About this Research Topic
Later, several chlorophyll f-carrying cyanobacteria, such as Halomicronema hongdechloris, isolated from stromatolite in Shark Bay located in Western Australia, were also discovered. These organisms can utilize longer wavelength far-red light than A. marina. Intense investigations were conducted into how such far-red light utilizing photosystems drive photochemistry using far-red light with lower energy than visible light. Several structures of chlorophyll d/f-carrying photosystems have become better understood in recent years, which has enabled theoretical investigations into how light energy transfer drives photochemical reactions as well as further spectroscopic analyses.
Precisely which mechanisms drive photochemistry by utilizing far-red light, whose energy is lower than visible light, to perform oxygenic photosynthesis is a key issue at the core of research relating to chlorophyll d/f-carrying organisms. The elucidation of such mechanisms can lead to more efficient usage of solar energy for agriculture, thereby improving crop yields, as well as for industry, through improvements in the efficiency of artificial photosynthesis or solar panels.
This Research Topic will bring together the latest advances in far-red light using oxygenic photosynthesis. We will cover themes related to the mechanisms that drive photochemistry and achieve high redox potential for oxygenic photosynthesis using low-energy far-red light. Papers covering relevant evolutionary and ecological issues will also be welcome.
Submitted manuscripts can be on the themes that include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Structure-based analyses including spectroscopic and/or theoretical analyses;
• Evolutionary analysis based on structure and/or genome information;
• Ecological research from the viewpoint of light usage;
• Characterization of algae/plants that are genetically manipulated to carry chlorophyll d/f.
Keywords: far-red light, photo-autotrophs, chlorophyll, stromatolite, photochemistry, microorganisms
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.