New Mechanism for Quality Control of Photosystem under Excessive Illumination was revealed

June 27, 2013

Researchers in the Okayama University Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology have revealed that the behavior of chloroplast thylakoid and Phtosystem II membranes have a major role in protecting Photosystems against excessive illumination.

The findings were published online on Dec. 27, 2012 in PLOS ONE.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0052100

Environmental stresses lower the efficiency of photosynthesis and sometimes cause irreversible damage to plant functions. Although light is necessary for photosynthetic energy conversion, excessive light can be harmful to plants.

Prof. Yamamoto and his group in the Okayama University Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology showed that lipid peroxidation and aggregation of protein took place in spinach thylakoids and PSII membranes under excessive light. The thylakoid membranes increased their fluidity under strong light to avoid aggregation of protein and protect photosystems.

The study has suggested how plants manage global warming at the molecular level of Photosystems in the chloroplast.



Contact Information:
Mototaka Senda, Ph.D.
US Representative
Intellectual Property Office, Organization for Research Promotion and Collaboration
Okayama University
Fremont, California USA
TEL: 1-510-797-0907
Email: takasenda@okayama-u.ac.jp

Yasushi Yamamoto, Ph.D.
Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama Japan