A mathematical model of electron and proton transport in oxygenic photosynthetic systems

Results of simulation of electron and proton transport in higher plant chloroplasts, taking into account the lateral heterogeneity of their lamellar system, were summarized. The existence of heterogeneous lateral profiles of pH inside thylakoids and in gaps between the thylakoids of grana was predicted. The basic kinetic relationships were simulated for photoinduced redox transformations of P₇₀₀, the primary electron donor for PS1. It was shown that, along with changes in pH inside thylakoids, an essential role in controlling the electron transport in chloroplasts can belong to alkalinization of the gap between thylakoids of grana, caused by deceleration of diffusion of hydrogen ions from the stroma to the PS2 complexes in thylakoids of grana.