Short-term light adaptation of a cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, probed by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

Ultrafast energy transfer dynamics of phycobilisome from Thermosynechococcus vulcanus, as revealed by ps fluorescence and fs pump-probe spectroscopies

Cyanobacterial photosynthetic systems efficiently capture sunlight using the pigment-protein megacomplexes, phycobilisome (PBS). The energy is subsequently transferred to photosystem I (PSI) and II (PSII), to produce electrochemical potentials. In the present study, we performed picosecond (ps) time-resolved fluorescence and femtosecond (fs) pump-probe spectroscopies on the intact PBS from a thermophilic cyanobacterium, Thermosynechococcus vulcanus, to reveal excitation energy transfer dynamics in PBS. The photophysical properties of the intact PBS were well characterized by spectroscopic measurements covering wide temporal range from femtoseconds to nanoseconds. The ps fluorescence measurements excited at 570 nm, corresponding to the higher energy of the phycocyanin (PC) absorption band, demonstrated the excitation energy transfer from the PC rods to the allophycocyanin (APC) core complex as well as the energy transfer in the APC core complex. Then, the fs pump-probe measurements revealed the detailed energy transfer dynamics in the PC rods taking place in an ultrafast time scale. The results obtained in this study provide the full picture of the funnel-type excitation energy transfer with rate constants of (0.57 ps)^-1 → (7.3 ps)^-1 → (53 ps)^-1 → (180 ps)^-1 → (1800 ps)^-1.

Adaptation of light-harvesting and energy-transfer processes of a diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum to different light qualities

Fucoxanthin-chlorophyll (Chl) a/c-binding proteins (FCPs) are light-harvesting pigment-protein complexes found in diatoms and brown algae. Due to the characteristic pigments, such as fucoxanthin and Chl c, FCPs can capture light energy in blue-to green regions. A pennate diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum synthesizes a red-shifted form of FCP under weak or red light, extending a light-absorption ability to longer wavelengths. In the present study, we examined changes in light-harvesting and energy-transfer processes of P. tricornutum cells grown under white- and single-colored light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The red-shifted FCP appears in the cells grown under the green, yellow, and red LEDs, and exhibited a fluorescence peak around 714 nm. Additional energy-transfer pathways are established in the red-shifted FCP; two forms (F713 and F718) of low-energy Chl a work as energy traps at 77 K. Averaged fluorescence lifetimes are prolonged in the cells grown under the yellow and red LEDs, whereas they are shortened in the blue-LED-grown cells. Based on these results, we discussed the light-adaptation machinery of P. tricornutum cells involved in the red-shifted FCP.

Variety in excitation energy transfer processes from phycobilisomes to photosystems I and II

The light-harvesting antennas of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms capture light energy and transfer it to the reaction centers of their photosystems. The light-harvesting antennas of cyanobacteria and red algae, called phycobilisomes (PBSs), supply light energy to both photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII). However, the excitation energy transfer processes from PBS to PSI and PSII are not understood in detail. In the present study, the energy transfer processes from PBS to PSs in various cyanobacteria and red algae were examined in vivo by selectively exciting their PSs or PBSs, and measuring the resulting picosecond to nanosecond time-resolved fluorescences. By observing the delayed fluorescence spectrum of PBS-selective excitation in Arthrospira platensis, we demonstrated that energy transfer from PBS to PSI via PSII (PBS→PSII→PSI transfer) occurs even for PSI trimers. The contribution of PBS→PSII→PSI transfer was species dependent, being largest in the wild-type of red alga Pyropia yezoensis (formerly Porphyra yezoensis) and smallest in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Comparing the time-resolved fluorescence after PSs- and PBS-selective excitation, we revealed that light energy flows from CP43 to CP47 by energy transfer between the neighboring PSII monomers in PBS-PSII supercomplexes. We also suggest two pathways of energy transfer: direct energy transfer from PBS to PSI (PBS→PSI transfer) and indirect transfer through PSII (PBS→PSII→PSI transfer). We also infer that PBS→PSI transfer conveys light energy to a lower-energy red chlorophyll than PBS→PSII→PSI transfer.

Essential role of the PSI-LHCII supercomplex in photosystem acclimation to light and/or heat conditions by state transitions

Light and temperature affect state transitions through changes in the plastoquinone (PQ) redox state in photosynthetic organisms. We demonstrated that light and/or heat treatment induced preferential photosystem (PS) I excitation by binding light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) proteins. The photosystem of wheat was in state 1 after dark overnight treatment, wherein PQ was oxidized and most of LHCII was not bound to PSI. At the onset of the light treatment [25 °C in the light (100 µmol photons m^-2 s^-1)], two major LHCIIs, Lhcb1 and Lhcb2 were phosphorylated, and the PSI-LHCII supercomplex formed within 5 min, which coincided with an increase in the PQ oxidation rate. Heat treatment at 40 °C of light-adapted wheat led to further LHCII protein phosphorylation of, resultant cyclic electron flow promotion, which was accompanied by ultrafast excitation of PSI and structural changes of thylakoid membranes, thereby protecting PSII from heat damage. These results suggest that LHCIIs are required for the functionality of wheat plant PSI, as it keeps PQ oxidized by regulating photochemical electron flow, thereby helping acclimation to environmental changes.

Energy Transfer in Cyanobacteria and Red Algae: Confirmation of Spillover in Intact Megacomplexes of Phycobilisome and Both Photosystems

Cyanobacteria and red algae control the energy distributions of two photosystems (PSI and PSII) by changing the energy transfer among phycobilisome (PBS), PSI, and PSII. However, whether PSII → PSI energy transfer (spillover) occurs in the intact megacomplexes composed of PBS, PSI, and PSII (PBS-PSII-PSI megacomplexes) in vivo remains controversial. In this study, we measured the delayed fluorescence spectra of PBS-selective excitation in cyanobacterial and red algal cells. In the absence of spillover, 7% of the PBS (at most) would combine with PSII, inconsistent with the PBSs' function as the antenna pigment-protein complexes of PSII. Therefore, we conclude that spillover occurs in vivo in PBS-PSII-PSI megacomplexes of both cyanobacteria and red algae.

"Standoff Biofinder" for Fast, Noncontact, Nondestructive, Large-Area Detection of Biological Materials for Planetary Exploration

We developed a prototype instrument called the Standoff Biofinder, which can quickly locate biological material in a 500 cm(2) area from a 2 m standoff distance with a detection time of 0.1 s. All biogenic materials give strong fluorescence signals when excited with UV and visible lasers. In addition, the luminescence decay time of biogenic compounds is much shorter (<100 ns) than the micro- to millisecond decay time of transition metal ions and rare-earth ions in minerals and rocks. The Standoff Biofinder takes advantage of the short lifetime of biofluorescent materials to obtain real-time fluorescence images that show the locations of biological materials among luminescent minerals in a geological context. The Standoff Biofinder instrument will be useful for locating biological material during future NASA rover, lander, and crewed missions. Additionally, the instrument can be used for nondestructive detection of biological materials in unique samples, such as those obtained by sample return missions from the outer planets and asteroids. The Standoff Biofinder also has the capacity to detect microbes and bacteria on space instruments for planetary protection purposes.

KEY WORDS

Standoff Biofinder-Luminescence-Time-resolved fluorescence-Biofluorescence-Planetary exploration-Planetary protection-Noncontact nondestructive biodetection. Astrobiology 16, 715-729.

Cyanobacterial Light-Harvesting Phycobilisomes Uncouple From Photosystem I During Dark-To-Light Transitions

Photosynthetic organisms cope with changes in light quality by balancing the excitation energy flow between photosystems I (PSI) and II (PSII) through a process called state transitions. Energy redistribution has been suggested to be achieved by movement of the light-harvesting phycobilisome between PSI and PSII, or by nanometre scale rearrangements of the recently discovered PBS-PSII-PSI megacomplexes. The alternative ‘spillover’ model, on the other hand, states that energy redistribution is achieved by mutual association/dissociation of PSI and PSII. State transitions have always been studied by changing the redox state of the electron carriers using electron transfer inhibitors, or by applying illumination conditions with different colours. However, the molecular events during natural dark-to-light transitions in cyanobacteria have largely been overlooked and still remain elusive. Here we investigated changes in excitation energy transfer from phycobilisomes to the photosystems upon dark-light transitions, using picosecond fluorescence spectroscopy. It appears that megacomplexes are not involved in these changes, and neither does spillover play a role. Instead, the phycobilisomes partly energetically uncouple from PSI in the light but hardly couple to PSII.

Energy transfer processes in chlorophyll f-containing cyanobacteria using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy on intact cells

We examined energy transfer dynamics in the unique chlorophyll (Chl) f-containing cyanobacterium Halomicronema hongdechloris. The absorption band of Chl f appeared during cultivation of this organism under far-red light. The absorption maximum of Chl f in organic solvents occurs at a wavelength of approximately 40 nm longer than that of Chl a. In vivo, the cells display a new absorption band at approximately 730 nm at 298 K, which is at a significantly longer wavelength than that of Chl a. We primarily assigned this band to a long wavelength form of Chl a. The function of Chl f is currently unknown. We measured the fluorescence of cells using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy in the picosecond-to-nanosecond time range and found clear differences in fluorescence properties between the cells that contained Chl f and the cells that did not. After excitation, the fluorescence peaks of photosystem I and photosystem II appeared quickly but diminished immediately. A unique fluorescence peak located at 748 nm subsequently appeared in cells containing Chl f. This finding strongly suggests that the Chl f in this alga exists in photosystem I and II complexes and is located close to each molecule of Chl a. This article is part of a special issue entitled: photosynthesis research for sustainability: keys to produce clean energy.