使用原子力显微镜技术对光合作用相关蛋白复合物的超分子形貌和及其在类囊体膜上排布模式的研究，已经成为光合作用研究领域中的前沿和热点，而国内外使用该技术对红藻这一进化过程中重要的光合生物门类的研究则很少。本课题组的前期工作成功的将原子力显微镜技术应用于单细胞红藻紫球藻捕光复合物--藻胆体的研究。我们将在前期研究基础上，选择具有不同进化地位的三种红藻为材料，以原子力显微镜技术为主，对红藻藻胆体进行进一步的深入研究。本项目将继续深化对原始红藻纲单细胞红藻藻胆体的复合物貌及其排布规律的研究，同时研究并且揭示原始红藻纲大型红藻和真红藻纲大型红藻藻胆体的复合物形貌和排布模式，以及红藻藻胆体排布模式受生长条件调控的规律。本项目的研究，将可以揭示红藻藻胆体形貌和排布模式的进化规律，并且有助于阐明红藻藻胆体和光系统之间如何协同合作，实现光能的高效传递和转化。

Research on the supramolecular architecture of the protein complexes and their arrangement pattern on thylakoid membrane from the photosythetic organisms with atomic force microscopy is becoming an front and hot spot. However, the research with this technique on red algae is nearly lacking. Our team has successfully used atomic force microscopy in studing the unicellular red alga Porphyridium cruentum. Based on our previous research, we will select three red algae with different evolutionary position, and continue our further research with atomic force microscopy and other techniques. This program will carry out further research on the supramolecular architecture and arrangement pattern of phycobilisomes from unicellular red alga of Bangiophyceae, and research the supramolecular architecture and arrangement pattern of the phycobilisomes from multicellular red alga of Bangiophyceae and multicellular red alga of Florideophyceae. In the meantime, the research on the regulation of the arrangement pattern of the phycobilisomes will be carried out. This research will reveal the supramolecular architecture, the arrangement pattern, as well as the evolution of the phycobilisomes from red algae. This research will also help us to understand the co-operation of phycobilisomes and photosystems, to transfer and utilize solar energy with high efficiency.