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Membrane Biology Research Campaign: Use of synthetic biology to probe molecular machines in photosynthesis


EMSL Project ID
47732

Abstract

We have shown in our previous EMSL collaborations our ability to develop systems-­level models of cyanobacterial processes. In the present proposal, our objective is to characterize and improve the molecular machines in photosynthesis that govern bioenergy production in cyanobacteria. This proposal results from an EMSL workshop (MBGC 2.0) held in spring 2011. We propose to apply sets of experiments and analysis to achieve this goal using sophisticated imaging instrumentation available at EMSL. The profound expertise of the External Project Team in the areas of cyanobacterial and systems biology will be leveraged to attain the goals under this objective. The PIs Pakrasi, Sherman and Aurora have had extensive experience in collaborating with key investigators at EMSL/PNNL over the past 5 years, resulting in numerous publications (8-­15, as examples). The experiments outlined in this proposal will strive to investigate the products of a synthetic biology approach targeted in the following important areas of cyanobacterial biology; the goal of each is designed to provide new approaches to increasing photosynthetic productivity: 1) Photoshynthetic antenna modification; 2) photosynthetic electron transport and photosystem stoichiometry; 3) topology of photosynthetic membranes; and 4) carboxysome design and CO2 fixation.

Project Details

Project type
Research Campaign
Start Date
2012-10-01
End Date
2015-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Himadri Pakrasi
Institution
Washington University in St. Louis

Co-Investigator(s)

David Koppenaal
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Team Members

Jason McDermott
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Rajeev Aurora
Institution
Saint Louis University

Louis Sherman
Institution
Purdue University

Scott Baker
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Galya Orr
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Ljiljana Pasa-Tolic
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Richard Smith
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Alice Dohnalkova
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Related Publications

Guo J, AY Nguyen, Z Dai, D Su, MJ Gaffrey, RJ Moore, JM Jacobs, ME Monroe, RD Smith, DW Koppenaal, HB Pakrasi, and W Qian. 2014. "Proteome-wide Light/Dark Modulation of Protein Thiol Oxidation in Cyanobacteria Revealed by Quantitative Site-Specific Redox Proteomics." PNNL-SA-100244, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA. [Submitted]
Welkie DG, DM Sherman, WB Chrisler, G Orr, and LA Sherman. 2013. "Analysis of carbohydrate storage granules in the diazotrophic cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. PCC 7822." Photosynthesis Research 118(1-2):25-36. doi:10.1007/s11120-013-9941-z
Yu J, M Liberton, PF Cliften, RD Head, JM Jacobs, RD Smith, DW Koppenaal, JJ Brand, and HB Pakrasi. 2015. "Synechococcus elongatus UTEX 2973, a fast growing cyanobacterial chassis for biosynthesis using light and CO2." Scientific Reports 5. doi:10.1038/srep08132