The Chemistry of Photosynthetic Water
Oxidation: From Fundamentals to Biofuels
Kolling Laboratory
Current Members
Yasmine Zeid
Ben Blodgett
Cameron Buchman
Courtney Nichols
James Board
Rebecca Mead
Shaheed Elhamdani
Evan Riley
Matthew Thompson
Former Members
Chase Turner
Derrick R. J. Kolling
March 16, 2010
The lab has three main projects:
1. Assembly of the oxygen-evolving complex
2. [Mn2+] in compartments of phototrophs
3. Metabolomic studies of Chlorella vulgaris
We are looking for students who:
1. Would like to work >3 semesters
2. Are interested in writing grants
3. Enjoy challenging projects
Project 1: OEC Photoassembly
We are studying photoassembly in
photosynthetic extremophiles that
grow at very different temperatures.
Thermosynechococcus elongatus
Oscillatoria sp.
cc
cc
www-dsv.cea.fr/var
• Thermophile, 55°C
• PSII crystal structure
• Genome sequenced
www-biol.paisley.ac.uk
• Psychrophile, 12°C
• Antarctic benthic mat
Project 2: Compartmental [Mn2+]
We are working to determine the concentration of Mn2+ in
the different compartments of phototrophic prokaryotes
and eukaryotes. This will help us to determine the
mechanism of photoassembly.
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
[Mn2+]?
Lumen
Lumen
Stroma
Cytoplasm
Chloroplast
Cytoplasm
Project 3: Metabolomics
We are developing a strategy to determine the partial
metabolome of the lipid generation pathways in Chlorella
vulgaris. This organism and its metabolism are of interest,
because its lipids can be used to make biodiesel.
a dna ™emiTk ciuQ
ro sse rpmo ced )de s serpmo cnU ( FFIT
.erut cip sih t ee s ot dedeen era
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
A trip from a leaf to the
oxygen-evolving complex.
Barber & Iwata (2004) Science
Ferreira et al. (2004) Science
The oxygenevolving
complex!
How do we probe photosynthesis?
• O2 production
• Fluorescence
• S-State Trapping
• EPR Spectroscopy