Advances in the Study of Photoprotection in Plant Photosynthesis

doi:10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0549

Abstract

Abstract:

Photosynthesis is the foundation of plant growth and yield formation. Light provides the energy for plant photosynthesis, but excessive light can cause photoinhibition, leading to reduced photosynthetic efficiency or even photo-oxidative damage, which is particularly severe under stress conditions such as drought, high temperature, and low temperature. In response to photoinhibition, plants have evolved a variety of photoprotective mechanisms, including chloroplast movement, non-photochemical quenching, reactive oxygen species scavenging, cyclic electron transport, and PSII damage repair. The movement of chloroplasts affects the absorption of light energy through the adjustment of leaf posture and the change of chloroplast position, so as to achieve the adaptation to high light. Non-photochemical quenching dissipates excess light energy as heat to prevent PSII damage. The ROS scavenging system mitigates oxidative damage. Cyclic electron flow regulates energy balance and excitation energy distribution between photosystems, playing a key role in photoprotection. The efficient PSII repair mechanism helps plants maintain photosynthetic efficiency under stress. Recent research has enhanced our understanding of these mechanisms, providing new ideas for breeding high-photosynthetic-efficiency crop varieties. Future research should focus on field experiments to explore the role of photoprotection in natural conditions and the molecular basis and regulatory networks of photoprotective mechanisms, which is expected to provide theoretical basis and data support for cultivating new crop varieties with high yield, high quality and stress resistance.

Key words: photosynthesis, photodamage, photoinhibition, photoprotection

CHEN Li-chao, YANG Xue-lian, LI Wen-jie, SHI Yan-yun, ZHANG Li-xin, XU Xiu-mei. Advances in the Study of Photoprotection in Plant Photosynthesis[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2025, 41(10): 64-71.

Figures/Tables 2

Fig. 1 Main light protection mechanisms of plantsUnder high light irradiation, photoprotection mechanisms such as chloroplast movement, non-photochemical quenching, reactive oxygen species scavenging, cyclic electron transfer, photosynthetic state transition, and PSII damage repair work together to protect plants from high light damage

Fig. 2 Production and scavenge ways of reactive oxygen species in chloroplastsA: Types of reactive oxygen species in chloroplasts, including singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxide (O2-·), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (·OH). B: The main antioxidant system in chloroplasts, the enzymatic antioxidant system mainly includes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX). SOD can catalyze the dismutation of O2-· to H2O2, and then H₂O₂ produces ·OH in the presence of Fe²⁺, or is decomposed into H2O and other substances by APX and GPX. The non-enzymatic antioxidant system includes ascorbic acid (VC), reduced glutathione (GSH), α-tocopherol (VE), etc., which can directly remove ROS and reduce oxidative damage through its own redox reaction

References 67

[1]	Fischer WW, Hemp J, Johnson JE. Evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis [J]. Annu Rev Earth Planet Sci, 2016, 44: 647-683.
[2]	Kaiserli E, Páldi K, O'Donnell L, et al. Integration of light and photoperiodic signaling in transcriptional nuclear foci [J]. Dev Cell, 2015, 35(3): 311-321.
[3]	Zavafer A, Mancilla C. Concepts of photochemical damage of Photosystem II and the role of excessive excitation [J]. J Photochem Photobiol C Photochem Rev, 2021, 47: 100421.
[4]	Krieger-Liszkay A, Spetea C, Messinger J. Photosynthesis—European congress on photosynthesis research [J]. Physiol Plant, 2019, 166(1): 4-6.
[5]	Wang Q, Yang S, Wan SB, et al. The significance of calcium in photosynthesis [J]. Int J Mol Sci, 2019, 20(6): 1353.
[6]	Tikkanen M, Aro EM. Thylakoid protein phosphorylation in dynamic regulation of photosystem II in higher plants [J]. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg, 2012, 1817(1): 232-238.
[7]	Bassi R, Dall'Osto L. Dissipation of light energy absorbed in excess: the molecular mechanisms [J]. Annu Rev Plant Biol, 2021, 72: 47-76.
[8]	Kirschner GK. Chloroplast photoprotection: face the light or Run and hide? [J]. Plant J, 2023, 115(1): 5-6.
[9]	Keren N, Krieger-Liszkay A. Photoinhibition: molecular mechanisms and physiological significance [J]. Physiol Plant, 2011, 142(1): 1-5.
[10]	Hetherington SE, He J, Smillie RM. Photoinhibition at low temperature in chilling-sensitive and-resistant plants [J]. Plant Physiol, 1989, 90(4): 1609-1615.
[11]	Powles SB. Photoinhibition of photosynthesis induced by visible light [J]. Annu Rev Plant Physiol, 1984, 35: 15-44.
[12]	Leakey ADB, Uribelarrea M, Ainsworth EA, et al. Photosynthesis, productivity, and yield of maize are not affected by open-air elevation of CO₂ concentration in the absence of drought [J]. Plant Physiol, 2006, 140(2): 779-790.
[13]	Müller P, Li X-P, Niyogi KK. Non-photochemical quenching. a response to excess light energy [J]. Plant Physiol, 2001, 125(4): 1558-1566.
[14]	Aro EM, Virgin I, Andersson B. Photoinhibition of Photosystem II. Inactivation, protein damage and turnover [J]. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg, 1993, 1143(2): 113-134.
[15]	Reisman S, Ohad I. Light-dependent degradation of the thylakoid 32 kDa QB protein in isolated chloroplast membranes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii [J]. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg, 1986, 849(1): 51-61.
[16]	Davis PA, Hangarter RP. Chloroplast movement provides photoprotection to plants by redistributing PSII damage within leaves [J]. Photosynth Res, 2012, 112(3): 153-161.
[17]	Wada M. Chloroplast movement [J]. Plant Sci, 2013, 210: 177-182.
[18]	Han IS, Cho HY, Moni A, et al. Investigations on the photoregulation of chloroplast movement and leaf positioning in Arabidopsis [J]. Plant Cell Physiol, 2013, 54(1): 48-56.
[19]	Majumdar A, Kar RK. Chloroplast avoidance movement: a novel paradigm of ROS signalling [J]. Photosynth Res, 2020, 144(1): 109-121.
[20]	Wilson S, Ruban AV. Rethinking the influence of chloroplast movements on non-photochemical quenching and photoprotection [J]. Plant Physiol, 2020, 183(3): 1213-1223.
[21]	Griffin JHC, Prado K, Sutton P, et al. Coordinating light responses between the nucleus and the chloroplast, a role for plant cryptochromes and phytochromes [J]. Physiol Plant, 2020, 169(4): 515-528.
[22]	Li FW, Melkonian M, Rothfels CJ, et al. Phytochrome diversity in green plants and the origin of canonical plant phytochromes [J]. Nat Commun, 2015, 6: 7852.
[23]	Viczián A, Klose C, Hiltbrunner A, et al. Editorial: plant phytochromes: from structure to signaling and beyond [J]. Front Plant Sci, 2021, 12: 811379.
[24]	Waksman T, Suetsugu N, Hermanowicz P, et al. Phototropin phosphorylation of ROOT PHOTOTROPISM 2 and its role in mediating phototropism, leaf positioning, and chloroplast accumulation movement in Arabidopsis [J]. Plant J, 2023, 114(2): 390-402.
[25]	Kong SG, Yamazaki Y, Shimada A, et al. CHLOROPLAST UNUSUAL POSITIONING 1 is a plant-specific actin polymerization factor regulating chloroplast movement [J]. Plant Cell, 2024, 36(4): 1159-1181.
[26]	Usami H, Maeda T, Fujii Y, et al. CHUP1 mediates actin-based light-induced chloroplast avoidance movement in the moss Physcomitrella patens [J]. Planta, 2012, 236(6): 1889-1897.
[27]	Yuan N, Mendu L, Ghose K, et al. FKF1 interacts with CHUP1 and regulates chloroplast movement in Arabidopsis [J]. Plants, 2023, 12(3): 542.
[28]	Yamamoto-Negi Y, Higa T, Komatsu A, et al. A kinesin-like protein, KAC, is required for light-induced and actin-based chloroplast movement in Marchantia polymorpha [J]. Plant Cell Physiol, 2024, 65(11): 1787-1800.
[29]	Fernández-Marín B, Roach T, Verhoeven A, et al. Shedding light on the dark side of xanthophyll cycles [J]. New Phytol, 2021, 230(4): 1336-1344.
[30]	Zuo GQ. Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in photoprotection: insights into NPQ levels required to avoid photoinactivation and photoinhibition [J]. New Phytol, 2025, 246(5): 1967-1974.
[31]	De Souza AP, Burgess SJ, Doran L, et al. Soybean photosynthesis and crop yield are improved by accelerating recovery from photoprotection [J]. Science, 2022, 377(6608): 851-854.
[32]	Kromdijk J, Głowacka K, Leonelli L, et al. Improving photosynthesis and crop productivity by accelerating recovery from photoprotection [J]. Science, 2016, 354(6314): 857-861.
[33]	Yu GM, Hao JF, Pan XW, et al. Structure of Arabidopsis SOQ1 lumenal region unveils C-terminal domain essential for negative regulation of photoprotective qH [J]. Nat Plants, 2022, 8(7): 840-855.
[34]	Duan SJ, Dong BB, Chen ZQ, et al. HHL1 and SOQ1 synergistically regulate nonphotochemical quenching in Arabidopsis [J]. J Biol Chem, 2023, 299(5): 104670.
[35]	Apel K, Hirt H. Reactive oxygen species: metabolism, oxidative stress, and signal transduction [J]. Annu Rev Plant Biol, 2004, 55: 373-399.
[36]	D'Autréaux B, Toledano MB. ROS as signalling molecules: mechanisms that generate specificity in ROS homeostasis [J]. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol, 2007, 8(10): 813-824.
[37]	Foyer CH, Noctor G. Redox homeostasis and antioxidant signaling: a metabolic interface between stress perception and physiological responses [J]. Plant Cell, 2005, 17(7): 1866-1875.
[38]	Mittler R. ROS are good [J]. Trends Plant Sci, 2017, 22(1): 11-19.
[39]	Biswas MS, Mano J. Lipid peroxide-derived reactive carbonyl species as mediators of oxidative stress and signaling [J]. Front Plant Sci, 2021, 12: 720867.
[40]	Sachdev S, Ansari SA, Ansari MI, et al. Abiotic stress and reactive oxygen species: generation, signaling, and defense mechanisms [J]. Antioxidants, 2021, 10(2): 277.
[41]	Hasanuzzaman M, Bhuyan MHMB, Zulfiqar F, et al. Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense in plants under abiotic stress: revisiting the crucial role of a universal defense regulator [J]. Antioxidants, 2020, 9(8): 681.
[42]	Xiao MG, Li ZX, Zhu L, et al. The multiple roles of ascorbate in the abiotic stress response of plants: antioxidant, cofactor, and regulator [J]. Front Plant Sci, 2021, 12: 598173.
[43]	Ji DL, Luo MF, Guo YJ, et al. Efficient scavenging of reactive carbonyl species in chloroplasts is required for light acclimation and fitness of plants [J]. New Phytol, 2023, 240(2): 676-693.
[44]	Niu YX, Lazár D, Holzwarth AR, et al. Plants cope with fluctuating light by frequency-dependent nonphotochemical quenching and cyclic electron transport [J]. New Phytol, 2023, 239(5): 1869-1886.
[45]	Shikanai T. Central role of cyclic electron transport around photosystem I in the regulation of photosynthesis [J]. Curr Opin Biotechnol, 2014, 26: 25-30.
[46]	DalCorso G, Pesaresi P, Masiero S, et al. A complex containing PGRL1 and PGR5 is involved in the switch between linear and cyclic electron flow in Arabidopsis [J]. Cell, 2008, 132(2): 273-285.
[47]	Hertle AP, Blunder T, Wunder T, et al. PGRL1 is the elusive ferredoxin-plastoquinone reductase in photosynthetic cyclic electron flow [J]. Mol Cell, 2013, 49(3): 511-523.
[48]	Munekage Y, Hojo M, Meurer J, et al. PGR5 is involved in cyclic electron flow around photosystem I and is essential for photoprotection in Arabidopsis [J]. Cell, 2002, 110(3): 361-371.
[49]	Sugimoto K, Okegawa Y, Tohri A, et al. A single amino acid alteration in PGR5 confers resistance to antimycin A in cyclic electron transport around PSI [J]. Plant Cell Physiol, 2013, 54(9): 1525-1534.
[50]	Kouřil R, Strouhal O, Nosek L, et al. Structural characterization of a plant photosystem I and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase super complex [J]. Plant J, 2014, 77(4): 568-576.
[51]	Laughlin TG, Savage DF, Davies KM. Recent advances on the structure and function of NDH-1: the complex I of oxygenic photosynthesis [J]. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg, 2020, 1861(11): 148254.
[52]	Strand DD, Fisher N, Kramer DM. The higher plant plastid NAD(P)H dehydrogenase-like complex (NDH) is a high efficiency proton pump that increases ATP production by cyclic electron flow [J]. J Biol Chem, 2017, 292(28): 11850-11860.
[53]	Pan XW, Cao DF, Xie F, et al. Structural basis for electron transport mechanism of complex I-like photosynthetic NAD(P)H dehydrogenase [J]. Nat Commun, 2020, 11(1): 610.
[54]	Shen LL, Tang KL, Wang WD, et al. Architecture of the chloroplast PSI-NDH super complex in Hordeum vulgare [J]. Nature, 2022, 601(7894): 649-654.
[55]	Bellafiore S, Barneche F, Peltier G, et al. State transitions and light adaptation require chloroplast thylakoid protein kinase STN7 [J]. Nature, 2005, 433(7028): 892-895.
[56]	Wu JH, Rong LW, Lin WJ, et al. Functional redox links between lumen thiol oxidoreductase1 and serine/threonine-protein kinase STN7 [J]. Plant Physiol, 2021, 186(2): 964-976.
[57]	Pan XW, Ma J, Su XD, et al. Structure of the maize photosystem I super complex with light-harvesting complexes I and II [J]. Science, 2018, 360(6393): 1109-1113.
[58]	Huang ZH, Shen LL, Wang WD, et al. Structure of photosystem I-LHCI-LHCII from the green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in State 2 [J]. Nat Commun, 2021, 12(1): 1100.
[59]	Wu JH, Chen S, Wang C, et al. Regulatory dynamics of the higher-plant PSI-LHCI super complex during state transitions [J]. Mol Plant, 2023, 16(12): 1937-1950.
[60]	Gururani MA, Venkatesh J, Tran LSP. Regulation of photosynthesis during abiotic stress-induced photoinhibition [J]. Mol Plant, 2015, 8(9): 1304-1320.60
[61]	Su JL, Jiao QS, Jia T, et al. The photosystem-II repair cycle: updates and open questions [J]. Planta, 2023, 259(1): 20.
[62]	Theis J, Schroda M. Revisiting the photosystem II repair cycle [J]. Plant Signal Behav, 2016, 11(9): e1218587.
[63]	Kato Y, Sun XW, Zhang LX, et al. Cooperative D1 degradation in the photosystem II repair mediated by chloroplastic proteases in Arabidopsis [J]. Plant Physiol, 2012, 159(4): 1428-1439.
[64]	Sun XW, Peng LW, Guo JK, et al. Formation of DEG5 and DEG8 complexes and their involvement in the degradation of photodamaged photosystem II reaction center D1 protein in Arabidopsis [J]. Plant Cell, 2007, 19(4): 1347-1361.
[65]	Zoschke R, Bock R. Chloroplast translation: structural and functional organization, operational control, and regulation [J]. Plant Cell, 2018, 30(4): 745-770.
[66]	Williams-Carrier R, Chotewutmontri P, Perkel S, et al. The psbA open reading frame acts in cis to toggle HCF173 from an activator to a repressor for light-regulated psbA translation in plants [J]. Plant Cell, 2025, 37(4): koaf047.
[67]	Chen JH, Chen ST, He NY, et al. Nuclear-encoded synthesis of the D1 subunit of photosystem II increases photosynthetic efficiency and crop yield [J]. Nat Plants, 2020, 6(5): 570-580.