LHCII, the main light-harvesting complex in photosynthesis, has an inbuilt capability to undergo transformation into a dissipative state by conformational change, but it was not known if such events occur in vivo or how energy is dissipated in this state. The transition into the dissipative state is associated with a twist in the configuration of the LHCII-bound carotenoid neoxanthin identified using resonance Raman spectroscopy. Applying this technique to study isolated chloroplasts and whole leaves, this paper shows that the same change in neoxanthin configuration occurs in vivo, to an extent consistent with the magnitude of energy dissipation.
- Alexander V. Ruban
- Rudi Berera
- Rienk van Grondelle
