Biophysics of photosynthesis and solar energy capture explored using advanced methods in nanoscience, electrophoresis and fluorescence microscopy at University of Leeds on FindAPhD.com

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Dr Peter Adams, Prof stephen Evans No more applications being accepted Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Leeds United Kingdom Biochemistry Biophysics Nanotechnology Physical Chemistry

About the Project

The Light-Harvesting Complex II (LHCII) is a photo-active protein found in plants and is essential for efficient capture of solar energy. It has a crucial role in absorbing photons and channelling this energy to the next part of the system and a secondary role in a protecting the system from high intensity sunlight by safely dissipating excess energy. However, the molecular mechanism for the process of photoprotective energy dissipation within LHCII is highly debated. This project will use our latest developments in membrane nanotechnology and world-class microscopy and spectroscopy to advance our understanding of the true nature of the biophysical properties of LHCII and its role in photoprotection.

The laboratory in Leeds recently developed a new technique to control the organization of membrane proteins within a model lipid bilayer by applying electric fields. The proteins can be visualized by a specialized fluorescence microscope that also acquires fluorescence lifetimes to measure the energetic state of the LHCII. This combination of techniques provides a new way to assess protein-protein interactions and correlate them to possibility of energy dissipation in LHCII. This project will compare a systematic series of samples with these techniques: (i) comparison of different LH proteins from plant versus bacteria versus algae, (ii) effect of pH and other parameters which are known to trigger photoprotection, (iii) effect of key modulator proteins with LHCII (PsbS) that are known to modulate photoprotection. The outcome of these investigations will be a quantitative model of how to trigger photoprotection. This project will provide a major advance in our understanding of fundamental biophysics of photosynthesis with wider relevance to nanotechnology, photonics and crop science.

This project would suit a student interested in biophysics, biochemistry or nanotechnology.

How to apply –

Applicants can find full details on our website: https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1699-biophysics-of-photosynthesis-and-solar-energy-capture-explored-using-advanced-methods-in-nanoscience-electrophoresis-and-fluorescence-microscopy

Applicants are welcome to contact Dr Peter Adams by email to discuss the project and funding options - [Email Address Removed]

Funding Notes

Only “self-funded” and “externally sponsored” applicants (e.g., government scholarships) should apply. There is no more funding available from University of Leeds for these projects, this year. Please contact the supervisors for advice on applying.

References

Some of our published papers (Adams group):
1. Meredith, S. A.; Kusunoki, Y.; Connell, S. D.; Morigaki, K.; Evans, S. D.; Adams, P. G. (2023) Self-Quenching Behavior of a Fluorescent Probe Incorporated within Lipid Membranes Explored Using Electrophoresis and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy. J. Phys. Chem. B 127, 1715-1727.
2. Hancock, A.M.; Swainsbury, D.J.K.; Meredith, S.A.; Morigaki, K.; Hunter, C.N.; Adams, P.G. (2022) Enhancing the spectral range of plant and bacterial Light-Harvesting pigment-protein complexes with various synthetic chromophores incorporated into lipid vesicles. J. Photochem. Photobiol. B.
3. Hancock, A.M.; Son, M.; Nairat, M.; Wei, T.; Jeuken, L.J.C.; Duffy, C.D. P.; Schlau-Cohen, G.S.; Adams, P.G. (2021) Ultrafast energy transfer between lipid-linked chromophores and plant light-harvesting complex II. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 23, 19511-19524.
4. Adams, P. G.; Collins A. M.; Sahin T.; Subramanian V., Urban V. S.; Vairaprakash P.; Tian Y.; Evans D.G., Shreve A.P.; Montaño G.A. (2015) Diblock Copolymer Micelles and Supported Films with Noncovalently Incorporated Chromophores: A Modular Platform for Efficient Energy Transfer. Nano Letters. 15, 2422-2428.