Abstract
Oxygenic photosynthesis takes place in thylakoid membranes (TM) of cyanobacteria, algae, and higher plants. It
begins with light absorption by pigments in large (modular) assemblies of pigment-binding proteins, which then
transfer excitation energy to the photosynthetic reaction centers of photosystem (PS) I and PSII. In green algae
and plants, these light-harvesting protein complexes contain chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoids (Cars). However,
cyanobacteria, red algae, and glaucophytes contain, in addition, phycobiliproteins in phycobilisomes that are attached
to the stromal surface of TM, and transfer excitation energy to the reaction centers via the Chl a molecules in the inner
antenna of PSI and PSII. The color and the intensity of the light to which these photosynthetic organisms are exposed
in their environment have a great influence on the composition and the structure of the light-harvesting complexes
(the antenna) as well as the rest of the photosynthetic apparatus, thus affecting the photosynthetic process and even the
entire organism. We present here a perspective on ‘Light Quality and Oxygenic Photosynthesis’, in memory of George
Christos Papageorgiou (9 May 1933–21 November 2020; see notes a and b). Our review includes (1) the influence of
the solar spectrum on the antenna composition, and the special significance of Chl a; (2) the effects of light quality on
photosynthesis, measured using Chl a fluorescence; and (3) the importance of light quality, intensity, and its duration
for the optimal growth of photosynthetic organisms.
begins with light absorption by pigments in large (modular) assemblies of pigment-binding proteins, which then
transfer excitation energy to the photosynthetic reaction centers of photosystem (PS) I and PSII. In green algae
and plants, these light-harvesting protein complexes contain chlorophylls (Chls) and carotenoids (Cars). However,
cyanobacteria, red algae, and glaucophytes contain, in addition, phycobiliproteins in phycobilisomes that are attached
to the stromal surface of TM, and transfer excitation energy to the reaction centers via the Chl a molecules in the inner
antenna of PSI and PSII. The color and the intensity of the light to which these photosynthetic organisms are exposed
in their environment have a great influence on the composition and the structure of the light-harvesting complexes
(the antenna) as well as the rest of the photosynthetic apparatus, thus affecting the photosynthetic process and even the
entire organism. We present here a perspective on ‘Light Quality and Oxygenic Photosynthesis’, in memory of George
Christos Papageorgiou (9 May 1933–21 November 2020; see notes a and b). Our review includes (1) the influence of
the solar spectrum on the antenna composition, and the special significance of Chl a; (2) the effects of light quality on
photosynthesis, measured using Chl a fluorescence; and (3) the importance of light quality, intensity, and its duration
for the optimal growth of photosynthetic organisms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 23 – 56 |
| Journal | Photosynthetica |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue number | SI |
| Publication status | Published - 2022 Jan 1 |
Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Botany
Free keywords
- light
- photosynthesis