Energetics, Kinetics and Mechanism of Oxidative Water Splitting in Photosynthesis

This short communication focuses on energetics, kinetics and mechanism of oxidative photosynthetic water splitting into molecular dioxyen and four protons. The process which takes place in the Photosystem II complex of all oxygen evolving organisms comprises three different types of reaction: i) light induced generation of the strongly oxidizing cation radical P680+· ii) coupled proton and electron transfer leading to P680+· reduction by YZ, and iii) sequence of redox steps within the WOC driven by YZ ox.