Modeling of The Oxygen Evolving Complex
Advisor(s)
Dr. Joseph T. Golab; Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
Discipline
Chemistry
Start Date
21-4-2021 9:10 AM
End Date
21-4-2021 9:25 AM
Abstract
Coral reefs are an essential part of the ocean ecosystem, providing a rich habitat that supports many diverse lifeforms. Further, these reefs are important economically as they are a major draw for tourists around the world; their destruction could prove catastrophic. A rise in ocean temperatures has been linked with the bleaching of coral reefs. More specifically the temperature rise has been linked to damage of photosystem two in the dinoflagellates that maintain a symbiotic relationship with the coral. This experiment has used the Spartan Student program to create a model of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) within photosystem two. After calculating the energy of different possible molecular combinations of the OEC, as well as all reactants and products of the photosynthesis reaction, a model was created from the lowest energy results. Moving forward this model will be used to determine the effects of a change in heat energy on the system and to calculate energy changes when calcium is replaced in the OEC.
Modeling of The Oxygen Evolving Complex
Coral reefs are an essential part of the ocean ecosystem, providing a rich habitat that supports many diverse lifeforms. Further, these reefs are important economically as they are a major draw for tourists around the world; their destruction could prove catastrophic. A rise in ocean temperatures has been linked with the bleaching of coral reefs. More specifically the temperature rise has been linked to damage of photosystem two in the dinoflagellates that maintain a symbiotic relationship with the coral. This experiment has used the Spartan Student program to create a model of the oxygen evolving complex (OEC) within photosystem two. After calculating the energy of different possible molecular combinations of the OEC, as well as all reactants and products of the photosynthesis reaction, a model was created from the lowest energy results. Moving forward this model will be used to determine the effects of a change in heat energy on the system and to calculate energy changes when calcium is replaced in the OEC.