An Unexpected Water Channel in the Light-Harvesting Complex of a Diatom: Implications for the Switch between Light Harvesting and Photoprotection.

ABSTRACT: Many important processes in cells depend on the transfer of protons through water wires embedded in transmembrane proteins. Herein, we have performed more than 55 μs all-atom simulations of the light-harvesting complex of a diatom, i.e., the fucoxanthin and chlorophyll a/c binding protein (FCP) from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Diatoms are unique models to study natural photosynthesis as they exert an efficient light-harvesting machinery with a robust pH-dependent photoprotective mechanism. The present study reports on the dynamics of an FCP monomer, a dimer, and a tetramer at varying pH values. Surprisingly, we have identified at low pH a water channel across FCP that selectively hydrates and protonates the acrylate of a Chl-c2 pigment located in the middle of the m

SUBMITTER: Daskalakis V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11758497 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature