About this Research Topic
Light-harvesting by photosynthetic plants, algae, and bacteria is the primary process that powers almost all of earth's ecosystems, as well as the production of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Since light conditions are dynamically fluctuating both in terms of intensity and wavelength, light-harvesting systems are dynamically regulated by various mechanisms across short and long time scales. Short-term regulatory mechanisms include energy dissipation (energy-dependent quenching), energy redistribution (state transition), triggered by luminal pH conditions and plastoquinone redox states, respectively. Across longer time scales, acclimation processes include reorganization of photosynthetic proteins complexes, remodeling of thylakoid membranes, chloroplast movement, and specific gene expression.
How various light-harvesting systems are regulated, which is critical for maintaining photosynthetic efficiency under naturally dynamic light conditions, is not yet fully understood due to diverse light-harvesting systems and their complexity. In addition, such regulation is largely interconnected with acclimation to other abiotic constraints, such as temperature changes or nutrient availability. Therefore, to tackle social challenges, such as (1) energy and food crisis and (2) global warming, we need to improved basic research to be able to produce higher-yielding crops and high-CO2-fixing plants or algae, and to better predict the photosynthetic productivity in various ecosystems. The aim of this Research Topic is to publish new findings and to reveal novel mechanisms that contribute to regulating light-harvesting systems and are important during acclimation of photosynthetic organisms to a changing environment.
This Research Topic focuses on regulation and acclimation processes involving light-harvesting systems in various photosynthetic organisms. Original Research, Reviews, and Opinions related to the following subjects are particularly welcome:
• Structural modulation of chloroplast / thylakoid membranes;
• Photosynthetic gene expression and protein synthesis related to light-harvesting systems;
• Regulation of photosynthetic protein-protein interactions;
• Modulation of excitation / electron transfer dynamics responding to environmental conditions including photoprotection mechanisms.
Please note that descriptive studies that report responses of growth, yield, or quality to a treatment will not be considered if they do not progress physiological understanding of these responses.
How various light-harvesting systems are regulated, which is critical for maintaining photosynthetic efficiency under naturally dynamic light conditions, is not yet fully understood due to diverse light-harvesting systems and their complexity. In addition, such regulation is largely interconnected with acclimation to other abiotic constraints, such as temperature changes or nutrient availability. Therefore, to tackle social challenges, such as (1) energy and food crisis and (2) global warming, we need to improved basic research to be able to produce higher-yielding crops and high-CO2-fixing plants or algae, and to better predict the photosynthetic productivity in various ecosystems. The aim of this Research Topic is to publish new findings and to reveal novel mechanisms that contribute to regulating light-harvesting systems and are important during acclimation of photosynthetic organisms to a changing environment.
This Research Topic focuses on regulation and acclimation processes involving light-harvesting systems in various photosynthetic organisms. Original Research, Reviews, and Opinions related to the following subjects are particularly welcome:
• Structural modulation of chloroplast / thylakoid membranes;
• Photosynthetic gene expression and protein synthesis related to light-harvesting systems;
• Regulation of photosynthetic protein-protein interactions;
• Modulation of excitation / electron transfer dynamics responding to environmental conditions including photoprotection mechanisms.
Please note that descriptive studies that report responses of growth, yield, or quality to a treatment will not be considered if they do not progress physiological understanding of these responses.
Keywords: light-harvesting, photosynthesis, acclimation, thylakoid structure
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
