Structure and Function of Carotenoids

描述(由申请人提供)：本研究的目的 这一应用是为了阐明类胡萝卜素的结构特征 测定它们在体内的光化学性质。我们将特别注意 类胡萝卜素在捕光和光保护中的作用 对光合作用有机体的生存至关重要。这些系统将是 所研究的类胡萝卜素在体外并包含在几种不同的 已经被分离的光合作用反应中心和天线复合体， 提纯、颜料重组、颜料交换、结晶或 经过基因改造的。X射线结晶学，核磁共振，和 共振拉曼光谱将被用作直接结构探针。 吸收，荧光，荧光激发，快瞬变吸收， 双光子光谱、线性二色性、电子顺磁共振 光谱学和半经验分子轨道计算将允许关联 具有光谱可观察性和功能的结构。数据将 为理解更复杂的生物体提供了基础； 高等植物色素-蛋白质复合体。这项建议的具体目标是： (1)研究光合色素蛋白中类胡萝卜素的结构 (2)探索类胡萝卜素结构之间的关系 及其光谱性质；以及(3)确定它们之间的关系 类胡萝卜素结构与其作用机制之间的关系 活着。

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.