Understanding nature's 'dimmer switch': Study sheds new light on how algae regulate photosynthesis with pH

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A joint study from Constructor University and Princeton University reveals how the protein complex PC645 helps cryptophyte algae regulate photosynthesis efficiently by managing light energy through pH fluctuations. This discovery provides new insights into underwater photosynthesis under dim blue-green light conditions.

A new joint study from Constructor University and Princeton University in the Journal of the American Chemical Society focuses on PC645, a protein complex that contributes to cryptophyte algae's ability to photosynthesize efficiently using specialized light-harvesting pigments that can capture energy from dim, blue-green underwater light. During photosynthesis, the pH inside the algae can fluctuate significantly, affecting how they manage light energy.