Structure of a photosystem II-FCPII supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organization

Abstract Haptophytes are unicellular algae that produce 30 to 50% of biomass in oceans. Among haptophytes, a subset named coccolithophores is characterized by calcified scales. Despite the importance of coccolithophores in global carbon fixation and CaCO3 production, their energy conversion system i...

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Main Authors: Romain La Rocca, Koji Kato, Pi-Cheng Tsai, Yoshiki Nakajima, Fusamichi Akita, Jian-Ren Shen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59512-9
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author Romain La Rocca
Koji Kato
Pi-Cheng Tsai
Yoshiki Nakajima
Fusamichi Akita
Jian-Ren Shen
author_facet Romain La Rocca
Koji Kato
Pi-Cheng Tsai
Yoshiki Nakajima
Fusamichi Akita
Jian-Ren Shen
author_sort Romain La Rocca
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Haptophytes are unicellular algae that produce 30 to 50% of biomass in oceans. Among haptophytes, a subset named coccolithophores is characterized by calcified scales. Despite the importance of coccolithophores in global carbon fixation and CaCO3 production, their energy conversion system is still poorly known. Here we report a cryo-electron microscopic structure of photosystem II (PSII)-fucoxanthin chlorophyll c-binding protein (FCPII) supercomplex from Chyrostila roscoffensis, a representative of coccolithophores. This complex has two sets of six dimeric and monomeric FCPIIs, with distinct orientations. Interfaces of both FCPII/FCPII and FCPII/core differ from previously reported. We also determine the sequence of Psb36, a subunit previously found in diatoms and red algae. The principal excitation energy transfer (EET) pathways involve mainly 5 FCPIIs, where one FCPII monomer mediates EET to CP47. Our findings provide a solid structural basis for EET and energy dissipation pathways occurring in coccolithophores.
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spelling doaj-art-d0e57783b8494d28b8f3bc6e0d9aeed42025-08-20T01:49:43ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-05-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-59512-9Structure of a photosystem II-FCPII supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organizationRomain La Rocca0Koji Kato1Pi-Cheng Tsai2Yoshiki Nakajima3Fusamichi Akita4Jian-Ren Shen5Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Advanced Research Field, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama UniversityResearch Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Advanced Research Field, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama UniversityResearch Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Advanced Research Field, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama UniversityResearch Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Advanced Research Field, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama UniversityResearch Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Advanced Research Field, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama UniversityResearch Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, and Advanced Research Field, Graduate School of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama UniversityAbstract Haptophytes are unicellular algae that produce 30 to 50% of biomass in oceans. Among haptophytes, a subset named coccolithophores is characterized by calcified scales. Despite the importance of coccolithophores in global carbon fixation and CaCO3 production, their energy conversion system is still poorly known. Here we report a cryo-electron microscopic structure of photosystem II (PSII)-fucoxanthin chlorophyll c-binding protein (FCPII) supercomplex from Chyrostila roscoffensis, a representative of coccolithophores. This complex has two sets of six dimeric and monomeric FCPIIs, with distinct orientations. Interfaces of both FCPII/FCPII and FCPII/core differ from previously reported. We also determine the sequence of Psb36, a subunit previously found in diatoms and red algae. The principal excitation energy transfer (EET) pathways involve mainly 5 FCPIIs, where one FCPII monomer mediates EET to CP47. Our findings provide a solid structural basis for EET and energy dissipation pathways occurring in coccolithophores.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59512-9
spellingShingle Romain La Rocca
Koji Kato
Pi-Cheng Tsai
Yoshiki Nakajima
Fusamichi Akita
Jian-Ren Shen
Structure of a photosystem II-FCPII supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organization
Nature Communications
title Structure of a photosystem II-FCPII supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organization
title_full Structure of a photosystem II-FCPII supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organization
title_fullStr Structure of a photosystem II-FCPII supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organization
title_full_unstemmed Structure of a photosystem II-FCPII supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organization
title_short Structure of a photosystem II-FCPII supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organization
title_sort structure of a photosystem ii fcpii supercomplex from a haptophyte reveals a distinct antenna organization
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59512-9
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