Photobiology of Vision & Photosynthesis

该项目的重点是自然界中两种基本的量子生物学现象，它们通过涉及光与生命系统相互作用的类似物理机制相关联。第一个要研究的现象是动物的磁感受，即某些动物使用磁罗盘进行导航的过程。 一种特殊的蛋白质，隐色素，被认为是负责磁感觉。该项目将确定隐花色素如何在存在热运动的情况下作为磁传感器发挥作用。第二个要研究的现象是光合光捕获，这是太阳光能量进入活细胞生命过程的主要过程。同样，热无序对光捕获的影响将与量子相干性所起的作用一起沿着进行研究。将进行广泛的随机量子动力学计算，以考虑在光捕获过程中现实的系统-环境相互作用。一个完整的光合装置的组成和组织，色素细胞，所谓的紫色细菌，将被确定沿着其捕光功能的动力学，从而连接光合过程跨越尺度从单个色素到整个细胞。首先，地球上接收的太阳能为120，000 TW，远远超过目前全球能源消耗率15 TW。因此，通过生物、人工和生物混合系统收获的太阳能构成了人类当前和可预见的未来能源需求的潜在可再生能源。该项目将指导仿生光收集材料的工作，以实现更具成本效益的太阳能技术。其次，鸟类和其他野生动物袭击飞机造成的损失，每年对美国民用和军用航空造成的损失超过6亿美元;自1988年以来，全球已有219人因野生动物袭击而丧生。确定动物导航的机制可以减少财产损失以及对野生动物的伤害。此外，该项目为实验生物学家，理论物理学家，理论化学家和计算机科学家之间的跨学科合作提供了基础，为研究人员提供了极好的培训机会。最后，计划的活动将补充现有的强大的推广计划，将科学带给广大公众。先进的可视化和分析工具将被添加到PI开发的免费提供的领先分子可视化和分析工具中，并将提供给现有的167，000名用户。 该项目由分子和细胞生物科学部的生物分子动力学，结构和功能集群以及物理学部的生命系统计划物理学共同支持。

This project focuses on two fundamental quantum biological phenomena in nature that are related by similar physical mechanisms involving interaction of light with living systems. The first phenomenon to be examined is animal magnetoreception, the process by which certain animals employ a magnetic compass for navigation. A specific protein, cryptochrome, is proposed to be responsible for the magnetic sense. This project will determine how cryptochrome can function as a magnetic sensor in the presence of thermal motion. The second phenomenon to be studied is photosynthetic light harvesting, the primary process by which the energy of sunlight is funneled into the life processes of living cells. Again the effect of thermal disorder on light harvesting will be investigated along with the role that quantum coherence plays. Extensive stochastic quantum dynamics calculations will be carried out to account for realistic system-environment interactions during light harvesting. The composition and organization of a complete photosynthetic apparatus, the chromatophore, of so-called purple bacteria, will be determined along with the dynamics of its light-harvesting function, thereby connecting the photosynthetic process across scales from individual pigments to entire cells.The project will have two primary beneficial impacts. First, solar energy, received on Earth at a rate of 120,000 TW, far exceeds the current worldwide energy consumption rate of 15 TW. Therefore, solar energy, harvested by biological, artificial, and bio-hybrid systems, constitutes a potential renewable source for mankind's current and foreseeable future energy needs. The project will guide efforts into biomimetic light harvesting materials for more cost-effective solar technology. Second, damage by birds and other wildlife striking aircraft, annually amounts to well over $600 million for US civil and military aviation; over 219 people have been killed worldwide as a result of wildlife strikes since 1988. Determining the mechanisms of animal navigation may reduce the property damage as well as harm to wildlife. Additionally, this project offers a basis for interdisciplinary cooperation between experimental biologists, theoretical physicists, theoretical chemists, and computer scientists, providing an excellent training opportunity for researchers. Lastly, planned activities will complement an existing strong outreach program for bringing science to the public at large. Advanced visualization and analysis tools will be added to the freely available leading molecular visualization and analysis tools developed by the PI and will be made available to an existing base of 167,000 users. This project is jointly supported by the Biomolecular Dynamics, Structure and Function Cluster in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences and the Physics of Living Systems Program in the Physics Division.