Optical spectroscopy of photosynthetic complexes

地球上生命的存在依赖于光合作用，光合作用是一种非常有效的将光能转化为化学能的过程。揭开光合作用的主要事件(光收集、能量转移和初级电荷转移)的细节对于充分理解自然界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具有重要意义，而且可能有助于新型光伏器件的开发。如果找到更好的利用太阳光的方法，将带来经济和各种环境效益，如减少污染和温室气体排放，防止不希望看到的气候变化等。此外，我们将使用各种频域光学光谱技术：吸收光谱、荧光激发光谱和荧光光谱，以及高分辨率方法-光谱烧孔和单分子/络合光谱。这些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作用复合体中的结构-功能关系、电子能级结构、能量传递过程以及色素和色素-蛋白质之间的相互作用等问题，特别是(I)蓝藻的光系统I(PS I)，(Ii)高等植物PS I的外围天线复合体Lhca1-Lhca4，以及(Iii)适应不同光照水平的海洋原氯球菌的各种光合作用复合体。

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.