
How Plants Cope With Excess Light
November 23, 2007 |
Photosynthesis relies on efficient absorption of sunlight . However in cases of extreme sunlight, plants are forced to absorb light energy in excess of what is needed in photosynthesis. The excess light energy can cause serious damages, such as bleaching in leaves. To protect themselves from damages, plants employ a mechanism wherein the excess light energy is converted to heat which is harmlessly released. The process is called photoprotection.
A group of researchers from the Netherlands, France and United Kingdom has discovered the exact molecular mechanisms of photoprotection. They were able to demonstrate how the light-harvesting antenna pigments in the leaves change in conformation upon absorption of excess sunlight. The molecules then convert the excess light energy into heat in a process that occurs in less than a billionth of a second. The switch between the conformational changes of the light-harvesting molecule dictates the flow of energy in the leaves, controlling the balance between gathering light energy for photosynthesis and its dissipation as heat. Scientists are now conducting studies on how to use the discovery in developing plants with improved photoprotective mechanisms that can cope with climate change.
The abstract of the paper published by Nature is available at http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v450/n7169/abs/nature06262.html
|
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- FAO's The State of Food and Agriculture 2007
- ILSI Reports on Safety Assessments of Biotech Foods
- UN Sec-General Stresses Role of S&T in Africa's Development
- WB Funds West Africa Biosafety Project
- West African Farmers Report Success of Rice Project
- Report on Biotech for Africa
- Changes in the Potato Family Tree
- Peking-Yale Center Receives Monsanto Research Fellowships
- Scientists Search for Rice Nutrient-Loading Genes
- CWB in Search for Wheat’s Molecular “Fingerprint”
- India to Formulate Energy Biosciences Strategy
- Long-Term Trial Demonstrates the Advantages of GM Canola
- Pakistan Forms Committee to Hasten Bt Cotton Introduction
- GM Food Surveillance in Germany
- How Plants Cope With Excess Light
-
Research Highlights
- Mother Plant Passes Light Information to Offsprings
- Molecular Basis of RNA-Dependent RNA Pol II Activity
- Breeding GM Rice Restorer Line With Multiple Resistance
- GM Potato with Tolerance to Multiple Stresses
-
Announcements
- Papaya Video Available Online
- BioMalaysia 2007
- Molecular Marker Applications Training Course
-
Resources
- FAO Expands its Coverage of Biotech in Russian and Arabic
- Biotech Book Off the Press
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (February 12, 2025)
- Gene Editing Supplement (February 12, 2025)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet