Photosystem IINovember 2004 Molecule of the Month by David
Goodsell doi: 10.2210/rcsb_pdb/mom_2004_11 (PDF Version, ePub
Version ) Three billion years ago, our world changed completely.
Before then, life on Earth relied on the limited natural
resources found in the local environment, such as the organic
molecules made by lightning, hot springs, and other geochemical
sources. However, these resources were rapidly being used up.
Everything changed when these tiny cells discovered a way to
capture light and use it to power their internal processes. The
discovery of photosynthesis opened up vast new possibilities for
growth and expansion, and life on the earth boomed. With this
new discovery, cells could take carbon dioxide out of the air
and combine it with water to create the raw materials and energy
needed for growth. Today, photosynthesis is the foundation of
life on Earth, providing (with a few exotic exceptions) the food
and energy that keeps every organism alive. The Colors of
Photosynthesis Modern cells c