We developed new parameters for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, namely partial atomic charges, equilibrium bond-lengths, angles, dihedrals, atom types, and force constants of chlorophyll a (Chl) and plastoquinone (PQ), and both reduced and neutral form of primary acceptor (PHO) molecule. These parameters are essential for MD simulations that can interpret various structure functional relationships during primary processes of charge separation and stabilization in photosystem 2 reaction centres. and P. Palenčár, F. Vácha, M. Kutý.
Two types of photosystem 2-light-harvesting complex 2 (PS2-LHC2) supercomplexes with similar pigment and protein composition were isolated directly from thylakoid membranes by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopy and single particle image analysis revealed the first Type as single unpaired PS2-LHC2 supercomplexes, whereas the second Type was characterized as pairs of two PS2-LHC2 supercomplexes attached together by their stromal sides. Unstacking of thylakoid membranes resulted in a spontaneous disintegration of the paired supercomplexes into single unpaired particles. A model of the organisation of the pigment-protein complexes in grana region is proposed. and L. Bumba, M. Hušák, F. Vácha.
Life and research results of Pavel Siffel, a talented but untimely deceased Czech scientist in photosynthesis, are reviewed. He studied biophysics and physiology of chlorophyll, its complexes with proteins, their absorption and fluorescence spectra, activities in mutants and transformants, dealt with chlorophyll biosynthesis and protochlorophyllide photoreduction, pigments in plants grown at CO2 deficiency and under simulated acid rain, with changes accompanying leaf and plant development, photobleaching, etc. He participated in construction of specialised spectrofluorometers, finally he built the kinetic spectrophotometer SpeKin. and J. Květoň ... [et al.].