title: Non-photochemical fluorescence quenching in Chromera velia is enabled by fast violaxanthin de-epoxidation.
abstract: Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) is a mechanism protecting photosynthetic organisms against excessive irradiation. Here, we analyze a unique NPQ mechanism in the alga Chromera velia, a recently discovered close relative of apicomplexan parasites. NPQ in C. velia is enabled by an operative and fast violaxanthin de-epoxidation to zeaxanthin without accumulation of antheraxanthin. In C. velia violaxanthin also serves as a main light-harvesting pigment. Therefore, in C. velia violaxanthin acts as a key factor in both light harvesting and photoprotection. This is in contrast to a similar alga, Nannochloropsis limnetica, where violaxanthin has only light-harvesting function.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Třeboň, Czech Republic. kotabova@alga.cz
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kotabová
authors.forename: Radek
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaňa
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jarešová
authors.forename: Ondřej
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Prášil
mesh_terms: D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000502:physiology*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D005453:Fluorescence; D010788:Photosynthesis; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex / Q000378:metabolism; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D045332:Photosystem II Protein Complex; D024341:Xanthophylls; C005613:violaxanthin