Structure Determination of Photosynthetic Organelles

智力优势：该项目利用直线加速器相干激光源（LCLS）的X射线自由电子激光（XFEL）的最新发展，从结构上表征完整的光合细胞器，叶绿体和羧基体。研究工作体现了高风险，高回报的研究，因为在LCLS进行的每一个实验都是在成像生物学的前沿，而成像生物学仍在发展中。叶绿体和羧基体尚未进行这些方法。这两种类型的复合物都为XFEL衍射提供了前所未有的测试案例，因为它们都可以被视为单粒子实验，但具有晶体成分。这种尺寸和复杂性的颗粒尚未被表征。这是一个高风险的项目，因为很难预测这些“攻击和破坏”实验产生的数据的特征。将制定处理和分析这些数据的方法。该项目的结果将为功能性大分子细胞器的可视化奠定基础。更广泛的影响：该项目的更广泛的影响与在一个大型（9组）国际合作中培训年轻科学家有关，可以说是数学，物理学和生物学最令人兴奋的交叉点。开发的开创性方法将有助于推动研究人员获得LCLS束时间的社区。该项目由生物分子动力学结构和功能集群以及网络和调节集群共同资助。

Intellectual Merit:This project takes advantage of the latest development in X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) at the Linac Coherent Lisht Source (LCLS) to structurally characterize intact photosynthetic organelles, chlorosomes and carboxysomes. The research undertaking embodies high-risk, high reward research since every experiment undertaken at the LCLS is at the frontier of imaging biology which continues to be under development. Chlorosomes and carboxysomes have not yet been subjected to these methods. Both types of complexes provide unprecedented test cases for XFELs diffraction in that they can both be treated as single particle experiments but with crystalline components. Particles of this size and complexity have not yet been characterized. This is a high risk project in that it is difficult to anticipate the characteristics of the resulting data from these "diffract and destroy" experiments. Methods for processing and analyzing these data will be developed. The results of the project will lay the foundation for visualization of functioning macromolecular organelles. Broader Impact:The broader impact of the project is associated with the training of young scientists at arguably the most exciting intersection of math, physics and biology in a large (9 groups) international collaboration. The pioneering methods developed will be useful for advancing the community of researchers gaining access to LCLS beam-time.This project is jointly funded by the Biomolecular Dynamics Structure and Function Cluster and the Networks and Regulation Cluster.