Red states modulate energy localization between the antenna and trap in PSI
Abstract
The core antenna of the photosystem I (PSI) complex of oxygenic photosynthesis operates at near perfect quantum efficiency, making it one of the most efficient energy conversation devices in nature. The presence of low energy or red chlorophylls (chls) is nearly universal in this core antenna, and these red chls are known to extend the light harvesting capacity and control the rate of energy migration in PSI. Surprisingly, the significance of the structural position of the red chls in PSI remains unknown. In this study, we introduced mutations that generate specific red sites in the PSI core antenna, consistent with those observed in natural species. Using CryoEM, we characterized the structural changes at these red sites. Using transient absorption spectroscopy, we measured the effects of red chlorophyll at specific sites on energy transfer and trapping in PSI to identify their functional significance. While one site funneled energy to the reaction center, the other slowed equilibration in the antenna. These opposing effects indicate different functions are associated with the different red chlorophyll location, reconciling previous seemingly incompatible suggestions as to their functional role.
Read the paper
Related studies
- Chaos and quantum thermalization
- The Dalton quantum chemistry program system
- Cord Blood Leptin and Adiponectin as Predictors of Adiposity in Children at 3 Years of Age: A Prospective Cohort Study
- Quantitative metabolomics by H-NMR and LC-MS/MS confirms altered metabolic pathways in diabetes
- Stable adiabatic quantum batteries
- A novel self-lipid antigen targets human T cells against CD1c(+) leukemias
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.