Thesis supervisor: Petar Lambrev
Location of studies (in Hungarian): MTA BRC Abbreviation of location of studies: SZBK
Description of the research topic:
In photosynthetic organisms like plants and algae, solar radiation energy is captured by specialized light-harvesting pigment-protein complexes and delivered, by way of excitation energy transfer, to the reaction centre complexes, where it is converted and stored as chemical energy. Intermolecular interactions between the pigment-protein complexes and their surroundings are a crucial part of the highly organized and dynamically regulated energy- and electron-transport chain. On the one hand, molecular recognition aligns the antenna and reaction centre complexes for optimal energy transfer. On the other hand, interactions with various lipids, carotenoids, ions and solutes can drastically alter the macrostructural arrangement and functional properties of the pigment-protein complexes.
The aim of this project is to identify specific physiologically relevant molecular interactions, and the associated physical mechanisms that control the macrostructure and excitation energy dynamics in photosynthetic membranes. To this end, reconstituted membranes and membrane crystals of pigment-protein complexes will be used as simplified in vitro
models for analysing the effects of different components of the natural photosynthetic systems. Optical spectroscopy techniques – absorption, fluorescence, linear dichroism and circular dichroism spectroscopy, ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy – will be employed as the main analytical tools. Within this notably interdisciplinary project, the PhD candidate will gain experience with various current methods in biochemistry, physical chemistry and biophysics.
Required language skills: english Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2017-09-30
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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