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Evaluating photosynthetic performance and photoprotective potential of the TROL-FNR bifurcation

Principal investigator

Project type
Znanstveno-istraživački projekti
Programme
Research Projects
Financier
Croatian Science Foundation
Start date
Jan 1st 2021
End date
Dec 31st 2024
Status
Active
Total cost
1220000 HRK
More information

Photosynthesis is arguably the most important autotrophic process on Earth. It provides primary food production and is responsible for the major atmospheric gas exchange. Plants driving photosynthesis consume CO2 and release oxygen that is pivotal for the life of many species. For this, plants require light and water. Being sessile organisms, plants have evolved numerous protective mechanisms against high-light and other stressors. Regulation of the photosynthetic energy flow is in the focus of modern plant biology research and is gaining importance due to rapid climate changes. Final photosynthetic electron transfer to the NADP+ is performed by the enzyme ferredoxin NADP+ oxidoreductase (FNR). In plant chloroplasts FNR binds to thylakoid membranes via protein TROL (Thylakoid RhOdanase-Like), which was previously discovered and characterized by our group. TROL-FNR interaction is dynamic and plays important role in photosynthetic electron partitioning between energy-conserving and -dissipating processes. TROL-bound FNR effectively catalyzes linear electron transfer and NADPH synthesis, while soluble FNR participates in the rapid electron dissipation, which effectively prevents ROS propagation. In this project, we shell research photosynthetic potential of the TROL-FNR bifurcation by using state-of-the-art RACiR gas exchange measurements. Further, we shell investigate the role of this bifurcation in the protective processes of the non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll a fluorescence (NPQ), ROS propagation, and synthesis of photoprotective molecules.

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