Photobiology of Vision & Photosynthesis

这个项目的重点是自然界中两种基本的量子生物现象，它们通过类似的物理机制联系在一起，涉及光与生命系统的相互作用。首先要研究的现象是动物的磁感应，这是某些动物使用磁罗盘进行导航的过程。一种特殊的蛋白质，隐花色素，被认为是负责磁性感觉的。这个项目将确定隐花色素如何在存在热运动的情况下作为磁性传感器发挥作用。第二个要研究的现象是光合作用的光收集，这是阳光能量被输送到活细胞的生命过程中的主要过程。我们将再次研究热无序对光收集的影响，以及量子相干所起的作用。将进行大量的随机量子动力学计算，以说明在采光过程中现实的系统与环境的相互作用。一个完整的光合作用装置，即所谓的紫色细菌的色团的组成和组织，将与其捕光功能的动态一起确定，从而将从单个色素到整个细胞的光合作用过程跨尺度连接起来。该项目将产生两个主要的有益影响。首先，地球上接收的太阳能为12万太瓦，远远超过目前全球15太瓦的能源消耗率。因此，通过生物、人工和生物混合系统获得的太阳能，是满足人类当前和可预见的未来能源需求的潜在可再生能源。该项目将引导人们努力开发仿生聚光材料，以实现更具成本效益的太阳能技术。其次，鸟类和其他野生动物撞击飞机造成的损失，每年给美国民用和军用航空造成的损失远远超过6亿美元；自1988年以来，全球已有超过219人死于野生动物袭击。确定动物航行的机制可以减少财产损失以及对野生动物的伤害。此外，该项目还为实验生物学家、理论物理学家、理论化学家和计算机科学家之间的跨学科合作提供了基础，为研究人员提供了一个极好的培训机会。最后，计划的活动将补充现有的将科学带给广大公众的强有力的外展计划。先进的可视化和分析工具将被添加到由PI开发的免费提供的领先分子可视化和分析工具中，并将提供给现有的167,000名用户。该项目得到了分子和细胞生物科学部的生物分子动力学、结构和功能簇以及物理部的生命系统物理计划的共同支持。

This project focuses on two fundamental quantum biological phenomena in nature that are related by similar physical mechanisms involving interaction of light with living systems. The first phenomenon to be examined is animal magnetoreception, the process by which certain animals employ a magnetic compass for navigation. A specific protein, cryptochrome, is proposed to be responsible for the magnetic sense. This project will determine how cryptochrome can function as a magnetic sensor in the presence of thermal motion. The second phenomenon to be studied is photosynthetic light harvesting, the primary process by which the energy of sunlight is funneled into the life processes of living cells. Again the effect of thermal disorder on light harvesting will be investigated along with the role that quantum coherence plays. Extensive stochastic quantum dynamics calculations will be carried out to account for realistic system-environment interactions during light harvesting. The composition and organization of a complete photosynthetic apparatus, the chromatophore, of so-called purple bacteria, will be determined along with the dynamics of its light-harvesting function, thereby connecting the photosynthetic process across scales from individual pigments to entire cells.The project will have two primary beneficial impacts. First, solar energy, received on Earth at a rate of 120,000 TW, far exceeds the current worldwide energy consumption rate of 15 TW. Therefore, solar energy, harvested by biological, artificial, and bio-hybrid systems, constitutes a potential renewable source for mankind's current and foreseeable future energy needs. The project will guide efforts into biomimetic light harvesting materials for more cost-effective solar technology. Second, damage by birds and other wildlife striking aircraft, annually amounts to well over $600 million for US civil and military aviation; over 219 people have been killed worldwide as a result of wildlife strikes since 1988. Determining the mechanisms of animal navigation may reduce the property damage as well as harm to wildlife. Additionally, this project offers a basis for interdisciplinary cooperation between experimental biologists, theoretical physicists, theoretical chemists, and computer scientists, providing an excellent training opportunity for researchers. Lastly, planned activities will complement an existing strong outreach program for bringing science to the public at large. Advanced visualization and analysis tools will be added to the freely available leading molecular visualization and analysis tools developed by the PI and will be made available to an existing base of 167,000 users. This project is jointly supported by the Biomolecular Dynamics, Structure and Function Cluster in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences and the Physics of Living Systems Program in the Physics Division.