Light-harvesting protein Lhcx3 is essential for high light acclimation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum

The light-harvesting protein complexes (Lhc) play key roles in the processes of light absorption and protection in diatoms. However, different Lhc protein carries out distinct function in photosynthesis. For now, roles of many Lhc proteins in light acclimation are largely unknown. Here, function of Lhcx3 in marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum was examined by using reverse genetic technologies. The overexpression of Lhcx3 led to increased diadinoxanthin + diatoxanthin content and elevated non-photochemical fluorescence quenching (NPQ) while knockdown of Lhcx3 reduced NPQ level. In addition, the expression of Lhcx3 could be induced by blue light but not by red light. After addition of the photosynthetic inhibitor, upregulation of Lhcx3 transcript in high light could be inhibited by NH(4)Cl, but not by DCMU (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-l,l-dim ethylurea). In contrast, DCMU addition increased expression of Lhcx3 in high light. In combination with changes of NPQ after addition of inhibitor, we concluded that the Lhcx3 played key roles in high light acclimation of diatoms. This finding will provide new clues for genetic improvement of P. tricornutum with an aim to cultivate new strains with high growth rate. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13568-018-0703-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.