An ancient light-harvesting protein is critical for the regulation of algal photosynthesis

Graham Peers, Thuy B. Truong, Elisabeth Ostendorf, Andreas Busch, Dafna Elrad, Arthur R. Grossman, Michael Hippler () and Krishna K. Niyogi ()
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Graham Peers: University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3102, USA
Thuy B. Truong: University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3102, USA
Elisabeth Ostendorf: Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Münster
Andreas Busch: Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Münster
Dafna Elrad: Carnegie Institution, Stanford, California 94305, USA
Arthur R. Grossman: Carnegie Institution, Stanford, California 94305, USA
Michael Hippler: Institute of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Münster
Krishna K. Niyogi: University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-3102, USA

Nature, 2009, vol. 462, issue 7272, 518-521

Abstract: The bright lights Although algae and plants need plenty of light for photosynthesis, too much of it can be harmful, causing severe oxidative damage and even cell death. Rapid regulation of photosynthetic light harvesting provides a safety valve for photosynthesis via feedback-regulated de-excitation of chlorophyll molecules in photosystem II. Little is known about the mechanism of this defence system in eukaryotic algae. Now a study using mutants of the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii lacking two of the three genes encoding LHCSR shows that this protein, an ancient member of the light-harvesting complex superfamily that is not found in vascular plants, is required for survival in a fluctuating light environment. This means that plants and algae use different proteins to protect the photosynthetic apparatus from damage.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08587

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