Function of terahertz spectra in monitoring the decomposing process of biological macromolecules and in investigating the causes of photoinhibition  

作　　者：Yuangang Qu Shuai Zhang Yuji Lian Tingyun Kuang 

机构地区：[1]College of Life Sciences, Linyi University [2]Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

出　　处：《Science China(Life Sciences)》2017年第3期307-312,共6页中国科学（生命科学英文版）

基　　金：supported by the Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation, China (ZR2012CM020);the National Training Programs of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for Undergraduates (201410452012)

摘　　要：Chlorophyll α and β-carotene play an important role in harvesting light energy, which is used to drive photosynthesis in plants. In this study, terahertz(THz) and visible range spectra of chlorophyll α and β-carotene and their changes under light treatment were investigated. The results show that the all THz transmission and absorption spectra of chlorophyll α and β-carotene changed upon light treatment, with the maximum changes at 15 min of illumination indicating the greatest changes of the collective vibrational mode of chlorophyll α and β-carotene. The absorption spectra of chlorophyll α in the visible light region decreased upon light treatment, signifying the degradation of chlorophyll a molecules. It can be inferred from these results that the THz spectra are very sensitive in monitoring the changes of the collective vibrational mode, despite the absence of changes in molecular configuration. The THz spectra can therefore be used to monitor the decomposing process of biological macromolecules; however, visible absorption spectra can only be used to monitor the breakdown extent of biological macromolecules.Chlorophyll α and β-carotene play an important role in harvesting light energy, which is used to drive photosynthesis in plants. In this study, terahertz（THz） and visible range spectra of chlorophyll α and β-carotene and their changes under light treatment were investigated. The results show that the all THz transmission and absorption spectra of chlorophyll α and β-carotene changed upon light treatment, with the maximum changes at 15 min of illumination indicating the greatest changes of the collective vibrational mode of chlorophyll α and β-carotene. The absorption spectra of chlorophyll α in the visible light region decreased upon light treatment, signifying the degradation of chlorophyll a molecules. It can be inferred from these results that the THz spectra are very sensitive in monitoring the changes of the collective vibrational mode, despite the absence of changes in molecular configuration. The THz spectra can therefore be used to monitor the decomposing process of biological macromolecules; however, visible absorption spectra can only be used to monitor the breakdown extent of biological macromolecules.

关 键 词：chlorophyll α β-carotene light terahertz spectra 

分 类 号：Q71[生物学—分子生物学]