Crystal structure of the cytochrome b6f complex from C. reinhardtii (1q90). Hydrocarbon boundaries of the lipid bilayer are shown by red and blue lines (thylakoid space side and stroma side, respectively).
The reaction is analogous to the reaction catalyzed by cytochrome bc1 (Complex III) of the mitochondrialelectron transport chain. During photosynthesis, the cytochrome b6f complex is one step along the chain that transfers electrons from Photosystem II to Photosystem I, and at the same time pumps protons into the thylakoid space, contributing to the generation of an electrochemical (energy) gradient[2] that is later used to synthesize ATP from ADP.