Biogenesis of thylakoid membranes in cyanobacteria

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Assembly of cyanobacterial photosystem II (PSII) proceeds in a highly-ordered, step-wise manner and is initiated at specialized biogenic membranes close to the plasma membrane, named biogenesis centers. These regions are characterized by the accumulation of the manganese delivery factor PratA and are shaped by the membrane curving protein CurT. In this project, it is aimed at further elucidating the assembly factor network involved in cyanobacterial PSII biogenesis. By using PratA and CurT as well as their identified physical and/or functional interaction partners as molecular entry points, genetic and biochemical techniques will be applied to dissect the spatiotemporal organization of the assembly process. This additionally includes the dismantling of the precise structure and dynamics of biogenic membrane regions in Synechocystis 6803 by following cryo-electron tomography- and livecell imaging-based approaches.