Algae process fluctuating sunlight using internal 'circuits' that operate like radio bandwidths.
April 1, 2026
Original Paper
Dynamic environments require photosynthetic electron flows with distinct bandwidths
bioRxiv · 2025.05.16.654609
The Takeaway
Rather than just absorbing light, photosynthetic cells have evolved different electron flows specialized for different 'frequencies' of light flicker. This allows them to tune out chaotic environmental noise and maintain a steady energy supply in a way that mirrors signal processing technology.
From the abstract
All living cells depend on the dynamic balance between their energy supply and demand to survive and thrive in dynamic environments. In extreme cases, like for photosynthetic organisms, their energy source, light, can fluctuate dramatically in intensity over timescales of seconds to hours. While various photosynthetic electron flows (EF) are crucial for maintaining bioenergetic homeostasis, how EFs are modulated to respond to dynamic energy intake remains unclear. Here, we show in the model gree