"Quantum Breakthrough: Unveiling a Switch to Control Photosynthesis"
Researchers have discovered a quantum switch in the light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) that regulates photosynthesis. By combining cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) studies with energy transfer calculations, they identified the photosynthetic pigment quantum switch that controls intermolecular energy transfer. The switch is activated by a conformational change in LHCII upon acidification, leading to the quenching of excess light energy. This discovery provides insights into the atomic-level dynamic structural changes in LHCII and could potentially enhance photosynthetic efficiency.
