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

关于量子力学和生物生命之间可能相互作用的问题，已经被薛定谔等量子力学的创始人提出。今天，量子生物学领域专注于量子力学可以比经典方法更好地解释生物现象的现象，包括但不限于生物系统中的光合作用研究和隧道效应领域。在光合作用中，光被转化为化学能。吸收的光子能量被转移到所谓的反应中心(RC)，在那里它被转化为电化学梯度，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，作为一种有前途的、在生态上可行的化石燃料的替代品。这一希望推动了许多旨在了解光合作用最细微细节的研究，并发现和表征了生物启发的人造光收集系统。考虑到这一点，我们将利用高分辨率光学光谱和计算机模拟光谱扩散(包括量子力学隧道效应)、激发能量转移(EET)和电子转移，继续我们对参与光合作用的色素-蛋白质复合体的研究。确定蛋白质能量格局和蛋白质动力学的细节也将有助于更好地理解蛋白质中的一般结构-功能关系、控制蛋白质折叠的因素以及一般生物系统中的隧道作用。微管中的EET过程与光合作用相关系统中的EET过程的相似性也将被探索。另一个相关的研究领域涉及影响光合作用反应中心(如含氮炸药)中初级电荷转移过程的化合物的研究，以及这些蛋白质在同时具有光学/光谱和电化学检测模式的生物传感器中的潜在应用。此项目需要DND补充资料。具有纳米级变厚度和透明电极的显微兼容微流控器件将用于生物传感器项目、新品种的光合作用研究，以及在更遥远的未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.