Economic photoprotection in photosystem II that retains a complete light-harvesting system with slow energy traps

Erica Belgio, Ekaterina Kapitonova, Jevgenij Chmeliov, Christopher D. P. Duffy, Petra Ungerer, Leonas Valkunas and Alexander V. Ruban ()
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Erica Belgio: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London
Ekaterina Kapitonova: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London
Jevgenij Chmeliov: Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University
Christopher D. P. Duffy: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London
Petra Ungerer: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London
Leonas Valkunas: Faculty of Physics, Vilnius University
Alexander V. Ruban: School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The light-harvesting antenna of higher plant photosystem II has an intrinsic capability for self-defence against intense sunlight. The thermal dissipation of excess energy can be measured as the non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence. It has recently been proposed that the transition between the light-harvesting and self-defensive modes is associated with a reorganization of light-harvesting complexes. Here we show that despite structural changes, the photosystem II cross-section does not decrease. Our study reveals that the efficiency of energy trapping by the non-photochemical quencher(s) is lower than the efficiency of energy capture by the reaction centres. Consequently, the photoprotective mechanism works effectively for closed rather than open centres. This type of defence preserves the exceptional efficiency of electron transport in a broad range of light intensities, simultaneously ensuring high photosynthetic productivity and, under hazardous light conditions, sufficient photoprotection for both the reaction centre and the light-harvesting pigments of the antenna.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5433

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