Structure and Function of Carotenoids

描述（由申请人提供）： 中包含的研究目标 该应用旨在阐明类胡萝卜素的结构特征如何 确定它们的体内光化学性质。将特别注意 考虑到类胡萝卜素在光捕获和光保护中的作用 对于光合生物的生存至关重要。系统应 研究了体外类胡萝卜素，并包含在几种不同的 已分离的光合反应中心和天线复合体， 纯化、色素重组、色素交换、结晶或 基因改变的。 X射线晶体学、核磁共振和 共振拉曼光谱将用作直接结构探针。 吸收、荧光、荧光激发、快速瞬态吸收、 双光子光谱、线性二色性、电子顺磁共振 光谱学和半经验 MO 计算将允许相关 具有光谱可观测值和函数的结构。数据将 为理解更复杂的生物体提供基础；例如 高等植物色素-蛋白质复合物。该提案的具体目标是： (1) 检测光合色素蛋白中类胡萝卜素的结构 复合体； (2)探讨类胡萝卜素结构之间的关系 及其光谱特性； (3) 确定关系 类胡萝卜素结构及其作用机制之间的关系 体内。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of the research contained in this application is to elucidate how the structural features of carotenoids determine their photochemical properties in vivo. Particular attention will be given to the roles of carotenoids in light-harvesting and photoprotection which are essential for the survival of photosynthetic organisms. The systems to be studied are carotenoids in vitro and contained in several different photosynthetic reaction center and antenna complexes that have been isolated, purified, pigment-reconstituted, pigment exchanged, crystallized or genetically-altered. X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and resonance Raman spectroscopy will be used as direct structural probes. Absorption, fluorescence, fluorescence excitation, fast-transient absorption, two-photon spectroscopy, linear dichroism, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and semi-empirical MO calculations will allow the correlation of structure with the spectroscopic observables and function. The data will provide a basis from which to understand more complicated organisms; e.g. higher plant pigment-protein complexes. The specific aims of this proposal are: (1) To examine the structures of carotenoids in photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes; (2) To explore the relationships between the carotenoid structures and their spectroscopic properties; and (3) To determine the relationships between the carotenoid structures and the mechanisms by which they function in vivo.