Structural Basis for Allosteric Regulation in the Major Antenna Trimer of Photosystem II

The allosteric regulation of protein function proves important in many life-sustaining processes. In plant photosynthesis, LHCII, the major antenna complex of Photosystem II, employs a delicate switch between light harvesting and photoprotective modes. The switch is triggered by an enlarged pH gradient (ΔpH) across the thylakoid membranes. Using molecular simulations and quantum calculations, we show that ΔpH can tune the light-harvesting potential of the antenna via allosteric regulation of the excitonic coupling in chlorophyll–carotenoid pairs. To this end, we propose how the LHCII excited state lifetime is coupled to the environmental conditions. In line with experimental findings, our theoretical model provides crucial evidence toward the elucidation of the photoprotective switch of higher plants at an all-atom resolution.