Mechanism of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ)

(Radek Kaňa)

We study mechanism of non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) in exotic algae that appeared as a result of second endosynbiotic events during evolution (e.g. cryptophytes, diatoms, chromalveolates). NPQ represents effective way how photosynthetic organisms can dissipate excessive irradiation into heat.

The project is supported by GAČR 206-09-P094.

RESULTS:

Kaňa R, Vass I (2008) Thermoimaging as a tool for studying light-induced heating of leaves Correlation of heat dissipation with the efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry and non-photochemical quenching. Environmental and Experimental Botany 64: 90-96

Kotabová E.,  Kaňa R., Jarešová J., Prášil O (2011) Non-photochemical fluorescence quenching in Chromera velia is enabled by fast violaxanthin de-epoxidation. FEBS lett. 585: 1941-1945

Kaňa R, Kotabová E, Sobotka R, Prášil O (2012) Non-photochemical quenching is located in chlorophyll a/c binding antennae of the cryptophyta alga Rhodomonas salina. PLOS ONE, accepted