Objective
Photosynthesis powers life on Earth by capturing solar energy and converting it into chemical energy to fuel carbon fixation. However, when metabolic pathways cannot utilize all produced energy, sunlight becomes damaging. Light capture is performed by pigment-binding proteins known as Light-Harvesting Complexes (LHCs) which optimize absorption but also increase the risk of photodamage under high light conditions. To avoid this, photosynthetic organisms evolved non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), a protective mechanism that dissipates excess absorbed energy as heat.
While NPQ is conserved across lineages, its molecular players differ substantially. In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, NPQ depends on the stress-related protein LHCSR and a specific LHC subunit, LHCBM1. In contrast, land plants like Arabidopsis thaliana rely on the PSBS protein and the xanthophyll zeaxanthin, without requiring a specific LHC subunit, although quenching occurs in the LHC. These differences suggest that the role of antenna complexes in NPQ evolved during the transition from aquatic to terrestrial environments.
This project investigates the contribution of LHCs to NPQ using the moss Physcomitrium patens, which is an excellent model organism because of its evolutionary position between green algae and land plants and its retention of both LHCSR- and PSBS-dependent NPQ mechanisms.
Taking advantage of the unique characteristics of P. patens (short life cycle, dominant haploid phase and high efficiency of genomic editing), we will integrate genetic approaches with advanced spectroscopic techniques to investigate how LHC composition affects NPQ. Initially, changes in LHCBMs accumulation and NPQ activation will be assessed under different light conditions. Then, the most promising LHC subunits will be systematically removed in WT, PSBS- and LHCSR-deficient backgrounds, allowing us to dissect their individual roles and provide evolutionary insight into how NPQ mechanisms have diversified.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences botany
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1081 HV Amsterdam
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.