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Updated: Jun 25, 2025
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Isolating and Incorporating Light-Harvesting Antennas from Diatom Cyclotella Meneghiniana in Liposomes with Thylakoid Lipids
Published on: August 28, 2018
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Ultrafast Energy Transfer in a Diatom Photosystem II Supercomplex
Parveen Akhtar1, Yue Feng2, Sanjib Jana3
1HUN-REN Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári körút 62, Szeged 6726, Hungary.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters
|May 24, 2024
Summary
Diatom light-harvesting complexes (FCPs) efficiently transfer energy to photosystem II (PSII) within picoseconds. This rapid energy transfer, driven by strong excitonic couplings, enhances light harvesting in diatoms.
Area of Science:
- Photosynthesis research
- Marine biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Diatom light-harvesting complexes (LHCs), specifically fucoxanthin-Chl a/c binding proteins (FCPs), show diverse structures and functions.
- Recent studies reveal the structure of photosystem II-FCP (PSII-FCPII) supercomplexes in diatoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the excitation dynamics of PSII-FCPII supercomplexes from *Thalassiosira pseudonana*.
- Determine the speed and mechanisms of energy transfer between FCPs and PSII.
Main Methods:
- Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.
- Two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy at room temperature and 77 K.
- Structure-based calculations of excitonic couplings.
Main Results:
- Energy transfer between FCP and PSII occurred very rapidly (<5 ps).
- FCPs function as highly efficient light-harvesting antennas.
- Strong excitonic couplings between chlorophylls in FCP and PSII facilitate rapid energy transfer.
- Long-wavelength chlorophylls may concentrate excitations in the PSII core.
Conclusions:
- FCPs are crucial for efficient light harvesting in diatoms.
- The structural basis for rapid energy transfer is strong excitonic coupling.
- Understanding these dynamics is key to improving artificial photosynthetic systems.
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