A Theoretical Model for Excitation Energy Transfer in Chlorosomes: Lamellar and Rod-Shaped Antenna Structures

2008

A model based on exciton theory is presented for description of excitation energy transfer in chlorosomes. Three models to describe the internal organization of the pigments inside the chlorosome were considered, a stack of single-wall rods, a stack of double-wall rods and a stack of lamellae directed along the long axis of the chlorosome. Simulated absorption, circular dichroism and linear dichroism spectra of single-wall rod and the lamella structures turned out to be practically identical. It was shown that rod—rod interactions may localize the exciton states in the regions of a rod facing a neighboring rod. Such localized states provide a fast excitation energy transfer mechanism in per…