Photosystem II (PSII) is a light-driven water:plastoquinone oxidoreductase that uses light energy to abstract electrons from H2O, generating O2 and a proton gradient subsequently used for ATP formation. It consists of a core antenna complex that captures photons, and an electron transfer chain that converts photonic excitation into a charge separation. The D1/D2 (PsbA/PsbD) reaction center heterodimer binds P680, the primary electron donor of PSII as well as several subsequent electron acceptors. D2 is needed for assembly of a stable PSII complex.
