on energy distribution according to the energy flux theory in biomembranes can be applied to every photosynthetic model. The problem arises when one attempts to correlate experimental signals to the equation of the model. The models symbolize photosynthetic units.