Structural adaptations of photosynthetic complex I enable ferredoxin-dependent electron transfer

Abstract

Plugging into the pump Photosynthetic organisms use light to fix carbon dioxide in a process that requires both chemical reducing equivalents and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Balancing the ratio of these inputs is accomplished by a short circuit in electron flow through photosynthetic complex I, a proton pump that contributes to ATP production but does not increase net reducing equivalents in the cell. Schuller et al. solved a cryo–electron microscopy structure of photosynthetic complex I (see the Perspective by Brandt) and went on to reconstitute electron transfer using the electron carrier protein ferredoxin. Science , this issue p. 257 ; see also p. 230