Primary Electron Acceptor

∞ generated and posted on 2016.12.11 ∞

Oxidizing agent associated with reaction center chlorophyll.

When a photon raises a chlorophyll electron to a higher energy level, that energy, and ultimately an electron, has to go somewhere. That somewhere, ideally for the photosynthesizing organism, is known as the Primary Electron Acceptor.

The reducing agent is called pheophytin and is a derivative of chlorophyll itself. It receives an excited electron from the reaction center chlorophyll and thus serves as the primary electron acceptor from photosystems.

From the primary electron acceptor, electrons are then passed on the electron transport chain. For a better sense of the context of this electron transfer, see noncyclic electron flow and cyclic electron flow. See also Z scheme.


Loading