Evolutionary origin and photoprotective role of Lhcx in the centric diatom Chaetoceros gracilis
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ID: 322430
2026
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Abstract
Diatoms are red-lineage algae that utilize the light-harvesting complex (LHC) subfamily Lhcx for photoprotection via non-photochemical quenching (NPQ); however, its evolutionary origin and molecular mechanism remain poorly understood. Through molecular phylogenetic analysis, we show that diatom Lhcxs and green algal Lhcsrs evolved from a common ancestor, with green plants subsequently acquiring them via horizontal gene transfer. To investigate the functional role of Lhcx1, we generated knockout mutants of Chaetoceros gracilis, a diatom with low Lhcx redundancy. The lhcx1 mutants nearly abolished NPQ, and time-resolved fluorescence measurements revealed that Lhcx1-mediated quenching occurs in energetically detached antenna complexes. Clear-native PAGE with Amphipol further indicated that CgLhcx1 interacts with the FCP L-dimer, functioning as a peripheral antenna for the C2S2M2 PSII-FCPII supercomplex. Notably, under high-light acclimation, lhcx1 mutants exhibited higher PSII effective quantum yields than wild type, attributable to reduced antenna size and enhanced carbon fixation capacity. The absence of NPQ accelerated high-light acclimation and was accompanied by increased xanthophyll accumulation, indicating that compensatory mechanisms can enhance overall photosynthetic efficiency. Together, these findings reveal the evolutionary origin of Lhcx/Lhcsr proteins and define the molecular basis of Lhcx1-mediated photoprotection in diatoms, providing fundamental insights into LHC-based photoprotection across photosynthetic lineages.
| Reference Key |
openalex_W7170420264
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| Authors | Minoru Kumazawa, Seiji Akimoto, Atsushi Takabayashi, Ko Imaizumi, S Tsuji, Hazuki Hasegawa, Atsushi Sakurai, S. Imamura, Noriko Ishikawa, Natsuko Inoue‐Kashino, Yasuhiro Kashino, Kentaro Ifuku |
| Journal | Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB |
| Year | 2026 |
| DOI |
10.1093/plphys/kiag539
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| URL | |
| Keywords | Keywords not found |
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