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

量子力学和生物生命之间可能相互作用的问题已经由量子力学的创始人提出，比如Schrödinger。今天，量子生物学领域关注的是量子力学可能比经典方法更好地解释生物现象的现象，包括但不限于光合作用研究和生物系统中的隧道。在光合作用中，光被转化为化学能。被吸收的光子能量被转移到所谓的反应中心（RC），在那里转化为电化学梯度，效率接近100%。对这一过程的透彻理解可以导致光合作用在可再生能源应用中的技术利用，作为化石燃料的有前途和生态可行的替代品。这一希望激发了许多研究，旨在了解光合作用的细节，寻找和表征仿生人工光收集系统。考虑到这一点，我们将继续研究参与光合作用的色素-蛋白质复合物，采用高分辨率光谱学和光谱扩散（涉及量子力学隧道），激发能转移（EET）和电子转移的计算机模型。确定蛋白质能量景观和蛋白质动力学的细节也将有助于提高对蛋白质中一般结构-功能关系的理解，控制蛋白质折叠的因素以及一般生物系统中的隧道。微管中EET过程与光合作用相关系统的相似之处也将被探讨。另一个相关的研究方向涉及影响光合反应中心初级电荷转移过程的化合物（如硝酸炸药）的研究，以及这些蛋白质在具有同步光学/光谱和电化学检测模式的生物传感器中的潜在应用。这个项目需要补充DND。具有纳米级可变厚度和透明电极的显微镜兼容微流体装置将用于生物传感器项目，光合作用研究的新品种以及在更遥远的将来用于其他生物系统的研究。

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.