Optical Spectroscopy and Microscopy: Photosynthesis Research, Conformational Changes, Tunneling in Biological Systems and Biosensors.

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The questions about possible interplay between quantum mechanics and biological life have been raised already by the founding fathers of quantum mechanics such as Schrödinger. Today, the field of Quantum Biology is focusing on phenomena where quantum mechanics may provide better explanations to biological phenomena than classical approaches, including, but not limited to, the fields of photosynthesis research and tunneling in biological systems. In photosynthesis, light is converted into chemical energy. The absorbed photon energy is transferred to the so-called reaction center (RC), where it is converted into an electrochemical gradient with the efficiency approaching 100%. A thorough understanding of this process can lead to a technological utilization of photosynthesis in renewable energy applications, as a promising and ecologically viable alternative to fossil fuels. This hope has motivated numerous studies aiming at understanding the finest details of photosynthesis and finding and characterizing bio-inspired artificial light harvesting systems. With that in mind, we will continue our research on pigment-protein complexes involved in photosynthesis, employing high-resolution optical spectroscopy and computer modeling of spectral diffusion (which involves quantum-mechanical tunneling), excitation energy transfer (EET) and electron transfer. Determining the details of the protein energy landscapes and protein dynamics will also allow for improved understanding of general structure-function relationships in proteins, factors governing protein folding as well as tunneling in biological systems in general. Similarities of the EET processes in microtubules with those in photosynthesis-related systems will be explored as well. Another related line of research involves studies of the compounds affecting primary charge transfer processes in photosynthetic reaction centers (e.g. nitric explosives) and potential applications of these proteins in biosensors with concurrent optical/ spectroscopic and electrochemical detection modes. DND supplement is requested for this project. Microscopy-compatible microfluidic devices with nanometer-scale variable thickness and transparent electrodes will be used in biosensor project, new varieties of photosynthesis research and in the more distant future in studies of other biological systems.