MELBOURNE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have uncovered the microscopic machinery that helps giant kelp turn sunlight into energy, a discovery that could inform new climate solutions.
The study, published in Nature Communications, mapped the structure of a key antenna-like structure used in kelp photosynthesis, revealing how its unique molecular architecture enables efficient light capture and carbon dioxide absorption, said a statement of Australia's Monash University released Wednesday.
"By visualizing the structure of giant kelp's photosynthetic supercomplex, we can finally see how these organisms have adapted the architecture of their antenna to thrive in coastal regions," said lead researcher Maria Maldonado, lab head in the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, who conducted the research in the United States.
Kelp ecosystems "act like underwater forests that absorb as much carbon dioxide as the Amazon," the statement said, though their photosynthesis machinery has remained largely unknown.
"These molecular insights are crucial as we look for new ways to enhance carbon capture, to regenerate ocean ecosystems and to develop sustainable food sources in a warming world," Maldonado said.
The methods developed could advance research into kelp biology, with potential applications in environmental solutions that harness the natural efficiency of marine photosynthesis, she added.
