Dynamics of the light harvesting complex

Photosynthetic acclimation

The light harvesting complex is composed of trimeric and monomeric antenna proteins containing Chlorophyll a and b pigments and carotenoids. Its role is to capture the light energy and transfer it in the form of excitation to the chlorophyll of the reaction centers and to dissipate the excess of light energy when the light input overcomes the photosynthetic capacity. Furthermore, constituting a large portion of the photosynthetic protein, the light harvesting complex play a role on the overall organisation of the thylakoid membrane. The goal of the research project is to investigate the role of the phosphorylation of each LHCII subunit in the photosynthetic acclimation to different light conditions. The project aims to answer the following questions: What are the specific roles of the different isoforms? Would a modified isoform lacking the N-terminal phosphorylation still allow acclimation to different light conditions? What is the contribution of the N-terminus and the protein core in defining the role of each isoform? Is it possible to alter the phosphorylation kinetics and will this affect the adaptation dynamics?

Recent Publications

  • A microalgal-based preparation with synergistic cellulolytic and detoxifying action towards chemical-treated lignocellulose
    Benedetti, Manuel; Barera, Simone; Longoni, Paolo; Guardini, Zeno; Garcia, Natalia Herrero; et al.
    Plant Biotechnology Journal  DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13447  SEP 2020
  • Regulation of Light Harvesting in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Two Protein Phosphatases Are Involved in State Transitions
    Cariti, Federica; Chazaux, Marie; Lefebvre-Legendre, Linnka; Longoni, Paolo; Ghysels, Bart; et al.
    Plant Physiology   DOI: 10.1104/pp.20.00384    AUG 2020
  • Growth Temperature Influence on Lipids and Photosynthesis in Lepidium sativum
    Sattari Vayghan, Hamed; Tavalaei, Shahrzad; Grillon, Armand; Meyer, Lea; Ballabani, Gent; et al.
    Frontiers In Plant Science   DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00745    JUN 4 2020
  • Mutation of the Atypical Kinase ABC1K3 Partially Rescues the PROTON GRADIENT REGULATION 6 Phenotype in Arabidopsis thaliana
    Pralon, Thibaut; Collombat, Joy; Pipitone, Rosa; Ksas, Brigitte; Shanmugabalaji, Venkatasalam; et al.
    Frontiers In Plant Science,  10.3389/fpls.2020.00337, MAR 25 2020
  • PROTEIN HOMEOSTASIS How chloroplasts protect themselves from unfolded proteins
    Kessler, Felix; Longoni, Paolo
    ELIFE 8 Article Number: e51430 DOI: 10.7554/eLife.51430 OCT 15 2019
  • The Kinase STATE TRANSITION 8 Phosphorylates Light Harvesting Complex II and Contributes to Light Acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana
    Longoni, P; Samol, I; Goldschmidt-Clermont, M
    FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE, 10 10.3389/fpls.2019.01156 SEP 19 2019
  • Plastoquinone homoeostasis by Arabidopsis proton gradient regulation 6 is essential for photosynthetic efficiency
    Pralon, Thibaut; Shanmugabalaji, Venkatasalam; Longoni, Paolo; Glauser, Gaetan; Ksas, Brigitte; Collombat, Joy; Desmeules, Saskia; Havaux, Michel; Finazzi, Giovanni; Kessler, Felix
    COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY 2  Article Number: 220 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0477-4 JUN 2019
  • Comparison of transplastomic Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Nicotiana tabacum expression system for the production of a bacterial endoglucanase
    Fae, M; Accossato, S; Cella, R; Fontana, F; Goldschmidt-Clermont, M; Leelavathi, S; Reddy, VS; Longoni, P
    APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY 101(10):4085-4092   10.1007/s00253-017-8164-1 MAY 2017
  • Use of Nicotiana tabacum transplastomic plants engineered to express a His-tagged CP47 for the isolation of functional photosystem II core complexes
    Pagliano, C; Bersanini, L; Cella, R; Longoni, P; Pantaleoni, L; Dass, A; Leelavathi, S; Reddy, VS
    PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY  111: 266-273 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2016.12.009  FEB 2017
  • Activation of the Stt7/STN7 Kinase through Dynamic Interactions with the Cytochrome b(6)f Complex
    Shapiguzov, A; Chai, X; Fucile, G; Longoni P; Zhang, LX; Rochaix, JD
    PLANT PHYSIOLOGY  171(1):82-92  10.1104/pp.15.01893 MAY 2016
  • A Nucleus-Encoded Chloroplast Phosphoprotein Governs Expression of the Photosystem I Subunit PsaC in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
    Douchi, D; Qu, Y; Longoni, P; Legendre-Lefebvre, L; Johnson, X; Schmitz-Linneweber, C; Goldschmidt-Clermont, M
    PLANT CELL 28(5):1182-1199  10.1105/tpc.15.00725 MAY 2016
Fiamma P Longoni Univ Neuchatel

Dr. Fiamma P Longoni
University of Neuchâtel
Institute of Biology

+41 (0)32 718 23 03

Research topics

  • Photosynthesis acclimation
  • Thylakoid organisation
  • Protein dynamics
  • Adaptation to different light condition
  • Photosynthetic efficiency improvement

Interdisciplinarity

  • Biophysical analysis of the photosynthetic parameters
  • Protein complex isolation and native analysis
  • Protein phosphorylation dynamics