Organization and Dynamics in Photosynthetic Reaction Centers and Model Membrane Architectures

光合反应中心和模型膜结构的组织和动力学

• 批准号: 1408785
• 负责人: Steven Boxer
• 金额: $ 143.12万
• 依托单位: Stanford University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2014-08-01 至 2019-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1408785&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Organization; Dynamics; Photosynthetic; Reaction; Centers

The photosynthetic reaction center is a remarkable machine that absorbs light and transfers electrons across a biological membrane. Membranes are very thin insulators so this process is similar to charging a capacitor. Once charged, the capacitor discharges by driving the biosynthesis of stable energetic molecules or fuels. All life on earth depends on this process. This research program will continue to support the development of a generation of young scientists with diverse backgrounds, primarily graduate students, who go on to productive careers at the interface of the physical sciences and biology, biotechnology, and energy-related science. In addition to scientific publications, the results of this work are presented in many invited talks that reach out to diverse communities from the high-school level to government agencies looking to future directions in nanoscience, biotechnology and energy-related science. Photosynthesis is a topic of deep interest to a wide community of scientists and engineers as well as to the general public. This work provides the basis for the development of new courses both for college freshman and graduating seniors stressing the importance of critical reading using current frontiers and controversies in biophysics firmly grounded in the physical sciences. The objectives of this research are to better understand the mechanisms by which photosynthetic reaction centers harvest and store solar energy, and to develop model membrane assemblies that mimic natural biological membranes and their interactions. This research will focus on understanding how the organized environment in proteins modulates the spectroscopic and redox properties of bound prosthetic groups like chlorophylls and quinones and on the mechanism of the initial light-driven reactions. A significant part of this work involves the development of new experimental and theoretical methods that will have a broad impact in other areas of science and technology. Stimulated by studies of this important integral membrane protein, novel membrane assemblies will be developed to create defined architectures for the organization of any membrane protein. Membrane proteins serve as gatekeepers for the otherwise impervious membranes that surround cells and internal organelles. They are also the primary contact between cells. These proteins are difficult to work with and characterize in their native environment, and this research will create new ways to study their function by designing architectures that are compatible with sophisticated optical and electrical detection methods. Thus, the two objectives are deeply connected as different aspects of membrane biophysics.

光合作用反应中心是一台非凡的机器，它吸收光线并将电子转移到生物膜上。 膜是非常薄的绝缘体，因此这个过程类似于给电容器充电。 一旦充电，电容器通过驱动稳定的高能分子或燃料的生物合成而放电。 地球上所有的生命都依赖于这个过程。该研究计划将继续支持具有不同背景的一代年轻科学家的发展，主要是研究生，他们将在物理科学和生物学，生物技术和能源相关科学的界面上从事富有成效的职业。 除了科学出版物，这项工作的成果还在许多受邀演讲中介绍，这些演讲涉及到从高中到政府机构的不同社区，这些社区正在寻找纳米科学，生物技术和能源相关科学的未来方向。光合作用是科学家和工程师以及公众广泛关注的主题。这项工作为大学新生和即将毕业的大四学生开发新课程提供了基础，强调了批判性阅读的重要性，这些课程使用了牢固扎根于物理科学的生物物理学前沿和争议。本研究的目的是更好地了解光合反应中心收集和储存太阳能的机制，并开发模拟天然生物膜及其相互作用的模型膜组件。 这项研究将侧重于了解蛋白质中的组织环境如何调节叶绿素和醌等结合辅基的光谱和氧化还原特性，以及初始光驱动反应的机制。 这项工作的一个重要组成部分是开发新的实验和理论方法，这些方法将对其他科学和技术领域产生广泛影响。 通过对这种重要的膜蛋白的研究，将开发新的膜组件来创建用于组织任何膜蛋白的定义架构。 膜蛋白是细胞和内部细胞器周围不渗透的膜的守门人。 它们也是细胞之间的主要联系。 这些蛋白质很难在其天然环境中工作和表征，这项研究将通过设计与复杂的光学和电学检测方法兼容的架构来创造研究其功能的新方法。 因此，这两个目标作为膜生物物理学的不同方面而紧密相连。