An investigation of slow charge separation in a tyrosine M210 to tryptophan mutant of the rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction center by femtosecond mid-infrared spectroscopy

Energy and electron transfer in a tyrosine M210 to tryptophan (YM210W) mutant of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction center (RC) were investigated through time-resolved visible pump/mid-infrared (mid-IR) probe spectroscopy at room temperature, with the aim to further characterize the primary charge separated states in the RC. This mutant is known to display slow and multi-exponential charge separation, and was used in earlier work to prove the existence of an alternative route for charge separation starting from the accessory bacteriochlorophyll in the active branch, B