Thylakoid light reactions

The light-driven electron transport and photophosphorylation half of oxygenic photosynthesis, as a taxon-neutral decomposition: light harvesting by the antenna, water oxidation at photosystem II, plastoquinol oxidation and proton translocation by the cytochrome b6f complex, the inter-photosystem mobile carrier, P700 photo-oxidation and ferredoxin reduction at photosystem I, NADPH production by ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase, and ATP synthesis from the proton-motive force. Phrased as functions, complexes and pathway segments rather than a fixed gene list, so it can represent cyanobacterial, algal and plant implementations. Carbon fixation is a separate module (MODULE:calvin_benson_bassham_cycle), which consumes the ATP and NADPH this module supplies. Photoprotection and cyclic/pseudocyclic electron balancing stay with the parent MODULE:oxygenic_photosynthesis, since they regulate the ratio between the two halves rather than belonging to either. Anoxygenic photosynthesis (single reaction center, non-water electron donors) is out of scope.

MODULE:thylakoid_light_reactionsDRAFTBiological Processmodules/thylakoid_light_reactions.yaml
photosynthesis, light reactionGO:0019684 photosynthetic electron transport chainGO:0009767
file:modules/photosynthesis-deep-research-falcon.md
Photosynthesis module deep research (falcon)
Module-targeted falcon deep research, generated for the parent oxygenic photosynthesis module from which this module was extracted, used to cross-check component coverage, variants, and failure modes. Machine-generated citations are not yet manually adjudicated.
file:terms/photosynthesis/photosynthesis-notes.md
Photosynthesis concept notes
Concept notes behind the module-by-module component breakdown across Arabidopsis, Synechocystis and Chlamydomonas.

Extracted from MODULE:oxygenic_photosynthesis, which now includes this module by reference, so that each module stays small enough to read and can be reused on its own. Identifiers are grounded only where verified against the local GO term cache, GOlr, or UniProt; descriptors without a `term` are deliberate (no confident identifier yet) rather than oversights. Representative UniProt members are concrete orienting examples, not exhaustive or species-restricting claims.

10Nodes
7Parts
1Variant Sets
2Variants
8Annotons
5Connections

Derived QC

Recommended-field compliance

100.0% recommended fields populated

All recommended fields populated.

Module deep research

✗ none found

No MODULE:thylakoid_light_reactions deep-research report alongside the module YAML.

Leaf nodes lacking representative members

5 leaf node(s) with no concrete protein grounding:

Template conformance

✓ every declared conforms_to bundle matches its template motif.

Reaction chaining (advisory)

✓ every PRECEDES step chains, or its break is acknowledged via chaining_status.

  • fnr_step → atp_synthase [NOT_CHECKED]

Function consistency and core coverage

0 gene-function check(s) reflected in core functions · 0 conflict(s) · 3 evidence or coverage gap(s) (8 comparison(s))

Retained noncore functions are reported separately; they do not require promotion to core functions. Support from representative genes does not establish conservation across the whole family. Missing reviews or identifiers leave a claim unverified.

AnnotonParticipantFunctionAssessment
psii_water_oxidation PROTEIN_COMPLEX
Gene
oxygen evolving activity
GO:0010242
Participant Unchecked
No direct UniProt participant to compare. Abstract selectors and complex-wide activities cannot be inferred from donor or subunit gene reviews.
b6f_plastoquinol_plastocyanin_reductase PROTEIN_COMPLEX
Gene
plastoquinol--plastocyanin reductase activity
GO:0009496
Participant Unchecked
No direct UniProt participant to compare. Abstract selectors and complex-wide activities cannot be inferred from donor or subunit gene reviews.
psi_ferredoxin_reduction PROTEIN_COMPLEX
Gene
light-driven plastocyanin:ferredoxin oxidoreduction
No function ID
Participant Unchecked
No direct UniProt participant to compare. Abstract selectors and complex-wide activities cannot be inferred from donor or subunit gene reviews.
fnr_activity ANY_WITH_FUNCTION
Gene
ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase activity
GO:0004324
Participant Unchecked
No direct UniProt participant to compare. Abstract selectors and complex-wide activities cannot be inferred from donor or subunit gene reviews.
photophosphorylation PROTEIN_COMPLEX
Gene
proton-transporting ATP synthase activity, rotational mechanism
GO:0046933
Participant Unchecked
No direct UniProt participant to compare. Abstract selectors and complex-wide activities cannot be inferred from donor or subunit gene reviews.
antenna_chlorophyll_binding light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding (LHC) family
Family
chlorophyll binding for excitation energy transfer
GO:0016168
Family Id Missing
The family has no identifier linking it to a curated family review.
plastocyanin_electron_transfer plastocyanin
Family
electron transfer activity
GO:0009055
Family Id Missing
The family has no identifier linking it to a curated family review.
cytc6_electron_transfer cytochrome c6
Family
electron transfer activity
GO:0009055
Family Id Missing
The family has no identifier linking it to a curated family review.

Gene-review completeness (1/4 grounded genes reviewed)

1 complete review(s) · 1 with deep research · 3 missing review · 0 reviewed but lacking deep research

Gene Review Complete Deep research
spinach PsbO (oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 1) P12359 ✗ — —
Synechocystis cytochrome f (petA) P26287 ✗ — —
psaC Q00914 ✓ ✓ ✓
wheat Rieske Fe-S subunit (petC) Q7X9A6 ✗ — —

Details

Thylakoid light reactionsBiological Processthylakoid_light_reactions
photosynthesis, light reactionGO:0019684 photosynthetic electron transport chainGO:0009767

Connections

photosystem_II -> cytochrome_b6f Provides Input For
PSII reduces plastoquinone to plastoquinol, the substrate oxidized by b6f.
b6f reduces the mobile lumenal carrier (plastocyanin or cyt c6).
The reduced carrier re-reduces photo-oxidized P700 in PSI.
photosystem_I -> fnr_step Provides Input For
PSI-reduced ferredoxin is the electron donor for FNR.
fnr_step -> atp_synthase Precedes
Linear electron flow and water oxidation build the proton-motive force used by the ATP synthase (coupling, not a metabolite hand-off).
Part 1: light harvesting / antenna
Light-harvesting antennaMolecular Functionlight_harvesting

Annotons

Antenna chlorophyll/carotenoid light capture
antenna_chlorophyll_binding
Participant: Family: light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding (LHC) family
Family:
light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b binding (LHC) family Membrane antenna proteins (LHCII/LHCI in plants and algae; phycobilisomes substitute in most cyanobacteria).

Function

chlorophyll binding for excitation energy transferGO:0016168
Cofactors: chlorophyll a chlorophyll b carotenoid

Locations

thylakoid membraneGO:0034357

Increases absorption cross-section and funnels excitation to the reaction centers; also a site of photoprotective quenching.

Part 2: water oxidation (photosystem II)
Photosystem II (water:plastoquinone oxidoreductase)Protein Complexphotosystem_II
photosystem IIGO:0009523

Annotons

Light-driven water oxidation / oxygen evolution
psii_water_oxidation
Participant: Protein Complex: photosystem II complex
Protein Complex:
photosystem II complexGO:0009523
Active units:
D1 reaction-center subunit (PsbA)
Participant: Family: PsbA / D1
Family:
PsbA / D1
Role: binds P680 and the Mn4CaO5 cluster; high-turnover repair substrate
D2 reaction-center subunit (PsbD)
Participant: Family: PsbD / D2
Family:
PsbD / D2
Role: reaction-center partner of D1
Core antennae CP43/CP47 (PsbC/PsbB)
Participant: Family: PsbB/PsbC core antenna
Family:
PsbB/PsbC core antenna
Role: inner chlorophyll antennae feeding excitation to P680
Oxygen-evolving complex extrinsic proteins (PsbO/PsbP/PsbQ)
Participant: Family: oxygen-evolving complex extrinsic proteins
Family:
oxygen-evolving complex extrinsic proteins
Representative Members: spinach PsbO (oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 1)UniProtKB:P12359
Role: stabilize the Mn4CaO5 water-oxidation cluster on the lumenal side

Function

oxygen evolving activityGO:0010242
Substrates: water plastoquinone
Products: dioxygen plastoquinol proton (lumen)

Locations

thylakoid membraneGO:0042651

Uses light energy to oxidize water at the Mn4CaO5 cluster, reducing plastoquinone and releasing O2 and lumenal protons.

PMID:21499260
PSII structure defining the reaction center, antennae, and Mn4CaO5 cluster.
Part 3: plastoquinol oxidation and proton translocation (cytochrome b6f)
Cytochrome b6f complexProtein Complexcytochrome_b6f
cytochrome b6f complexGO:0009512

Annotons

Plastoquinol--plastocyanin reductase (Q-cycle)
b6f_plastoquinol_plastocyanin_reductase
Participant: Protein Complex: cytochrome b6f complex
Protein Complex:
cytochrome b6f complexGO:0009512
Active units:
Cytochrome f (PetA)
Participant: Family: cytochrome f (PetA)
Family:
cytochrome f (PetA)
Representative Members: Synechocystis cytochrome f (petA)UniProtKB:P26287
Role: high-potential heme; reduces plastocyanin/cyt c6
Cytochrome b6 (PetB)
Participant: Family: cytochrome b6 (PetB)
Family:
cytochrome b6 (PetB)
Role: low-potential hemes; Q-cycle electron bifurcation
Rieske iron-sulfur protein (PetC)
Participant: Family: Rieske Fe-S protein (PetC)
Family:
Rieske Fe-S protein (PetC)
Representative Members: wheat Rieske Fe-S subunit (petC)UniProtKB:Q7X9A6
Role: 2Fe-2S cluster; oxidizes plastoquinol

Function

plastoquinol--plastocyanin reductase activityGO:0009496
Substrates: plastoquinol plastocyanin (oxidized)
Products: plastoquinone plastocyanin (reduced) proton (lumen)

Locations

thylakoid membraneGO:0009535

Links PSII to PSI, oxidizing plastoquinol and reducing the mobile carrier while translocating protons via the Q-cycle; frequently rate-limiting for linear electron transport.

Part 4: inter-photosystem mobile electron carrier
Mobile carrier from b6f to PSIMolecular Functionmobile_carrier_b6f_to_psi

Soluble lumenal carrier shuttling electrons from cytochrome b6f to photosystem I; the carrier used is lineage- and metal-availability-dependent.

Variant set: Plastocyanin vs cytochrome c6 by lineage / metal availability (Exactly One)

Many cyanobacteria and algae switch between plastocyanin and cytochrome c6 depending on copper/iron availability.

Plastocyanin (copper carrier)Molecular Functionplastocyanin_variant

Annotons

Plastocyanin electron transfer
plastocyanin_electron_transfer
Participant: Family: plastocyanin
Family:
plastocyanin

Function

electron transfer activityGO:0009055
Cofactors: copper ion

Locations

thylakoid lumenGO:0009543
Cytochrome c6 (iron carrier)Molecular Functioncytochrome_c6_variant

Annotons

Cytochrome c6 electron transfer
cytc6_electron_transfer
Participant: Family: cytochrome c6
Family:
cytochrome c6

Function

electron transfer activityGO:0009055
Cofactors: heme c

Locations

thylakoid lumenGO:0031977
Part 5: P700 photo-oxidation and ferredoxin reduction (photosystem I)
Photosystem I (plastocyanin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase)Protein Complexphotosystem_I
photosystem IGO:0009522

Annotons

Light-driven ferredoxin reduction
psi_ferredoxin_reduction
Participant: Protein Complex: photosystem I complex
Protein Complex:
photosystem I complexGO:0009522
Active units:
PsaA/PsaB reaction-center heterodimer
Participant: Family: PsaA/PsaB reaction-center
Family:
PsaA/PsaB reaction-center
Role: bind P700 and early electron-transfer cofactors
PsaC terminal Fe-S clusters (FA/FB)
Participant: Family: PsaC
Family:
PsaC
Representative Members: Chlamydomonas psaCUniProtKB:Q00914
Role: terminal 4Fe-4S clusters that reduce ferredoxin

Function

light-driven plastocyanin:ferredoxin oxidoreduction Photo-oxidation of P700 drives electron transfer through Fe-S clusters to reduce ferredoxin; no single exact GO MF is asserted for the whole complex here.
Substrates: plastocyanin (reduced) or cytochrome c6 ferredoxin (oxidized)
Products: ferredoxin (reduced)

Processes

photosynthetic electron transport in photosystem IGO:0009773

Locations

thylakoid membraneGO:0009535
PMID:11418848
PSI structure defining PsaA/PsaB and terminal Fe-S clusters.
Part 6: NADPH production
Ferredoxin-NADP+ reductaseReactionfnr_step

Annotons

Ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase
fnr_activity
Participant: Any With Function: ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase activity
Required Function:
ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase activityGO:0004324

Function

ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase activityGO:0004324
Substrates: ferredoxin (reduced) NADP+
Products: ferredoxin (oxidized) NADPH
Part 7: ATP synthesis from the proton-motive force
Thylakoid (chloroplast/cyanobacterial) ATP synthaseProtein Complexatp_synthase
proton-transporting ATP synthase complexGO:0045259

Annotons

Proton-motive-force-driven ATP synthesis
photophosphorylation
Participant: Protein Complex: thylakoid ATP synthase (CF1FO)
Protein Complex:
thylakoid ATP synthase (CF1FO)GO:0045259

Function

proton-transporting ATP synthase activity, rotational mechanismGO:0046933
Substrates: ADP phosphate proton (lumen)
Products: ATP

Locations

thylakoid membraneGO:0009535