Photosynthesis is a crucial process for the existence of Earth’s biosphere. Previous research elucidated the structural and functional complexity of photosynthetic apparatus at the molecular level. Since the discovery of glycolipids in chloroplast membranes in 1950’s, an enormous information has been accumulated on the lipid composition of photosynthetic membranes as well as on biosynthesis, metabolism and functions of lipophilic biomolecules in pro- and eukaryotic photoautotrophs. In parallel, the molecular architecture of photosynthetic reaction centers and other protein complexes in photosynthetic membranes, revealed the existence of a number of lipid-protein interactions among particular components of photosynthetic electron transport chain. Thus, photosynthetic membrane could be considered as a dynamic structure, involving a network of lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions.
This Research Topic is therefore focused on lipid-dependent processes which are essential for the structural integrity and functioning of photosynthetic apparatus at various level of biological organization as well as for acclimation of photosynthesis to changing environmental conditions. Original Research and Review articles related to the following subjects are particularly welcome:
1) Effects of lipid composition on the structure and dynamic behaviour of photosynthetic membranes:
Regulation of lipid biosynthesis and turnover in photoautotrophic organisms. Molecular architecture and self-organization of thylakoid membranes. Mobility of biomolecules within photosynthetic membranes. The role of lipophilic interactions in structural stabilization of thylakoid membranes. Effects of lipid composition and lipophilic biomolecules on thylakoid membrane fluidity and tolerance of abiotic stressors.
2) Lipids and lipid like biomolecules in the regulation of photosynthetic activity:
Role of anionic and neutral glycolipids in reductive photosynthesis. Energy transfer in photosynthetic prokaryotes and plants. Change in lipid composition induced by temperature and various light regime. Red light determined lipid composition in plants. Phytochrome-mediated light regulation of lipid biosynthesis in plants. Lipid-assisted PSI oligomerisation in cyanobacterial strains. Oligomeraziation of photosynthetic complexes governed by lipophilic molecules. Functional and structural regulation of photosynthetic processes by lipids surrounding proteins of photosynthetic complexes in lower plants, higher plants, and cyanobacteria. Heat stress protein involvement in PSII related oxygenic evolving activity. Various roles of carotenoids in PSII and related photosynthetic processes.
3) Lipids in the regulation of energy/electron coupling in photosynthetic apparatus:
Kinetic measurements of energy transfer from the phycobilisomes, the main light-harvesting antenna of cyanobacteria, which efficiently transfer energy to both photosystems. Whereas the molecular interactions and energy transfer between the PBS and PSII have been generally well known, the structural and functional coupling with PSI is less understood. The PBS can feed excitation energy to PSI. In nitrogen deprived medium a new form of the cell can be formed, namely the heterocysts. Heterocysts contain exclusively PSI and in these cells, the energy transfer from phycobilisomes to PSI complexes can be studied. Spectrokinetic characterization of light-driven reactions in photosynthesis. Studying the nonlinear optical properties of light-sensitive protein complexes of lower and higher plants. Combination of plant photochromic pigments with integrated optical structures for possible photonic applications. The manifestation of Hofmeister effects on the structure and function of photosynthetic units.
Photosynthesis is a crucial process for the existence of Earth’s biosphere. Previous research elucidated the structural and functional complexity of photosynthetic apparatus at the molecular level. Since the discovery of glycolipids in chloroplast membranes in 1950’s, an enormous information has been accumulated on the lipid composition of photosynthetic membranes as well as on biosynthesis, metabolism and functions of lipophilic biomolecules in pro- and eukaryotic photoautotrophs. In parallel, the molecular architecture of photosynthetic reaction centers and other protein complexes in photosynthetic membranes, revealed the existence of a number of lipid-protein interactions among particular components of photosynthetic electron transport chain. Thus, photosynthetic membrane could be considered as a dynamic structure, involving a network of lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions.
This Research Topic is therefore focused on lipid-dependent processes which are essential for the structural integrity and functioning of photosynthetic apparatus at various level of biological organization as well as for acclimation of photosynthesis to changing environmental conditions. Original Research and Review articles related to the following subjects are particularly welcome:
1) Effects of lipid composition on the structure and dynamic behaviour of photosynthetic membranes:
Regulation of lipid biosynthesis and turnover in photoautotrophic organisms. Molecular architecture and self-organization of thylakoid membranes. Mobility of biomolecules within photosynthetic membranes. The role of lipophilic interactions in structural stabilization of thylakoid membranes. Effects of lipid composition and lipophilic biomolecules on thylakoid membrane fluidity and tolerance of abiotic stressors.
2) Lipids and lipid like biomolecules in the regulation of photosynthetic activity:
Role of anionic and neutral glycolipids in reductive photosynthesis. Energy transfer in photosynthetic prokaryotes and plants. Change in lipid composition induced by temperature and various light regime. Red light determined lipid composition in plants. Phytochrome-mediated light regulation of lipid biosynthesis in plants. Lipid-assisted PSI oligomerisation in cyanobacterial strains. Oligomeraziation of photosynthetic complexes governed by lipophilic molecules. Functional and structural regulation of photosynthetic processes by lipids surrounding proteins of photosynthetic complexes in lower plants, higher plants, and cyanobacteria. Heat stress protein involvement in PSII related oxygenic evolving activity. Various roles of carotenoids in PSII and related photosynthetic processes.
3) Lipids in the regulation of energy/electron coupling in photosynthetic apparatus:
Kinetic measurements of energy transfer from the phycobilisomes, the main light-harvesting antenna of cyanobacteria, which efficiently transfer energy to both photosystems. Whereas the molecular interactions and energy transfer between the PBS and PSII have been generally well known, the structural and functional coupling with PSI is less understood. The PBS can feed excitation energy to PSI. In nitrogen deprived medium a new form of the cell can be formed, namely the heterocysts. Heterocysts contain exclusively PSI and in these cells, the energy transfer from phycobilisomes to PSI complexes can be studied. Spectrokinetic characterization of light-driven reactions in photosynthesis. Studying the nonlinear optical properties of light-sensitive protein complexes of lower and higher plants. Combination of plant photochromic pigments with integrated optical structures for possible photonic applications. The manifestation of Hofmeister effects on the structure and function of photosynthetic units.
