[MOS] March 17, 2015, Gabriela Schlau-Cohen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

[Zina M Queen]

Seminar on

Modern Optics and Spectroscopy


Elucidation of the mechanisms of Photosynthetic Light Harvesting


Gabriela Schlau-Cohen,

Massachusetts Institute of Technology 

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

In photosynthetic light harvesting, absorbed energy migrates through a protein network to reach a dedicated location for conversion to chemical energy. This energy flow is efficient, directional, and regulated. The regulatory response involves complex and complicated multi-timescale processes that safely dissipate excess energy, thus protecting the system against deleterious photoproducts. The mechanisms behind this photoprotective process, however, are not fully understood. We explore these mechanisms in the major light-harvesting protein from green plants (LHCII) by characterizing the conformational states and dynamics of individual proteins.  We identify the extent of energy dissipation in single LHCII proteins and how the extent of dissipation changes in response to pH and carotenoid composition, two components known to play a role in photoprotection. From this information, we explore how individual complexes contribute to the balance between efficiency and adaptability in photosynthetic light harvesting. While this approach allows us to characterize the conformational states and dynamics of individual photosynthetic proteins, we also discuss work in progress to build on this information to understand how these proteins combine to produce an efficient and adaptable energy flow.

 

Grier Room, MIT Bldg. 34-401

Refreshments served after the lecture
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