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Electrochromism: a useful probe to study algal photosynthesis

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An Erratum to this article was published on 15 November 2011

Abstract

In photosynthesis, electron transfer along the photosynthetic chain results in a vectorial transfer of protons from the stroma to the lumenal space of the thylakoids. This promotes the generation of an electrochemical proton gradient (Δμ +H ), which comprises a gradient of electric potential (ΔΨ) and of proton concentration (ΔpH). The Δμ +H has a central role in the photosynthetic process, providing the energy source for ATP synthesis. It is also involved in many regulatory mechanisms. The ΔpH modulates the rate of electron transfer and triggers deexcitation of excess energy within the light harvesting complexes. The ΔΨ is required for metabolite and protein transport across the membranes. Its presence also induces a shift in the absorption spectra of some photosynthetic pigments, resulting in the so-called ElectroChromic Shift (ECS). In this review, we discuss the characteristic features of the ECS, and illustrate possible applications for the study of photosynthetic processes in vivo.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR 7141, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75005, Paris, France

    Benjamin Bailleul & Giovanni Finazzi

  2. UMR 8197, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure, 75230, Paris, France

    Benjamin Bailleul

  3. Laboratoire de Génétique des Microorganismes, Université de Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Pierre Cardol

  4. UMR 5075, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, Université Joseph Fourier, 38027, Grenoble, France

    Cécile Breyton

  5. UMR 5168, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Joseph Fourier, CEA Grenoble, 38054, Grenoble, France

    Giovanni Finazzi

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  1. Benjamin Bailleul
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  2. Pierre Cardol
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  3. Cécile Breyton
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  4. Giovanni Finazzi
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Correspondence to Benjamin Bailleul.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11120-011-9704-7

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Bailleul, B., Cardol, P., Breyton, C. et al. Electrochromism: a useful probe to study algal photosynthesis. Photosynth Res 106, 179–189 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11120-010-9579-z

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