Out-of-phase electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy was used to determine the distance between the primary donor radical cation P680+. and the quinone acceptor radical anion Q(A)-. in iron-depleted photosystem II in membrane fragments from spinach that are deprived of the water oxidizing complex. Furthermore, a lower limit for the distance between the oxidized tyrosine residue Y(Z) of polypeptide D1 and Q(A)-. could be estimated by a comparison of data gathered from samples where the electron transfer from Y(Z) to P680+. is either intact or blocked by preillumination in the presence of NH2OH.