A stress-induced paralog of Lhcb4 controls the photosystem II functional architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana
Abstract Photosystem II (PSII) is the pigment-protein complex catalysing light-induced water oxidation. In Arabidopsis thaliana, it includes three Lhcb4–6 proteins linking the core complex to peripheral trimeric antennae. While Lhcb5 and Lhcb6 are encoded by single genes, Lhcb4 is encoded by three i...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62085-2 |
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| author | Roberto Caferri Qian Zhou Luca Dall’Osto Antonello Amelii Jianyu Shan Zhenfeng Liu Roberto Bassi |
| author_facet | Roberto Caferri Qian Zhou Luca Dall’Osto Antonello Amelii Jianyu Shan Zhenfeng Liu Roberto Bassi |
| author_sort | Roberto Caferri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Photosystem II (PSII) is the pigment-protein complex catalysing light-induced water oxidation. In Arabidopsis thaliana, it includes three Lhcb4–6 proteins linking the core complex to peripheral trimeric antennae. While Lhcb5 and Lhcb6 are encoded by single genes, Lhcb4 is encoded by three isoforms: Lhcb4.1 and Lhcb4.2, constitutively expressed, and Lhcb4.3 (Lhcb8), which accumulates under prolonged abiotic stress. Lhcb8 substitutes for Lhcb4, preventing Lhcb6 accumulation and resulting in a smaller PSII with high quantum yield. Cryo-electron microscopy reveals that Lhcb8 has a shorter carboxy-terminal domain, lacks two chlorophylls, and interacts more tightly with the PSII core, inducing structural changes in the PSII antenna system, ultimately inhibiting the formation of PSII arrays and favouring plastoquinone diffusion. We suggest that dynamic Lhcb4 vs Lhcb8 expression allows for PSII acclimation to contrasting light conditions, offering the potential for engineering crops with improved light use efficiency. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-be0eedc4f9f842d6b3c408d4d723b3cf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-be0eedc4f9f842d6b3c408d4d723b3cf2025-08-20T03:43:27ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111510.1038/s41467-025-62085-2A stress-induced paralog of Lhcb4 controls the photosystem II functional architecture in Arabidopsis thalianaRoberto Caferri0Qian Zhou1Luca Dall’Osto2Antonello Amelii3Jianyu Shan4Zhenfeng Liu5Roberto Bassi6Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaState Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesLaboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaLaboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaState Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of SciencesLaboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of VeronaAbstract Photosystem II (PSII) is the pigment-protein complex catalysing light-induced water oxidation. In Arabidopsis thaliana, it includes three Lhcb4–6 proteins linking the core complex to peripheral trimeric antennae. While Lhcb5 and Lhcb6 are encoded by single genes, Lhcb4 is encoded by three isoforms: Lhcb4.1 and Lhcb4.2, constitutively expressed, and Lhcb4.3 (Lhcb8), which accumulates under prolonged abiotic stress. Lhcb8 substitutes for Lhcb4, preventing Lhcb6 accumulation and resulting in a smaller PSII with high quantum yield. Cryo-electron microscopy reveals that Lhcb8 has a shorter carboxy-terminal domain, lacks two chlorophylls, and interacts more tightly with the PSII core, inducing structural changes in the PSII antenna system, ultimately inhibiting the formation of PSII arrays and favouring plastoquinone diffusion. We suggest that dynamic Lhcb4 vs Lhcb8 expression allows for PSII acclimation to contrasting light conditions, offering the potential for engineering crops with improved light use efficiency.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62085-2 |
| spellingShingle | Roberto Caferri Qian Zhou Luca Dall’Osto Antonello Amelii Jianyu Shan Zhenfeng Liu Roberto Bassi A stress-induced paralog of Lhcb4 controls the photosystem II functional architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana Nature Communications |
| title | A stress-induced paralog of Lhcb4 controls the photosystem II functional architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_full | A stress-induced paralog of Lhcb4 controls the photosystem II functional architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_fullStr | A stress-induced paralog of Lhcb4 controls the photosystem II functional architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_full_unstemmed | A stress-induced paralog of Lhcb4 controls the photosystem II functional architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_short | A stress-induced paralog of Lhcb4 controls the photosystem II functional architecture in Arabidopsis thaliana |
| title_sort | stress induced paralog of lhcb4 controls the photosystem ii functional architecture in arabidopsis thaliana |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62085-2 |
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