Evidence for dissociation of chlorophyll b from the main light-harvesting complex in the oligomerization state isolated from marine alga, Bryopsis corticulans

Structural and functional properties of different types of siphonous LHCII trimers from an intertidal green alga Bryopsis corticulans

Light-harvesting complexes of photosystem II (LHCIIs) in green algae and plants are vital antenna apparatus for light harvesting, energy transfer, and photoprotection. Here we determined the structure of a siphonous-type LHCII trimer from the intertidal green alga Bryopsis corticulans by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and analyzed its functional properties by spectral analysis. The Bryopsis LHCII (Bry-LHCII) structures in both homotrimeric and heterotrimeric form show that green light-absorbing siphonaxanthin and siphonein occupied the sites of lutein and violaxanthin in plant LHCII, and two extra chlorophylls (Chls) b replaced Chls a. Binding of these pigments expands the blue-green light absorption of B. corticulans in the tidal zone. We observed differences between the Bry-LHCII homotrimer crystal and cryo-EM structures, and also between Bry-LHCII homotrimer and heterotrimer cryo-EM structures. These conformational changes may reflect the flexibility of Bry-LHCII, which may be required to adapt to light fluctuations from tidal rhythms.

Photoinduced chlorophyll charge transfer state identified in the light-harvesting complex II from a marine green alga Bryopsis corticulans

The light-harvesting complex II of Bryopsis corticulans (B-LHCII), a green alga, differs from that of spinach (S-LHCII) in chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid (Car) compositions. We investigated ultrafast excitation dynamics of B-LHCII with visible-to-near infrared time-resolved absorption spectroscopy. Absolute fluorescence quantum yield (Φ _FL) of LHCII and spectroelectrochemical (SEC) spectra of Chl a and b were measured to assist the spectral analysis. Red-light excitation at Chl Q_y-band, but not Car-band, induced transient features resembling the characteristic SEC spectra of Chl a ^⋅+ and Chl b ^⋅-, indicating ultrafast photogeneration of Chl-Chl charge transfer (CT) species; Φ _FL and ³Car^∗ declined whereas CT species increased upon prolonging excitation wavelength, showing positive correlation of ¹Chl^∗ deactivation with Chl-Chl CT formation. Moreover, ultrafast Chl b-to-Chl a and Car-to-Chl singlet excitation transfer were illustrated. The red-light induction of Chl-Chl CT species, as also observed for S-LHCII, is considered a general occurrence for LHCIIs in light-harvesting form.

A Possible Mechanism for Aggregation-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Quenching in Light-Harvesting Complex II from the Marine Green Alga Bryopsis corticulans

The light-harvesting complex II of a green alga Bryopsis corticulans (B-LHCII) is peculiar in that it contains siphonein and siphonaxathin as carotenoid (Car). Since the S₁ state of siphonein and siphonaxathin lies substantially higher than the Q_y state of chlorophyll a (Chl a), the Chl a(Q_y)-to-Car(S₁) excitation energy transfer is unfeasible. To understand the photoprotective mechanism of algal photosynthesis, we investigated the influence of temperature on the excitation dynamics of B-LHCII in trimeric and aggregated forms. At room temperature, the aggregated form showed a 10-fold decrease in fluorescence intensity and lifetime than the trimeric form. Upon lowering the temperature, the characteristic 680 nm fluorescence (F-680) of B-LHCII in both forms exhibited systematic intensity enhancement and spectral narrowing; however, only the aggregated form showed a red emission extending over 690-780 nm (F-RE) with pronounced blueshift, lifetime prolongation, and intensity boost. The remarkable T-dependence of F-RE is ascribed to the Chl-Chl charge transfer (CT) species involved directly in the aggregation-induced Chl deactivation. The CT-quenching mechanism, which is considered to be crucial for B. corticulans photoprotection, draws strong support from the positive correlation of the Chl deactivation rate with the CT state population, as revealed by comparing the fluorescence dynamics of B-LHCII with that of the plant LHCII.

Spectral tuning of light-harvesting complex II in the siphonous alga Bryopsis corticulans and its effect on energy transfer dynamics

Light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) from the marine green macroalga Bryopsis corticulans is spectroscopically characterized to understand the structural and functional changes resulting from adaptation to intertidal environment. LHCII is homologous to its counterpart in land plants but has a different carotenoid and chlorophyll (Chl) composition. This is reflected in the steady-state absorption, fluorescence, linear dichroism, circular dichroism and anisotropic circular dichroism spectra. Time-resolved fluorescence and two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy were used to investigate the consequences of this adaptive change in the pigment composition on the excited-state dynamics. The complex contains additional Chl b spectral forms - absorbing at around 650 nm and 658 nm - and lacks the red-most Chl a forms compared with higher-plant LHCII. Similar to plant LHCII, energy transfer between Chls occurs on timescales from under hundred fs (mainly from Chl b to Chl a) to several picoseconds (mainly between Chl a pools). However, the presence of long-lived, weakly coupled Chl b and Chl a states leads to slower exciton equilibration in LHCII from B. corticulans. The finding demonstrates a trade-off between the enhanced absorption of blue-green light and the excitation migration time. However, the adaptive change does not result in a significant drop in the overall photochemical efficiency of Photosystem II. These results show that LHCII is a robust adaptable system whose spectral properties can be tuned to the environment for optimal light harvesting.

Excitation dynamics and relaxation in the major antenna of a marine green alga Bryopsis corticulans

The light-harvesting complexes II (LHCIIs) of spinach and Bryopsis corticulans as a green alga are similar in structure, but differ in carotenoid (Car) and chlorophyll (Chl) compositions. Carbonyl Cars siphonein (Spn) and siphonaxanthin (Spx) bind to B. corticulans LHCII likely in the sites as a pair of lutein (Lut) molecules bind to spinach LHCII in the central domain. To understand the light-harvesting and photoprotective properties of the algal LHCII, we compared its excitation dynamics and relaxation to those of spinach LHCII been well documented. It was found that B. corticulans LHCII exhibited a substantially longer chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence lifetime (4.9 ns vs 4.1 ns) and a 60% increase of the fluorescence quantum yield. Photoexcitation populated ³Car* equally between Spn and Spx in B. corticulans LHCII, whereas predominantly at Lut620 in spinach LHCII. These results prove the functional differences of the LHCIIs with different Car pairs and Chl a/b ratios: B. corticulans LHCII shows the enhanced blue-green light absorption, the alleviated quenching of ¹Chl*, and the dual sites of quenching ³Chl*, which may facilitate its light-harvesting and photoprotection functions. Moreover, for both types of LHCIIs, the triplet excitation profiles revealed the involvement of extra ³Car* formation mechanisms besides the conventional Chl-to-Car triplet transfer, which are discussed in relation to the ultrafast processes of ¹Chl* quenching. Our experimental findings will be helpful in deepening the understanding of the light harvesting and photoprotection functions of B. corticulans living in the intertidal zone with dramatically changing light condition.

A siphonous morphology affects light-harvesting modulation in the intertidal green macroalga Bryopsis corticulans (Ulvophyceae)

The macroalga Bryopsis corticulans relies on a sustained protective NPQ and a peculiar body architecture to efficiently adapt to the extreme light changes of intertidal shores. During low tides, intertidal algae experience prolonged high light stress. Efficient dissipation of excess light energy, measured as non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of chlorophyll fluorescence, is therefore required to avoid photodamage. Light-harvesting regulation was studied in the intertidal macroalga Bryopsis corticulans, during high light and air exposure. Photosynthetic capacity and NPQ kinetics were assessed in different filament layers of the algal tufts and in intact chloroplasts to unravel the nature of NPQ in this siphonous green alga. We found that the morphology and pigment composition of the B. corticulans body provides functional segregation between surface sunlit filaments (protective state) and those that are underneath and undergo severe light attenuation (light-harvesting state). In the surface filaments, very high and sustained NPQ gradually formed. NPQ induction was triggered by the formation of transthylakoid proton gradient and independent of the xanthophyll cycle. PsbS and LHCSR proteins seem not to be active in the NPQ mechanism activated by this alga. Our results show that B. corticulans endures excess light energy pressure through a sustained protective NPQ, not related to photodamage, as revealed by the unusually quick restoration of photosystem II (PSII) function in the dark. This might suggest either the occurrence of transient PSII photoinactivation or a fast rate of PSII repair cycle.

Spectral and functional studies on siphonaxanthin-type light-harvesting complex of photosystem II from Bryopsis corticulans

Carotenoids with conjugated carbonyl groups possess special photophysical properties which have been studied in some water-soluble light-harvesting proteins (Polívka and Sundström, Chem Rev 104:2021-2071, 2004). However, siphonaxanthin-type light-harvesting complexes of photosystem II (LHCII) in siphonous green alga have received fewer studies. In the present study, we determined sequences of genes for several Bryopsis corticulans Lhcbm proteins, which showed that they belong to the group of major LHCII and diverged early from green algae and higher plants. Analysis of pigment composition indicated that this siphonaxanthin-type LHCII contained in total 3 siphonaxanthin and siphonein but no lutein and violaxanthin. In addition, 2 chlorophylls a in higher plant LHCII were replaced by chlorophyll b. These changes led to an increased absorption in green and blue-green light region compared with higher plant LHCII. The binding sites for chlorophylls, siphonaxanthin, and siphonein were suggested based on the structural comparison with that of higher plant LHCII. All of the ligands for the chlorophylls were completely conserved, suggesting that the two chlorophylls b were replaced by chlorophyll a without changing their binding sites in higher plant LHCII. Comparisons of the absorption spectra of isolated siphonaxanthin and siphonein in different organic solutions and the effect of heat treatment suggested that these pigments existed in a low hydrophobic protein environment, leading to an enhancement of light harvesting in the green light region. This low hydrophobic protein environment was maintained by the presence of more serine and threonine residues in B. corticulans LHCII. Finally, esterization of siphonein may also contribute to the enhanced harvesting of green light.

Characterization of chlorophyll-protein complexes isolated from a Siphonous green alga, Bryopsis corticulans

Six chlorophyll-protein complexes are isolated from thylakoid membranes of Bryopsis corticulans by dodecyl-beta-D: -maltoside polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Unlike that of higher plants, the 77 K fluorescence emission spectrum of the CP1 band, the PSI core complexes of B. corticulans, presents two peaks, one at 675 nm and the other at 715-717 nm. The emission peak at 715-717 nm is slightly higher than that at 675 nm in the CP1 band when excited at 438 or 540 nm. However, the peak at 715 nm is obviously lower than that at 675 nm when excited at 480 nm. The excitation spectra of CP1 demonstrate that the peak at 675 nm is mainly attributed to energy from Chl b while it is the energy from Chl a that plays an important role in exciting the peak at 715-717 nm. Siphonaxanthin is found to contribute to both the 675 nm and 715-717 nm peaks. We propose from the above results that chlorophyll a and siphonaxanthin are mainly responsible for the transfer of energy to the far-red region of PSI while it is Chl b that contributes most of the transfer of energy to the red region of PSI. The analysis of chlorophyll composition and spectral characteristics of LHCP(1 )and LHCP(3) also indicate that higher content of Chl b and siphonaxanthin, mainly presented in LHCP(1), the trimeric form of LHCII, are evolved by B. corticulans to absorb an appropriate amount of light energy so as to adapt to their natural habitats.