Computational Study of Photosynthetic Pigments: Toward Synthetic Photosynthesis Engineering

Chlorophyll is a widely known photosynthetic pigment in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, along with bacteriochlorophyll in some photosynthetic bacteria. The pigments consist of tetrapyrrole structures that carry a single magnesium atom at the center. They play important parts in the light-harvestin...

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Main Authors: Adhityo Wicaksono, Muhammad Ja'far Prakoso, Afif Maulana Yusuf Ridarto, Arli Aditya Parikesit
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Department of Chemistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada 2025-07-01
Series:Indonesian Journal of Chemistry
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Online Access:https://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/ijc/article/view/105059
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author Adhityo Wicaksono
Muhammad Ja'far Prakoso
Afif Maulana Yusuf Ridarto
Arli Aditya Parikesit
author_facet Adhityo Wicaksono
Muhammad Ja'far Prakoso
Afif Maulana Yusuf Ridarto
Arli Aditya Parikesit
author_sort Adhityo Wicaksono
collection DOAJ
description Chlorophyll is a widely known photosynthetic pigment in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, along with bacteriochlorophyll in some photosynthetic bacteria. The pigments consist of tetrapyrrole structures that carry a single magnesium atom at the center. They play important parts in the light-harvesting process in photosynthesis. This study aimed to characterize and compare the electronic profiles of chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll pigments by using in silico computational approaches, such as density functional theory (DFT), electronic transfer property analysis, and protein-pigment interaction studies via molecular docking. The results showed that chlorophylls a, b, and c have the highest energy gaps at the ground state DFT. For bacteriochlorophylls, bacteriochlorophylls g and b have the highest energy gaps. The time-dependent DFT and the follow-up calculations, including extinction coefficient, tunneling rate, and coherence time, indicated bacteriochlorophyll g as a highly promising and efficient pigment. Additionally, chlorophyll c and bacteriochlorophylls c and d showed the strongest binding affinities with the chlorophyll-binding protein of plant photosystem II. This study provides a comprehensive and replicable computational pipeline for pigment profiling, advancing future synthetic photosynthesis designs through combined quantum and synthetic biology insights.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Department of Chemistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada
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spelling doaj-art-950abb04e19c46f1b2c0d7f71b89f1702025-08-20T03:57:39ZengDepartment of Chemistry, Universitas Gadjah MadaIndonesian Journal of Chemistry1411-94202460-15782025-07-012541209122510.22146/ijc.10505937759Computational Study of Photosynthetic Pigments: Toward Synthetic Photosynthesis EngineeringAdhityo Wicaksono0Muhammad Ja'far Prakoso1Afif Maulana Yusuf Ridarto2Arli Aditya Parikesit3Scientific Department, Genomik Solidaritas Indonesia Lab (GSI Lab), Jl. Sultan Agung No. 29, Setiabudi, Jakarta 12980, Indonesia; Biosciences and Biotechnology Research Center, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jl. Ganesha No. 10, Bandung 40132, IndonesiaTheoretical and Computational Condensed Matter Physics Group, Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, Depok 16424, IndonesiaDepartment of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology and System Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, ITS Sukolilo Campus, Surabaya 60111, IndonesiaDepartment of Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences, Jl. Pulomas Barat No. Kav. 88, RT. 4/RW. 9, Kayu Putih, Pulo Gadung, Jakarta 13210, IndonesiaChlorophyll is a widely known photosynthetic pigment in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, along with bacteriochlorophyll in some photosynthetic bacteria. The pigments consist of tetrapyrrole structures that carry a single magnesium atom at the center. They play important parts in the light-harvesting process in photosynthesis. This study aimed to characterize and compare the electronic profiles of chlorophyll and bacteriochlorophyll pigments by using in silico computational approaches, such as density functional theory (DFT), electronic transfer property analysis, and protein-pigment interaction studies via molecular docking. The results showed that chlorophylls a, b, and c have the highest energy gaps at the ground state DFT. For bacteriochlorophylls, bacteriochlorophylls g and b have the highest energy gaps. The time-dependent DFT and the follow-up calculations, including extinction coefficient, tunneling rate, and coherence time, indicated bacteriochlorophyll g as a highly promising and efficient pigment. Additionally, chlorophyll c and bacteriochlorophylls c and d showed the strongest binding affinities with the chlorophyll-binding protein of plant photosystem II. This study provides a comprehensive and replicable computational pipeline for pigment profiling, advancing future synthetic photosynthesis designs through combined quantum and synthetic biology insights.https://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/ijc/article/view/105059excitonphotosystemphotosynthesisquantum tunnelingquantum biology
spellingShingle Adhityo Wicaksono
Muhammad Ja'far Prakoso
Afif Maulana Yusuf Ridarto
Arli Aditya Parikesit
Computational Study of Photosynthetic Pigments: Toward Synthetic Photosynthesis Engineering
Indonesian Journal of Chemistry
exciton
photosystem
photosynthesis
quantum tunneling
quantum biology
title Computational Study of Photosynthetic Pigments: Toward Synthetic Photosynthesis Engineering
title_full Computational Study of Photosynthetic Pigments: Toward Synthetic Photosynthesis Engineering
title_fullStr Computational Study of Photosynthetic Pigments: Toward Synthetic Photosynthesis Engineering
title_full_unstemmed Computational Study of Photosynthetic Pigments: Toward Synthetic Photosynthesis Engineering
title_short Computational Study of Photosynthetic Pigments: Toward Synthetic Photosynthesis Engineering
title_sort computational study of photosynthetic pigments toward synthetic photosynthesis engineering
topic exciton
photosystem
photosynthesis
quantum tunneling
quantum biology
url https://jurnal.ugm.ac.id/ijc/article/view/105059
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AT afifmaulanayusufridarto computationalstudyofphotosyntheticpigmentstowardsyntheticphotosynthesisengineering
AT arliadityaparikesit computationalstudyofphotosyntheticpigmentstowardsyntheticphotosynthesisengineering