Photoinhibition Mechanisms in Photosynthetic Systems
Summary
Photoinhibition refers to the light-induced reduction in photosynthetic efficiency arising when the absorption of photons exceeds the capacity of the photosynthetic apparatus to utilise excitation energy. Central to this process is Photosystem II (PSII), a multisubunit complex embedded in the thylakoid membrane that catalyses water splitting and initiates the electron transport chain. Excess excitation energy can lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the oxygen-evolving complex and within the PSII reaction centre, causing oxidative damage to chlorophyll, proteins—most notably the D1 protein—and lipid membranes. Plants and photosynthetic microbes deploy a suite of protective and repair strategies, including non-photochemical quenching to dissipate surplus energy as heat, selective degradation and synthesis of PSII subunits, and antioxidant scavenging systems. Environmental stressors such as drought, high light, salinity and temperature extremes accentuate photoinhibitory damage by perturbing thylakoid organisation and redox homeostasis. Understanding the balance between damage and repair is vital for enhancing crop resilience, optimising artificial photosynthetic systems and mitigating productivity losses under fluctuating climatic conditions.
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Photoinhibition Mechanisms in Photosynthetic Systems publication trend
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Technical terms
Photoinhibition: Decline in photosynthetic efficiency caused by excess light energy leading to damage of the photosynthetic apparatus.
Photosystem II (PSII): A membrane-bound complex that uses light energy to split water and initiate electron transport.
Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ): A photoprotective process that safely dissipates surplus excitation energy as heat.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Highly reactive molecules derived from oxygen that can oxidise and damage cellular components.
Oxygen-evolving complex (OEC): A catalytic Mn₄CaO₅ cluster within PSII responsible for water oxidation and oxygen production.
Quantum yield of PSII (ΦPSII): The efficiency with which absorbed light is used for photochemistry at PSII.
D1 protein: A core PSII reaction-centre subunit that is prone to light-induced damage and subject to rapid turnover.
Chlorophyll fluorescence: Emission of light by chlorophyll molecules used as a proxy for the functional state of PSII.
References
- Early-Stage Detection of Biotic and Abiotic Stress on Plants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Imaging Analysis. Biosensors (2023).
- Hormesis Responses of Photosystem II in Arabidopsis thaliana under Water Deficit Stress. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
- Responses of Membranes and the Photosynthetic Apparatus to Salt Stress in Cyanobacteria. Frontiers in Plant Science (2020).
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