Optical spectroscopy of photosynthetic complexes

地球上生命的存在依赖于光合作用，这是一种将光能转化为化学能的非常有效的过程。解开光合作用的主要事件（光捕获，能量转移和初级电荷转移）的细节对于充分理解大自然实现如此高效率的能量转换的方式是必要的。这些研究不仅从基础科学的角度来看是重要的，而且可能有助于开发新的光伏器件。 发现利用太阳能的更好方法将产生经济效益以及各种环境效益，例如减少污染和温室气体排放，防止不期望的气候变化等。 我们将采用各种频域光谱技术：吸收，荧光激发和荧光光谱，以及高分辨率方法-光谱烧孔和单分子/复合光谱。 实验研究将伴随着计算机建模。我们将致力于解决各种光合复合物中的结构-功能关系、电子能级结构、能量传递过程以及色素间和色素-蛋白质相互作用等各种尚未解决的问题，特别是（i）蓝藻的光系统I（PS I），（ii）高等植物PS I的外周天线复合物Lhca 1-Lhca 4，和（iii）来自适应不同光照水平的海洋原绿球藻菌株的各种光合复合物。

The existence of life on Earth depends on photosynthesis, a remarkably effective process of converting light energy into chemical energy. Unraveling the details of the primary events of photosynthesis (light harvesting, energy transfer and primary charge transfer) is necessary to fully understand the ways in which Nature achieved such a high effectiveness of energy conversion. These studies are important not only from the viewpoint of fundamental science, but could contribute to the development of novel photovoltaic devices.  Discovering better ways to harness sunlight energy will result in economical as well as various environmental benefits, e.g. reduction of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, prevention of undesired climate changes, etc.    We will employ various techniques of frequency-domain optical spectroscopy: absorption, fluorescence-excitation and fluorescence spectroscopies, as well as high-resolution methods - Spectral Hole Burning and Single Molecule / Complex Spectroscopy.  Experimental studies will be accompanied by computer modeling. We will work on resolving various unsettled issues concerning structure-function relationship, electronic level structure, energy transfer processes, and inter-pigment and pigment-protein interactions in various photosynthetic complexes, in particular (i) Photosystem I (PS I) of cyanobacteria, (ii) peripheral antenna complexes Lhca1 - Lhca4 of PS I of higher plants, and (iii) various photosynthetic complexes from strains of Prochlorococcus marinus adapted to different illumination levels.