This is a new discovery. This report reveals, for the first time, the atomic structure of the oxygen-evolving center of the enzyme PSII.

This paper is about the structure of an enzyme, PSII. PSII is the membrane protein complex found in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms—higher plants, green algae, and cyanobacteria—which harnesses light energy to split H2O into O2, protons, and electrons. All oxygen we are breathing on the Earth is generated by this enzyme in the plant leaves using light energy. This is one of the most important reactions needed to sustain life on this planet. We have, for the first time, revealed the atomic structure of the metal center of the enzyme PSII, which catalyzes the oxygen generation from water.

I have been working on the structure determination of a series of membrane proteins, which exist in biological membranes. PSII is a membrane protein. The structure determination of membrane proteins is very difficult and only a limited number of scientists have had any success. We have attempted to utilize our expertise in this field to solve this fundamental problem.