Non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) mechanisms are crucial for protecting photosynthesis from photoinhibition in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, and their modulation is a long-standing goal for improving photosynthesis and crop yields. The current work demonstrates that Chlorella ohadii, a green micro-alga that thrives in the desert under high light intensities that are fatal to many photosynthetic organisms does not perform nor require NPQ to protect photosynthesis under constant high light. Instead of dissipating excess energy, it minimizes its uptake by eliminating the photosynthetic antenna of photosystem II. In addition, it accumulates antioxidants that neutralize harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increases cyclic electron flow around PSI. These NPQ-independent responses proved efficient in preventing ROS accumulation and reducing oxidative damage to proteins in high-light-grown cells.

中文翻译：

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独立于非光化学淬灭的过程可保护耐光性强的沙漠藻类免受氧化应激


非光化学猝灭 （NPQ） 机制对于保护植物、藻类和蓝藻的光合作用免受光抑制至关重要，它们的调节是提高光合作用和作物产量的长期目标。目前的工作表明，小球藻 ohadii 是一种绿色微藻，在对许多光合生物致命的高光强度下在沙漠中茁壮成长，在持续的强光下不执行也不需要 NPQ 来保护光合作用。它不是耗散多余的能量，而是通过消除光系统 II 的光合天线来最大限度地减少其吸收。此外，它还积累了中和有害活性氧 （ROS） 的抗氧化剂，并增加了 PSI 周围的循环电子流。这些不依赖 NPQ 的反应被证明可以有效地防止 ROS 积累并减少对高光生长细胞中蛋白质的氧化损伤。