Presidential Young Investigator Award

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In recent years plant scientists have been looking at mechanisms by which atmospheric CO2 is taken up and assimilated within the plants. Dr. Moroney has made an important contribution to this area by his finding that CO2 is actively transported across the plasma membrane of the green algae, Chlamydomonas, when it is adapted to low CO2. Moreover, he has identified polypeptides which are induced under these conditions. He now plans to use mutant strains to pursue these studies to determine the localization and function of these systems, and hopefully identify the genes which are activated under these conditions. Dr. Moroney has made important contributions to plant biosciences including bioenergetics in chloroplast thylakoids, and ATP biosynthesis in chloroplasts. His biochemical and molecular investigations of the C accumulating mechanisms will be important in understanding how organisms can adapt under different environmental conditions.