Prediction of respective contribution of linear electron flow and PGR5-dependent cyclic electron flow to non-photochemical quenching induction

•The CEF has important roles for controlling photosynthesis.•Estimation of the CEF ratio to total electron flow by computer simulation.•High CEF ratio was estimated by comparing qE induction of WT and pgr5 mutant.•The simulation analysis suggests a new role of the CEF in photosynthesis.

In chloroplasts, regulated formation of the proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane (ΔpH) is important for controlling non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), which is crucial for plants to perform photosynthesis under fluctuating light conditions. The ΔpH is generated by two electron flows: the linear electron flow (LEF) and the cyclic electron flow (CEF). The Arabidopsis CEF mutant, pgr5, showed significantly lower NPQ values than those observed in WT, indicating that ΔpH, generated by the PGR5-dependent CEF, has a crucial role in controlling NPQ. However, the respective significance of LEF and CEF for ΔpH formation is largely unknown. Here we applied computer simulation to reproduce NPQ induction kinetics and estimate the respective contribution of LEF and PGR5-dependent CEF to the dynamics of ΔpH formation. The results indicate that the contribution of CEF to total ΔpH formation for induction of NPQ varies from 60–80%. The simulation also suggested a role of the PGR5-dependent CEF in accelerating electron transfer in the cytochrome b6f complex.