Structural basis for energy transfer in a huge diatom PSI-FCPI supercomplex

Nat Commun. 2020 Oct 8;11(1):5081. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-18867-x.

Abstract

Diatom is an important group of marine algae and contributes to around 20% of the global photosynthetic carbon fixation. Photosystem I (PSI) of diatoms is associated with a large number of fucoxanthin-chlorophyll a/c proteins (FCPIs). We report the structure of PSI-FCPI from a diatom Chaetoceros gracilis at 2.38 Å resolution by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy. PSI-FCPI is a monomeric supercomplex consisting of 12 core and 24 antenna subunits (FCPIs), and 326 chlorophylls a, 34 chlorophylls c, 102 fucoxanthins, 35 diadinoxanthins, 18 β-carotenes and some electron transfer cofactors. Two subunits designated PsaR and PsaS were found in the core, whereas several subunits were lost. The large number of pigments constitute a unique and huge network ensuring efficient energy harvesting, transfer and dissipation. These results provide a firm structural basis for unraveling the mechanisms of light-energy harvesting, transfer and quenching in the diatom PSI-FCPI, and also important clues to evolutionary changes of PSI-LHCI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chlorophyll Binding Proteins / chemistry*
  • Diatoms / metabolism*
  • Energy Transfer*
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / chemistry
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes / metabolism
  • Photosystem I Protein Complex / chemistry*
  • Pigments, Biological / chemistry
  • Pigments, Biological / metabolism
  • Protein Subunits / chemistry

Substances

  • Chlorophyll Binding Proteins
  • Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes
  • Photosystem I Protein Complex
  • Pigments, Biological
  • Protein Subunits