Photodamage of the manganese–calcium oxide: a model for UV-induced photodamage of the water oxidizing complex in photosystem II

Abstract

The Mn–Ca cluster is proposed to play an important role in the ultraviolet (UV) photoinhibition of photosystem II, but the mechanism is still unknown. Here, we used Mn–Ca oxide as an important structural and functional model for the Mn–Ca cluster in photosystem II, and report the effect of UV radiation on the decomposition of the structure in the presence of organic groups. Our results show similarities between the reactions of the Mn–Ca oxide and the WOC of PSII in the presence of UV radiation.