Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms

Molecular organization of the Chlorella sorokiniana pyrenoid

This study characterizes the pyrenoid structure and molecular components of Chlorella sorokiniana, revealing conserved inorganic carbon delivery machinery and novel proteins involved in pyrenoid assembly and starch tethering.

A spatial atlas of the seaweed CO2-fixation machinery reveals a unique Rubisco condensation mechanism

Fluorescent tagging of 160 proteins in the seaweed Ulva maps its carbon-concentrating pathway, and identifies SUPA1, a Rubisco linker that binds only four of eight sites.

Natural genetic variation reveals divergent transcriptomic responses to hyperoxia in two Chlamydomonas reinhardtii ecotypes

The paper compares transcriptomic responses to hyperoxia in two Chlamydomonas reinhardtii ecotypes, revealing distinct molecular adaptations.

A microbial growth-coupled platform for in vivo interrogation of Rubisco oxygenase activity

This paper develops a microbial platform to study Rubisco oxygenase activity in vivo by linking it to bacterial growth, enabling genetic screening and evolution of enzyme variants.

PsbS confers limited adaptive benefit to C4 photosynthesis under fluctuating light

The paper investigates the role of PsbS in C4 plants under fluctuating light and finds that qE provides limited adaptive benefit compared to C3 plants.

Preservation and remodelling of chloroplast lipids in photosynthetic sea slug host cells

This study examines how chloroplast lipidomes from two macroalgae are modified after being sequestered by photosynthetic sea slugs, showing preservation of algal identity with host-induced changes in lipid composition.

Microcystin-Driven Control of the Carbon-Concentrating Mechanism Shapes CO2 Fixation Dynamics in Microcystis aeruginosa PCC 7806

This study shows that microcystin (MC) in Microcystis aeruginosa enhances carbon fixation by activating the carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM) and altering photosynthetic processes under fluctuating light conditions.

The Conserved N-Terminal Extension of AtKEA1 Is Largely Dispensable for Plastid Function but Contributes to Potassium Homeostasis

The study shows the N-terminal extension of AtKEA1 is not essential for plastid function but contributes to potassium homeostasis.

Cryo-EM structures of naturally occurring dimeric photosystem II complexes lacking the Mn4CaO5 cluster

The paper determines cryo-EM structures of dimeric PSII intermediates from cyanobacteria, revealing mechanisms of Mn4CaO5 cluster assembly/disassembly and photoinactivation.

Super-resolution expansion microscopy reveals nanoscale protein domains and CO2-dependent remodeling of Chlamydomonas pyrenoid-traversing membranes

This study uses super-resolution microscopy to reveal nanoscale protein domains and CO2-dependent structural changes in Chlamydomonas pyrenoid-traversing membranes.

Testing Reversibility of Endosymbiotic Gene Transfer between Chloroplast and Nucleus

This study reverses endosymbiotic gene transfer by moving nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins back to the chloroplast genome in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, showing proper localization and function.

RBMP2 shapes specialized membranes for CO2 delivery in the pyrenoid condensate

The paper identifies RBMP2 as essential for forming the reticulated membrane region in the algal pyrenoid, which is critical for CO2 delivery and growth.

In situ structural basis for the LHCSR3-mediated photoprotection of photosystem II

The paper presents in situ structures of the PSII supercomplex in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii showing how LHCSR3 mediates photoprotection through conformational changes and pigment rearrangements.

Identifying Novel Targets of the Stringent Response in Plants and Cyanobacteria using chemoproteomics

This study identifies ppGpp-binding proteins in plants and cyanobacteria using chemoproteomics, revealing novel regulatory targets and conserved mechanisms compared to E. coli.

Kingdom-wide evolutionary characterization of RNA editing factors across Archaeplastida

The paper analyzes the evolutionary history of RNA editing factors across Archaeplastida genomes, identifying gene expansions and horizontal transfers.

The cyanobacterium Anabaena uses pleomorphism as an acclimation strategy to high light stress

The paper shows that Anabaena changes its shape in response to light intensity, which helps it maintain photosynthesis under high light stress.

Cyclic electron transport via the NDH complex sustains photosynthesis and productivity under fluctuating and sub-optimal environments

This study shows that NDH-dependent cyclic electron transport supports photosynthesis and yield in field-grown rice by maintaining PSI function under fluctuating light, low temperature, and sub-saturating irradiance.

Lhcf2 in the peripheral antenna is essential for non-photochemical quenching and Lhcx1 accumulation in the diatom Chaetoceros gracilis

This study identifies Lhcf2 as essential for energy-dependent NPQ in diatoms by enabling Lhcx1 accumulation and function.

Form I and II Rubiscos Exhibit Temperature Dependent Carbon Kinetic Isotope Effects

This paper measures temperature-dependent kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) in two rubisco forms, showing their KIEs decrease linearly with temperature, impacting interpretations of carbon isotope variations in Earth and biological sciences.

Frequency-domain identification of photosynthetic regulation under fluctuating light

This study uses frequency-domain analysis to quantify photosynthetic responses to fluctuating light, revealing distinct dynamic regimes and regulatory mechanisms.

Temporal dynamics and functional divergence of the chloroplast division apparatus in Oryza sativa

The paper identifies a window of active chloroplast proliferation in rice and shows functional divergence of chloroplast division regulators compared to Arabidopsis.

Siphonous green macroalgae with contrasting capacities for the energy-dependent quenching, qE, rely on different photoprotective mechanisms

This study compares photoprotective mechanisms in two green macroalgae, finding that qE-capable species use different pathways for photoprotection compared to qE-deficient species.

Structural basis for impaired oxygen evolution in extrinsic-protein-reconstituted photosystem II

The paper presents the X-ray structure of reconstituted PSII from Thermosynechococcus vulcanus, identifying structural changes linked to reduced oxygen evolution activity.

Regulating Light-Harvesting Protein Assembly through Engineered Trimers of Phycocyanin and Allophycocyanin

The paper engineers phycocyanin and allophycocyanin trimers to stabilize their structure and prevent hexamer formation, enabling study of energy transfer in phycobiliproteins.

Mature plant chloroplasts form reversible gyroid cubic membranes

The paper shows that mature Arabidopsis thylakoid membranes can reversibly transition from lamellar to gyroid cubic structures without losing photosystem II function.

Structure–activity relationship of antimycin A-like compounds as photosystem II inhibitors

This study examines the structure-activity relationship of antimycin A-like compounds on photosystem II, identifying key structural features and proposing tentative binding models.

The structure of a 2-MDa chloroplast RNA polymerase reveals unexpected evolutionary complexity

The paper reveals a 2-MDa chloroplast RNA polymerase structure in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, showing unexpected complexity not linked to land plant evolution.

Multiple routes to red-shifted chlorophyll d-based photosynthesis

The paper shows that different strains of Acaryochloris marina achieve red-shifted chlorophyll d-based photosynthesis through varied low-energy chlorophyll states in Photosystem I, not a single conserved motif.

Spatiotemporal biogenesis of thylakoid membranes in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The paper maps thylakoid membrane biogenesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using integrated imaging and proteomics, revealing decentralized synthesis and hierarchical assembly of photosynthetic complexes.

Chloroplast genome editing of Rubisco boosts photosynthesis and plant growth

This study edits the chloroplast genome of Arabidopsis thaliana to enhance Rubisco catalytic efficiency, improving photosynthesis and plant growth without reducing Rubisco content.