Photosynthetic Oxygen: the Role of H₂O₂. A Review

V. D. Samuilov¹

¹Department of Cell Physiology and Immunology, School of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119899 Russia; fax: (7-095) 939-38-07.

Submitted November 4, 1996; revision submitted January 23, 1997.

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Photosynthetic oxygen is currently believed to be derived from water. A number of H₂O analogs interact with the water-oxidizing complex. Of special interest among them is hydrogen peroxide in view of its possible involvement in photosynthetic O₂ production. Presumably, H₂O₂ represents an intermediate product of H₂O oxidation and plausibly even the primary electron donor. In some cyanobacteria and algae, O₂ evolution is abolished under anaerobic conditions. Investigation of the role of H₂O₂ in photosynthetic O₂ evolution is a promising field of research.

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KEY WORDS: photosynthesis, photosystem II, electron transfer, O₂ evolution, role of H₂O₂.

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