Title :
Electrostatics of Photosynthetic Reaction Centers in Membranes
Author :
Pennisi, Cristian P. ; Greenbaum, Elias ; Yoshida, Ken
Author_Institution :
Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Aalborg Univ.
Abstract :
Photosynthetic reaction centers are integral membrane complexes. They have potential application as molecular photovoltaic structures and have been used in diverse technological applications. A three-dimensional electrostatic model of the photosystem I reaction center (PSI) embedded in a lipid membrane is presented. The potential is obtained by solving the Poisson-Boltzmann equation with the finite element method (FEM). Simulations showing the potential distribution in a vesicle containing PSI reaction centers under different conditions are presented. The results of the simulations are compared with previous findings and a possible application of PSI to provide light activation of voltage-gated ion channels is discussed
Keywords :
Boltzmann equation; Poisson equation; bioelectric potentials; biomembrane transport; electrostatics; finite element analysis; lipid bilayers; photosynthesis; FEM; Poisson-Boltzmann equation; finite element method; integral membrane complexes; lipid membrane; molecular photovoltaic structures; photosynthetic reaction centers; photosystem I reaction center; potential distribution; three-dimensional electrostatic model; vesicle; voltage-gated ion channels; Biomembranes; Dielectrics; Electric potential; Electrostatics; Finite element methods; Lipidomics; Muscles; Poisson equations; Solid modeling; Voltage;
Conference_Titel :
Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, 2006. EMBS '06. 28th Annual International Conference of the IEEE
Print_ISBN :
1-4244-0032-5
Electronic_ISBN :
1557-170X
DOI :
10.1109/IEMBS.2006.260623
