The photosystem II reaction centre (RCII) protein subunit D1 is the main target of light-induced damage in the thylakoid membrane. As such, it is constantly replaced with newly synthesised proteins, in a process dubbed the ‘D1 repair cycle’. The mechanism of relief of excitation energy pressure on RCII, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), is activated to prevent damage. The contribution of the D1 repair cycle and NPQ in preserving the photochemical efficiency of RCII is currently unclear. In this work, we seek to (1) quantify the relative long-term effectiveness of photoprotection offered by NPQ and the D1 repair cycle, and (2) determine the fraction of sustained decrease in RCII activity that is due to long-term protective processes. We found that while under short-term, sunfleck-mimicking illumination, NPQ is substantially more effective in preserving RCII activity than the D1 repair cycle (Plant. Cell Environ.41, 1098–1112, 2018). Under prolonged constant illumination, its contribution is less pronounced, accounting only for up to 30% of RCII protection, while D1 repair assumes a predominant role. Exposure to a wide range of light intensities yields comparable results, highlighting the crucial role of a constant and rapid D1 turnover for the maintenance of RCII efficiency. The interplay between NPQ and D1 repair cycle is crucial to grant complete phototolerance to plants under low and moderate light intensities, and limit damage to photosystem II under high light. Additionally, we disentangled and quantified the contribution of a slowly reversible NPQ component that does not impair RCII activity, and is therefore protective.
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March 2022
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Deletion of Slc6a14 reduces the proliferation capacity and the desmoplastic reaction in the KPC mice. Immunohistochemical analysis showing staining of CK19 (top), Ki67 (second), α-SMA (third) and Masson’s Trichrome (bottom) in KPC (left) and KPCS (right) pancreatic tumour sections. Scale bar: 100 μm.
Research Article|
March 16 2022
Quantifying the long-term interplay between photoprotection and repair mechanisms sustaining photosystem II activity
Francesco Saccon;
Francesco Saccon
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, U.K.
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Sam Wilson;
Sam Wilson
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, U.K.
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Felix S. Morey-Burrows;
Felix S. Morey-Burrows
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, U.K.
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Alexander V. Ruban
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, U.K.
Correspondence: Alexander V. Ruban (a.ruban@qmul.ac.uk)
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
January 20 2022
Revision Received:
March 01 2022
Accepted:
March 02 2022
Online ISSN: 1470-8728
Print ISSN: 0264-6021
© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society
2022
Biochem J (2022) 479 (5): 701–717.
Article history
Received:
January 20 2022
Revision Received:
March 01 2022
Accepted:
March 02 2022
Citation
Francesco Saccon, Sam Wilson, Felix S. Morey-Burrows, Alexander V. Ruban; Quantifying the long-term interplay between photoprotection and repair mechanisms sustaining photosystem II activity. Biochem J 18 March 2022; 479 (5): 701–717. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BCJ20220031
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