Many coastal plant species thrive across a range of environmental conditions, often displaying dramatic phenotypic variation in response to environmental variation. We characterized the response of the critical foundation species Rhizophora mangle L. to full factorial combinations of salt and nitrogen (N). We used seedlings collected from five populations and measured traits related to salt tolerance and N amendment. The response to increasing salt included significant plasticity in succulence, leaf mass area (LMA), and root to shoot ratio (R:S). Seedlings also showed overall reduced maximum photosynthetic rate in response to N amendment, but this response depended on the level of salt and varied by site of origin of the seedlings. Seedlings from different sites also differed in height growth, LMA, R:S, and total dry biomass. Generally, survival was lower in high salt and high N, but the impact varied among sites. Overall, this study revealed significant trait plasticity in response to salt and N level, and differentiation of responses of seedlings among different sites. Seedling survival depended on maternal family for 3 of 5 sites showing variation within and among sites. Variation in trait plasticity and seedling survival in R. mangle may be important for future adaptation to a complex mosaic of environmental conditions.

Biocatalysis is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative to more traditional chemical transformations for use in pharmaceutical and industrial applications. This interest is primarily a consequence of the high regio-, stereo- and enantioselectivity that is associated with enzyme catalysed reactions. However, the proliferation of such techniques has been limited due to the dependence of enzyme activity upon the presence of redox cofactors, which are typically expensive and must be used in conjunction with efficient regeneration systems. Whilst numerous methods have been described, of particular potential are those that employ exogenous photosensitisers as a means of generating reducing equivalents to promote catalytic turnover. In this study the potential of transition metal complexes as photosensitisers towards the development of light-driven biocatalytic systems is evaluated. Use of such compounds gives great scope towards fine-tuning the spectral and redox properties of the sensitisers with the aim of optimising catalytic efficiency. Detailed herein is an extensive study towards the synthesis and characterisation of a range of ruthenium(II) and iridium(III) coordination compounds. Using NMR, UV-vis, and electrochemical techniques, all complexes were fully characterised and the origins of the photophysical properties further investigated using time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations. A series of ruthenium compounds were synthesised containing the bis(2,2′-bipyrazyl)ruthenium(II) moiety, investigating the impact of changes made to the functionality of the ancillary ligand upon the overall properties of the complex. New synthetic procedures have been developed towards the preparation of both 2,2′-bipyrazine and the related complexes, exhibiting significant benefits over previously established methods. Through manipulating the electron density of the ancillary ligand it is shown that the redox properties may be effectively tuned upon inducing changes in the energy of the metal-based HOMO. The utilisation of cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes in aqueous systems has been limited due to a poor water solubility that is typically associated with these compounds. Herein it is demonstrated that this issue may be effectively circumvented on inclusion of the positively charged pyridinium moiety. Upon incorporation of this functional group into either the cyclometalating or ancillary ligands, two distinct series of compounds were successfully prepared. Complexes of the substituted quaterpyridinium ligands possess complicated UV-vis spectra that exhibit low intensity absorbance up to 650 nm. A number of monoquaternised bipyridinium compounds were also utilised as pyridine derived N-heterocyclic carbene cyclometalating ligands, to afford a range of complexes with unique redox properties. The prepared photosensitisers were subsequently used to induce catalytic turnover in light-driven biocatalytic systems utilising the flavin dependent oxidoreductase enzymes, pentaerythritol tetranitrate reductase (PETNR) and the thermophilic old yellow enzyme (TOYE). Through an extensive investigation, optimal reaction conditions have been identified and a mechanism of electron transfer proposed. These systems were successfully implemented in the reduction of a broad range of substrates under both aqueous and biphasic conditions, delivering yields and enantiomeric excesses comparable to those obtained utilising an enzyme coupled regeneration system. This study clearly demonstrates that transition metal complexes are excellent candidates in developing practical light-driven biocatalytic systems. It is expected that, with further investigation, this approach can be readily expanded to incorporate a variety of applications and provide an effective alternative to the use of costly redox cofactors and a reliance upon complex regeneration techniques.

Worldwide, coral cover has declined at rates that have often exceeded 5% per year since the 1980’s. Populations of scleractinians (stony corals) in the Florida Keys reef tract have declined as well, with some communities declining at rates > 3% per year. Decreased water quality (e.g., steady increases in the ocean water temperatures and increased pollution, nutrients, or water turbidity due to coastal runoff) are commonly attributed to this decline. But actual linkages between variability and trends in these environmental parameters, and in stony coral diversity and ecosystem functions such as net community production, have not yet been well characterized. With this research, I examined the influence of water quality (water temperature, nutrients and turbidity) on stony coral diversity and net community productivity in shallow-water reef ecosystems of the Florida Keys between 1996 and 2010. Differences in stony coral diversity in Florida Keys patch reefs with respect to sea surface temperature (SST) variability are evaluated in Chapter Two. Habitat-specific differences in stony coral diversity with respect to changes in a suite of environmental parameters (water turbidity, nutrients, water temperature and depth) are addressed in Chapter Three. Differences in daytime net community production and light-adapted stony coral photosynthetic efficiencies among three reef sites with different turbidity levels and seasons (May and October) are presented in Chapter Four. Environmental parameters examined to characterize the differences in stony coral diversity across the Florida Reef Tract included satellite-derived sea surface temperature [SST] and Degree Heating Weeks [DHWs], field observations of bio-optical properties of the water, and nutrient concentrations. These parameters were compared with live coral cover and species richness, net community production, and coral photo-physiological observations. In Chapter Two, I found that stony coral cover and diversity was higher in patch reefs of the Florida Keys relative to offshore and deeper reefs. Generally, patch reefs were characterized by intermediate to high SST variability (≥7.0°C2). Intermediate SST variance (7.0–10.9°C2) was correlated with higher diversity indices for patch reefs of the Upper (Shannon Diversity: 1.2–1.5) and Middle Keys (Species Richness: 13–19), suggesting that stony coral species in these habitats are either adapted to intermediate temperature ranges or thermal acclimation has taken place for individual colonies. Additionally, I found that found that years for which cold and warm-water extremes coincided (i.e., highest SST variance), such as 1997-98 and 2009-2010, led to significant reductions in both H’ and SR. Coral bleaching and mortality were associated with exposure to cold- and warm-water temperature extremes and the combination of both extremes were associated with reductions in stony coral diversity. The highest species richness and abundance were found in patch reefs of the Middle Keys, despite exposure to the warmest water-temperature anomaly events (as indicated by DHWs exceeding the coral bleaching threshold of 4) observed during the summers of 1998 and 2010. In Chapter Three, I found that the environmental parameters that best explained the differences in stony coral diversity (species composition and abundance) on patch reefs of the Florida Keys were water turbidity, nutrients, surface water temperature, % surface oxygen saturation and chlorophyll a concentrations averaged over a period of 24 months, along with depth (F = 4.4, R2 = 0.66, R2adj. = 0.40, p < 0.05). Surface water turbidity and depth were the most relevant environmental parameters driving the differences in stony coral diversity (R2 = 0.17, p < 0.05, R2 = 0.10, p < 0.05, respectively). The influence of these environmental parameters decreased towards offshore shallow and deep reefs. In the Florida Keys, stony coral diversity was the highest at patch reefs of the Middle and Lower Keys where exposed to higher water turbidity and nutrients than those in the Upper Keys located in clearer waters. This suggests that, at long-term scales, corals in patch reef environments exposed to higher water turbidity and water temperature variabilities (as reported in Chapter Two) might be better able to withstand thermal and light-induced stress. Moreover, a short-term study (described in Chapter Four) indicated that the net community production (NEP) was similar among sites with different water turbidity levels (i.e., Cheeca Rocks and Crocker Reef; Upper Keys and Sugarloaf Key; Lower Keys) and seasons (May or October). However, the light-adapted photosynthetic efficiencies (F/Fm’) varied spatiotemporally. The highest F/Fm’ values (0.57–0.69) were found at the nearshore patch reef of Sugarloaf Key, Lower Keys, in October 2012. At this patch reef, high light attenuation (Kd (488) = 0.12 m-1) was associated with absorption by colored dissolved organic matter and exacerbated by particulates following thunderstorms. The lowest F/Fm’ values ( This study represents a baseline against which future observations on coral reef biodiversity and net community production in the Florida Keys reef tract may be evaluated.

Lake Hayq is a closed, freshwater basin on the eastern margin of the north-central highlands, Ethiopia. Using a sediment core extracted from the northern basin, this thesis aims to provide a high-resolution, detailed palaeolimnological reconstruction of changes to the environment and climate in the region since the late Pleistocene. A multi-proxy approach was applied, utilising diatoms, photosynthetic pigments and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. Lithological and chronological analyses were also performed, as well as the development of a transfer function to model diatom-inferred conductivity, and other quantitative analyses. Between ~ 15.6 15.1 cal kyr BP, Lake Hayq experienced a lowstand, synchronous with the timing of Heinrich Event 1 and an intense drought across East Africa. At ~ 15.1 cal kyr BP a lake began to develop at the core site in response to wetter, more humid conditions, most likely caused by the reactivation of the African-Indian monsoonal circulation. This was abruptly ended however at ~ 14.7 cal kyr BP, as the climate shifted back towards aridity and Lake Hayq shallowed, in contrast to the majority of other East African lakes, which continued to refill. This most likely reflects changes to the Indian Ocean monsoon system caused by variability in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at this time, in conjunction with site-specific mechanisms affecting the delivery of precipitation to Lake Hayq. At ~ 12.3 cal kyr BP the African Humid Period resumed over Lake Hayq and the lake refilled, reaching maximum water depth between ~ 12.0 10.0 cal kyr BP. The lake was dominated by planktonic diatom taxa and photosynthetic pigments indicate it was meromictic. Lake level gradually declined throughout the Holocene, culminating in the termination of the African Humid Period. A high-resolution study of the period tentatively suggests that climate flickering , in the form of oscillations between dominant diatom taxa, occurred in the build up to the major climatic shift. The termination spanned ~ 600 cal years between ~ 5.2 4.6 cal kyr BP. A lowstand occurred between ~ 3.9 2.2 cal kyr BP, during which the lake became occasionally subsaline. In the late Holocene, ~ 2.2 1.3 cal kyr BP, Lake Hayq became deep and fresh again, although there is evidence of lake level variability. The palaeo-record from Lake Hayq indicates that it broadly experienced the same high-latitude, glacial-interglacial dynamics and sub-millennial shifts in climate found in other palaeolimnological records from across East Africa. The precise timing and expression of these climatic events is not always synchronous between Lake Hayq and other East African waterbodies however, most likely caused by local, site-specific positive feedback mechanisms and variability in lake morphometry. This highlights the heterogeneous pattern of climate across the region and the significance of regional drivers. This palaeo-record, spanning the late Quaternary, will help bridge gaps in current knowledge and understanding of the underrepresented, climatically sensitive and vulnerable north Ethiopian highlands. This is vital for future climate change modelling and regional downscaling, and may also inform ethnographic-archaeological research in a region considered to be the cradle of humankind.

The thesis deals with the task of refining the constructional and operational parameters of a tubular photobioreactor in order to maximise the growth rate of algae contained in the cultivation suspension. It builds on a basic growth model of the Porhydrium sp. alga, and focuses on the optimization of external irradiance, which is one of the key determinants of algae growth. Two distinct methodological approaches are applied: analytic approach, which employs Markov Chains, and simulation approach, which relies on agent-based simulations. In the analytic part, we introduce the construction of state transition matrix for a Markov Chain that accounts for varying irradiance inside the photobioreactor (in contrast to constant-irradiance methods that have been published so far). In the simulation part, we devised an agent-based model of algae population that enables us to analyze the system behaviour while interactively changing the model parameters. In the context of the results from both the analytic and simulation part, we conclude by suggesting the optimal level of external irradiance.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da radiação UV-B em indivíduos de linhagens de cultivados em laboratório. Foram utilizadas linhagens de gametófitos femininos de coloração vermelha (VMsubES/sub e VMSUBCE/SUB), verde (VD subCE/sub) e marrom-esverdeada (ME subCE/sub), derivados de populações dos Estados do Espírito Santo e Ceará. Dois experimentos distintos foram delineados: exposição à radiação UV-B por 5 horas (curto prazo - 2,01 W.msup-2/sup) e exposição por 3 horas diárias, durante 28 dias (longo prazo - 0,08 W.m-2). Ambos incluíram uma condição controle (sem radiação UV-B). As condições gerais de cultivo foram: água do mar enriquecida com von Stosch à 12,5% sem nitrato; nitrato (0,250mM); 25&#177;1supo/supC; 14L:10E; 70±10µmol.fótons.msup-2/sup.ssup-1/sup; sem aeração. No experimento de curta duração, foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: fotossíntese, composição pigmentar e ultra-estrutura. No experimento de longa duração, foram avaliados: crescimento, composição pigmentar e ultra-estrutura. Curvatura acentuada dos ápices após a exposição prolongada à UV-B e mudanças na coloração foram observadas principalmente em indivíduos da linhagem VMsubES/sub, cujos ápices adquiriram aspecto espiralado, quando cultivados em UV-B. Esses mesmos indivíduos apresentaram menores taxas de crescimento (TCs), quando comparados à linhagem selvagem do Estado do Ceará (VMSUBCE/SUB), sugerindo uma maior sensibilidade à radiação UV-B. Após exposição de 5 horas à UV-B, todas as linhagens apresentaram reduções no rendimento quântico efetivo (&nabla;F/Fm), com exceção de VMSUBCE/SUB, que não apresentou variações nos valores de &nabla;F/Fm no decorrer do experimento. As linhagens VMsubES/sub, VDSUBCE/SUBe MESUBCE/SUB apresentaram redução nesse parâmetro logo após a primeira hora de exposição à UV-B. Entretanto, esses valores mantiveram-se constantes para a linhagem MESUBCE/SUB ao longo do período experimental. Para a linhagem VDCE, verificou-se uma recuperação de F/Fm nos dois dias subseqüentes, o que sugere a ação de uma fotoinibição dinâmica, ao contrário das linhagens VMsubES/sub e MEsubCE/sub, cuja demora na recuperação caracteriza uma fotoinibição crônica. A linhagem VDSUBCE/SUB apresentou também maiores valores para a saturação luminosa (IK) após a exposição à UV-B, quando comparada às demais linhagens provenientes da população do Estado do Ceará (VMSUBCE/SUB e MEsubCE/sub). Na ausência de UV-B, as linhagens VMSUBCE/SUB e VMES apresentaram maiores valores para a eficiência fotossintetizante (&#945;ETR), quando comparadas às variantes cromáticas VDSUBCE/SUB e MEsubCE/sub. Entretanto, após a exposição à UV-B, a linhagem VMSUBCE/SUB apresentou maiores valores de ETR, quando comparada à linhagem VMsubES/sub, porém semelhantes aos observados nas linhagens VDSUBCE/SUB e MEsubCE/sub. Em curto prazo, não foram verificadas alterações nas concentrações de ficoeritrina (FE), ficocianina (FC) e aloficocianina nas diferentes linhagens, quando submetidas à radiação UV-B. Entretanto, um aumento na razão FE/FC foi observado para a linhagem VDsubCE/sub, sugerindo um aumento na proporção de FE, quando comparada à FC. Porém, reduções nas concentrações de ficoeritrina (FE), ficocianina e aloficocianina (AFC) foram observadas para indivíduos da linhagem VMSUBCE/SUB, após a exposição prolongada à UV-B, sugerindo uma possível utilização dessas substâncias no metabolismo celular, uma vez que as ficobiliproteínas, principalmente a FE, atuam como reserva de nitrogênio. Entretanto, as demais linhagens cultivadas em UV-B, apresentaram valores semelhantes de ficobiliproteínas aos verificados no controle. Observou-se um aumento na proporção FE/AFC na linhagem MEsubCE/sub, quando exposta à UV-B por 28 dias, sugerindo um aumento na porcentagem de FE em relação à AFC. Esse provável aumento nas concentrações de FE, em decorrência de sua síntese e reposição, favoreceria a aclimatação dos ficobilissomos a mudanças na irradiância. Concentrações semelhantes de clorofila a e carotenóides foram verificadas para as diferentes linhagens após a exposição à UV-B, independente do tempo de exposição, indicando a ausência de danos ao aparato fotossintetizante e a disponibilidade de pigmentos para o transporte de elétrons. Alterações ultraestruturais ocorreram em todas as linhagens cultivadas em UV-B em ambas condições experimentais. Os efeitos ultraestruturais foram observados principalmente nos cloroplastos, que apresentaram afastamento de tilacóides adjacentes, além da formação de vacúolos internos. Algumas células de indivíduos das linhagens VMSUBCE/SUB (longo prazo) e VDSUBCE/SUB (curto prazo) encontravam-se em avançado processo degenerativo, impossibilitando a visualização de membranas organelares. Observou-se também um maior número de grãos de amido nas linhagens VMsubES/sub e VDSUBCE/SUB cultivadas por 28 dias em UV-B, quando comparadas aos controles. Esse acúmulo de reserva poderia ser interpretado como uma incapacidade em metabolizar essas substâncias para atividades de síntese e reparo, necessárias para a manutenção do indivíduo quando em condições adversas, no caso a exposição à UV-B. Embora a linhagem VMsubES/subVMSUBCE/SUB tenha apresentado uma redução nas ficobiliproteínas, ela apresentou maiores TCs e menores alterações morfológicas. A linhagem MECE, embora tenha sofrido uma redução nas TCs, quando cultivada em UV-B, como as linhagens VDSUBCE/SUB e VMES, estas TCs mantiveram-se constantes ao longo do experimento, enquanto que nas demais linhagens elas diminuíram. A análise geral dos parâmetros avaliados sugere que as linhagens MESUBCE/SUB e VMCEVMSUBCE/SUB estariam aptas a lidar com um possível aumento nos níveis de UV-B incidente. Entretanto, diferenças na composição pigmentar observadas para a linhagem VDSUBCE/SUBsugerem uma menor sensibilidade desta a curto prazo, quando submetida a essa radiação. / não consta

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(理学) / 乙第13321号 / 論理博第1568号 / 新制||理||1663(附属図書館) / 名古屋大学大学院生命農学研究科 / (主査)教授 石田 厚, 教授 田村 実, 教授 永益 英敏 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Global energy demands have escalated over the past few decades, creating a necessity for alternative energy sources. Solar technologies inspired by the primary solar energy storing process known on earth, photosynthesis, have subsequently gained popularity. The natural photosynthetic apparatus comprises a network of membrane-bound pigment-protein complexes, with the main plant light-harvesting complex (LHCII) consisting of chlorophyll (Chl) and carotenoid (Car) pigments. Electronic excitation energy transfer (ET) of the harvested energy takes place amongst these pigments on ultrafast timescales. This energy is funnelled towards a photosynthetic reaction centre where charge separation is achieved, creating a Biobattery, which powers the subsequent manufacture of energy-rich chemical compounds for photosynthetic activity. Transient absorption pump-probe spectroscopy has proven to be a useful technique for monitoring the evolution of the excited state dynamics, such as electronic transitions and excitation ET amongst Car and Chl pigments of LHCII trimers isolated from spinach leaves. This method was utilized to probe samples excited under four different conditions: at pump excitation wavelengths (𝜆𝑒𝑥) of 489 nm (preferentially exciting Cars Lutein1 and Neoxanthin) and 506 nm (targeting Cars Lutein2 and Violaxanthin), each with an intensity of either 800 nJ/pulse (relatively high) or 500 nJ/pulse (comparatively low). A global analysis was applied to each dataset using the robust, open-source Glotaran software, from which three kinetic decay lifetimes for the various processes were extracted. General spectral observations encompassed a negative pump ground state bleach (GSB) at each 𝜆𝑒𝑥; negative Chl b and Chl a GSBs, superimposed with negative stimulated emission (SE) signals; and a positive excited state absorption (ESA) band. The first lifetime of a few picoseconds corresponded mainly to Car-S2 depopulation, resulting either from energy relaxation towards Car-S1, or ET to Chls. Small, but distinct Chl b signals of less than 3 mOD were also detected on this timescale. The second lifetime, which is between 10 and 12 ps, was characteristic to the Lutein Car-S1 lifetime, mainly depicting Car-S1 ET to Chl a. The third lifetime, which extended from ~200 ps to the nanosecond timescale, was attributed to Chl a fluorescence. The 𝜆𝑒𝑥 of 489 nm directly excites the Chl Soret region, whilst excitation at 506 nm shows a pump intensity-dependence. Laser pulse photon density values were ~1014 photons·cm-2·pulse-1 for these datasets. Singlet-singlet annihilation calculations performed on the samples excited at 506 nm provided low annihilation probabilities of 9.0% and 11.5% for a low and high pump intensity, respectively, limiting the possibility of sample photobleaching. Optimization and redevelopment of the experimental setup significantly improved both the data quality and various recorded parameters, concluding that pump-probe spectroscopy was successful on the prepared LHCII trimers. Results acquired and calculations performed correlated with literature, where minimal changes were noticed in the timescales and ET pathways. The robustness of plant systems was confirmed through both excitation-wavelength and intensity dependence. This work paves the way for advanced studies on the role Cars play in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), a self-protection mechanism of plants against over-illumination; and for the tailoring of artificial light-harvesting antennas based on research conducted on their natural counterparts. / Globale energievereistes het oor die afgelope paar dekades toegeneem, wat die ontwikkeling van alternatiewe energiebronne noodsaaklik maak. Sontegnologieë, geïnspireer deur die primêre sonenergiebergingsproses op aarde, fotosintese, het daarom gewild geword. Die natuurlike fotosintetiese apparaat bestaan uit 'n netwerk van membraangebonde pigment-proteïenkomplekse, met die hoof ligversamelingskompleks in plante (LHCII) wat bestaan uit chlorofil- (Chl) en karotenoïed- (Car) pigmente. Die energie wat deur die pigmente geabsorbeer word, word tussen elektroniese opgewekte toestande op verskillende pigmente op ultravinnige tydskale oorgedra. Hierdie energie word na ʼn fotosintetiese reaksiesentrum gekanaliseer, waar 'n ladingskeiding geïnduseer word en 'n Biobattery sodoende geskep word. Die energie wat in dié battery gestoor is, word gebruik om energieryke chemiese verbindings te vervaardig — wat as brandstof vir die plant dien om sy lewensfunksies te verrig. Tydopgeloste-absorpsie-pomp-tasting-spektroskopie is 'n nuttige tegniek om die dinamika tussen opgewekte toestande te volg. ‘n Voorbeeld van sulke dinamika is die elektroniese opwekking en energie-oordrag tussen die Car- en Chl-pigmente van geïsoleerde LHCII-trimere in spinasieblare. Hierdie metode is gebruik om monsters onder vier verskillende toestande te ondersoek by pompgolflengtes (𝜆𝑒𝑥) van 489 nm (waar hoofsaaklik die Cars Luteïne1 en Neoksantine opgewek word) en 506 nm (vir Cars Luteïne2 en Violaksantine), en pompenergieë van ‘n relatief hoë 800 nJ/puls, of 500 nJ/puls vir elke golflengte. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / National Research Foundation (NRF) / Physics / MSc / Unrestricted

No description available.

This thesis evaluated the role of Serine/Arginine-rich proteins, also known as SR proteins, in addition to LAMMER kinases in the cold acclimation response using Brassica napus and Arabidopsis thaliana. Transcription profile analyses of SR and LAMMER kinase genes in Brassica napus and BnCBF overexpressor lines showed that exposure to low temperatures led to increased transcript levels for nine SR genes and two kinases. BnCBF overexpression was found to exacerbate this response. This was associated with increases in SR protein abundance and phosphorylation status, suggesting that SR proteins play an essential role in cold acclimation. These findings prompted further studies to assess the role of SR proteins and kinases in the cold acclimation induced adjustment of photosynthesis, the acquisition of freezing tolerance and the transcriptional profile of CBF, SPS and COR genes, which play an important role in the transcriptional cascade allowing plants to undergo cold acclimation. Using Arabidopsis loss-of-function mutants of SR proteins and AME3 LAMMER kinase, it was shown that At-RSZ22 and At-SR45 are indispensable in the regulation of photosynthesis under non-acclimated and cold acclimation conditions. At-RSZ22a, At-SCL30 and At-RS41 were then proposed to play a crucial role in the cold acclimation induced adjustment of photosynthetic performance. Moreover, the deletion of At-AME3 kinase not only jeopardized the cold acclimation induced adjustment of photosynthetic performance, but also the acquisition of freezing tolerance. This was associated with attenuation of the transcription profile of key cold responsive genes and protein abundance of COR15 A/B and dehydrins. These findings prompted further physiological characterization of ame3 mutants, and the elucidation of Serine/Arginine-rich proteins capable of interacting with this LAMMER kinase of interest. Under cold stress and acclimation conditions, the deletion of At-AME3 LAMMER kinase impeded Photosystem I physiology and state-1 state-2 transitions. These findings were associated with decreases in Photosystem II and Photosystem I protein abundance. Yeast 2-hybrid assays showed that six SR proteins are capable of physically interacting with AME3. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that At-RSZ22 and At-SR45 are essential in the photosynthetic performance of Arabidopsis, that At-RSZ22a, At-SCL30 and At-RS41 play an essential role in the cold acclimation induced recovery of photosynthetic performance, and that At-AME3 plays an essential role in the cold acclimation response.