Photo-CIDNP solid-state NMR on photosystems I and II: What makes P680 special?

The origin of the extraordinary high redox potential of P680, the primary electron donor of Photosystem II, is still unknown. Photochemically induced dynamic nuclear polarisation (photo-CIDNP) C-13 magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR is a powerful method to study primary electron donors. In order to reveal the electronic structure of P680, we compare new photo-CIDNP MAS NMR data of Photosystem II to those of Photosystem I. The comparison reveals that the electronic structure of the P680 radical cation is a Chl a cofactor with strong matrix interaction, while the radical cation of P700, the primary electon donor of Photosystem I, appears to be a Chl a cofactor which is essentially undisturbed. Possible forms of cofactor-matrix interactions are discussed.