LHCSR3-Type NPQ Prevents Photoinhibition and Slowed Growth under Fluctuating Light in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

ABSTRACT: Natural light intensities can rise several orders of magnitude over subsecond time spans, posing a major challenge for photosynthesis. Fluctuating light tolerance in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii requires alternative electron pathways, but the role of nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ) is not known. Here, fluctuating light (10 min actinic light followed by 10 min darkness) led to significant increase in NPQ/qE-related proteins, LHCSR1 and LHCSR3, relative to constant light of the same subsaturating or saturating intensity. Elevated levels of LHCSR1/3 increased the ability of cells to safely dissipate excess light energy to heat (i.e., qE-type NPQ) during dark to light transition, as measured with chlorophyll fluorescence. The low qE phenotype of the npq4 mutant, which is unable to

SUBMITTER: Roach T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7698959 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature