Photoactivation: the assembly of the active site of the water oxidising enzyme
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Life Sciences
Abstract
This project is aimed at understanding how Photosystem 2 (PS2) works. This enzyme is found in plants, algae and some microbes. It is the main solar converter of photosynthesis, the process by which solar energy is converted to the chemical fuels used for powering life . Nearly all life on the planet runs on energy that came from photosynthesis.
PS2 is important not just as a solar collector; it is the only enzyme that has is able to use water to make fuel. Water (H2O) is very stable; it takes a lot of energy to rip it apart, two molecules at a time, to provide electrons for fuel making. PS2 is able to do this using solar energy. This reaction releases protons (4H+) and oxygen gas (O2) as side-products.
PS2 evolved in bacteria on the primitive Earth when O2 was absent. This was a key event in the evolution of life. The O2 released could be used for respiration, a much more efficient way of using biological fuels than existed previously. This drastic jump in the efficiency of energy use meant that biology could become much more complicated: multicellular life could develop. The O2 escaped to the atmosphere and was converted to ozone by UV radiation. The ozone formed then blocked further deadly UV from reaching the surface of the planet. Overall, PS2 provided the energy for life to flourish, allowed life to come out from under the stones and to develop into life as we know it. It is the enzyme that changed the planet.
This project is focused on how PS2 works and how the part that reacts with water is built into the part that does the solar conversion. This building-in process is called "photoactivation" and it occurs when the enzyme is first made and when it is repaired. Given that every plant and nearly every photosynthetic microbe has many millions of these enzymes and that each PS2 needs to be repaired about every 30 minutes, then there is rather a lot of photoactivation going on. And yet very little is known about it. It is known that during photoactivation PS2 is particularly sensitive to being damaged by light. Under stress conditions (too hot, too cold, too dry, etc), this can end up killing the cell and this can limit the yields of crops and determine whether the organism lives or dies. We wish to understand what is going on here. The work is likely to be useful to farmers, the agri-science industry, ecologists etc because it should allow methods and processes to be developed for improving yields of crops and improving survival of photosynthetic species in a changing environment.
The fossil fuels represent the product of eons of photosynthesis converting solar energy to biomass by the capture CO2 from the ancient atmosphere. Humans are in the process of returning the CO2 to the atmosphere in what is "the blink of an eye" on a planetary time-scale and this is changing the planet. Perhaps the biggest challenge to scientists at present is to solve the energy/climate crisis by finding alternatives to fossil fuels. It is becoming clear that solar energy is the only alternative energy source that is big enough to do this. While converting solar energy to electricity is straightforward, to solve our energy needs, particularly for transport, we require fuels. Solar fuel production is a crucial requirement. Natural photosynthesis is the biggest solar fuel producer however it does this slowly and inefficiently and we cannot rely on natural photosynthesis to replace fossil fuels that took eons to accumulate. Artificial solar fuel production aims to "cherry-pick" the best features from natural photosynthesis to make a more efficient artificial version. The water splitting enzyme, the enzyme that changed the planet, is the main focus of scrutiny for these studies. The current research will provide key information on how this enzyme works, how it is made and how it is repaired: information that is key for solar fuel production by artificial photosynthesis.
PS2 is important not just as a solar collector; it is the only enzyme that has is able to use water to make fuel. Water (H2O) is very stable; it takes a lot of energy to rip it apart, two molecules at a time, to provide electrons for fuel making. PS2 is able to do this using solar energy. This reaction releases protons (4H+) and oxygen gas (O2) as side-products.
PS2 evolved in bacteria on the primitive Earth when O2 was absent. This was a key event in the evolution of life. The O2 released could be used for respiration, a much more efficient way of using biological fuels than existed previously. This drastic jump in the efficiency of energy use meant that biology could become much more complicated: multicellular life could develop. The O2 escaped to the atmosphere and was converted to ozone by UV radiation. The ozone formed then blocked further deadly UV from reaching the surface of the planet. Overall, PS2 provided the energy for life to flourish, allowed life to come out from under the stones and to develop into life as we know it. It is the enzyme that changed the planet.
This project is focused on how PS2 works and how the part that reacts with water is built into the part that does the solar conversion. This building-in process is called "photoactivation" and it occurs when the enzyme is first made and when it is repaired. Given that every plant and nearly every photosynthetic microbe has many millions of these enzymes and that each PS2 needs to be repaired about every 30 minutes, then there is rather a lot of photoactivation going on. And yet very little is known about it. It is known that during photoactivation PS2 is particularly sensitive to being damaged by light. Under stress conditions (too hot, too cold, too dry, etc), this can end up killing the cell and this can limit the yields of crops and determine whether the organism lives or dies. We wish to understand what is going on here. The work is likely to be useful to farmers, the agri-science industry, ecologists etc because it should allow methods and processes to be developed for improving yields of crops and improving survival of photosynthetic species in a changing environment.
The fossil fuels represent the product of eons of photosynthesis converting solar energy to biomass by the capture CO2 from the ancient atmosphere. Humans are in the process of returning the CO2 to the atmosphere in what is "the blink of an eye" on a planetary time-scale and this is changing the planet. Perhaps the biggest challenge to scientists at present is to solve the energy/climate crisis by finding alternatives to fossil fuels. It is becoming clear that solar energy is the only alternative energy source that is big enough to do this. While converting solar energy to electricity is straightforward, to solve our energy needs, particularly for transport, we require fuels. Solar fuel production is a crucial requirement. Natural photosynthesis is the biggest solar fuel producer however it does this slowly and inefficiently and we cannot rely on natural photosynthesis to replace fossil fuels that took eons to accumulate. Artificial solar fuel production aims to "cherry-pick" the best features from natural photosynthesis to make a more efficient artificial version. The water splitting enzyme, the enzyme that changed the planet, is the main focus of scrutiny for these studies. The current research will provide key information on how this enzyme works, how it is made and how it is repaired: information that is key for solar fuel production by artificial photosynthesis.
Technical Summary
Objective 1. Photoactivation of PSII in the thermophilic cyanobacterial PSII: establishing the optimal physical, chemical and biochemical conditions. The flash-pairs method of Chenaie will be used with bacterial cells and isolated enzyme to obtain the two key kinetic parameters for the initial steps of photoactivation. We shall also determine the temperature and O2 dependencies of these processes. We shall test the influence of extrinsic polypeptides on photoactivation.
Objective 2. Generation and characterisation of mononuclear Mn intermediates in PSII photoactivation in T. elongatus: the first steps. The first Mn3+ state will be generated by flash and cw illumination under a range of conditions. Various components (Mn2+, Mn3+, Mn4+, TyrZ, TyrD and the electron acceptors) will be monitored by different types of EPR, kinetic UV/visible and fluorescence spectroscopies before and after the "B to C step".
Objective 3. Generation of multinuclear Mn intermediates in photoassembly: the hunt for S-4, S-2 etc. We shall use EPR to search for multinuclear Mn complexes formed as intermediates during photoactivation. We will focus on Mn3+Mn2+ dimer states including the S-2 state. Understanding these states could allow us to distinguish between the high valence and low valence models for the functional Mn. The effect of Ca2+ binding will be studied before and after formation of the high valence intermediates.
Objective 4 Structural characterisation of intermediates in photoactivation. When intermediates are generated that are sufficiently stable, PSII shall be the subject of crystallisation trials. The Mn-depleted enzyme, monomeric and dimeric forms, will be studied with and without assembly proteins, e.g. Psb27, PsbP and PsbQ. Mn-free PSII is a target as a basis for understanding the changes occurring during photoactivation.
Objective 2. Generation and characterisation of mononuclear Mn intermediates in PSII photoactivation in T. elongatus: the first steps. The first Mn3+ state will be generated by flash and cw illumination under a range of conditions. Various components (Mn2+, Mn3+, Mn4+, TyrZ, TyrD and the electron acceptors) will be monitored by different types of EPR, kinetic UV/visible and fluorescence spectroscopies before and after the "B to C step".
Objective 3. Generation of multinuclear Mn intermediates in photoassembly: the hunt for S-4, S-2 etc. We shall use EPR to search for multinuclear Mn complexes formed as intermediates during photoactivation. We will focus on Mn3+Mn2+ dimer states including the S-2 state. Understanding these states could allow us to distinguish between the high valence and low valence models for the functional Mn. The effect of Ca2+ binding will be studied before and after formation of the high valence intermediates.
Objective 4 Structural characterisation of intermediates in photoactivation. When intermediates are generated that are sufficiently stable, PSII shall be the subject of crystallisation trials. The Mn-depleted enzyme, monomeric and dimeric forms, will be studied with and without assembly proteins, e.g. Psb27, PsbP and PsbQ. Mn-free PSII is a target as a basis for understanding the changes occurring during photoactivation.
Planned Impact
The research will elucidate the process of photoactivation: the assembly of the water oxidising enzyme, Photosystem II (PSII). This occurs when the enzyme is made and when it is repaired. PSII is the main solar energy converter on Earth: it puts the energy into biosphere. It is made in vast quantities and each one is repaired every 30 minutes. Photoactivation limits plant growth and survival of the organism under some stress conditions. Understanding this process is thus important for agriculture for the production of food, fibre and fuel. The enzyme itself is the fastest of any water oxidation catalyst made from cheap, Earth-abundant materials and it thus represents the bench-mark model for catalyst design for solar fuel production in artificial photosynthesis. This is considered to be one of the very few scalable, sustainable technologies that will replace fossil fuels. The enzyme is responsible for putting the O2 into the atmosphere, thereby changing the nature of life and the planet itself. The events in photoactivation probably reflect the evolution of the enzyme, with early steps in the assembly of metal cluster representing evolutionary stages in the enzyme's development. Overall then the project is of intrinsic interest and benefit to a very wide public.
In the energy sector, beneficiaries include: companies wishing to develop alternatives to fossil fuels and those who wish to move into green chemistry; governments and policy makers who wish for energy security and for new energy sources for developing countries; the armed forces who are looking for alternative fuels for specific and niche uses; environmentalists who need to focus on rational long-term alternatives to fossil fuels; and the general public who will soon have to accept that a change to a sustainable energy regime is inevitable. The benefits derived from the development of artificial photosynthesis as an alternative technology are evident and cannot be overestimated. They will contribute to mitigating the impending climate/energy crisis: the biggest problem facing mankind. If this problem is not solved, then all other problems of health, economy, etc will soon be dwarfed by it.
Bioenergies will also contribute to the sustainable energy sector, although this is likely to be on a much smaller scale and mainly for niche uses. Bioenergies are mainly based on photosynthesis either directly or indirectly, so PSII research is central to them. The present project will be of benefit to bioenergy companies, farmers, policy makers, governments and the armed forces.
In the agricultural sector, beneficiaries include: companies involved in developing new species, strains or processes for maintaining and or improving crop yields under stress conditions of changing environments; farmers who wish to develop new practices for similar reasons; governments and policy-makers interested achieving food security; and the public who will benefit from food security.
In the environmental and ecological sector, beneficiaries include: those wishing to understand and mitigate loss of photosynthetic species in a changing environment. These include professionals in the sector, governments and policy makers, the tourism sector (coral reef bleaching) and fisheries (the loss of photosynthetic microbes at the start of the food chain).
In the education sector, in museums and in the media etc, there will be benefits from the intrinsic interest in one of the few definable milestones in the origins and evolution of life: the ability to oxidise water resulting in the appearance of O2 in the environment.
Staff hired for the project will obtain training in cutting-edge research in a leading lab in this important area. They will have the benefit of the excellent intellectual environment of a leading university with the tradition of close ties with engineers and applications. It is likely that they will go on to contribute to this subject in UK industry or academia.
In the energy sector, beneficiaries include: companies wishing to develop alternatives to fossil fuels and those who wish to move into green chemistry; governments and policy makers who wish for energy security and for new energy sources for developing countries; the armed forces who are looking for alternative fuels for specific and niche uses; environmentalists who need to focus on rational long-term alternatives to fossil fuels; and the general public who will soon have to accept that a change to a sustainable energy regime is inevitable. The benefits derived from the development of artificial photosynthesis as an alternative technology are evident and cannot be overestimated. They will contribute to mitigating the impending climate/energy crisis: the biggest problem facing mankind. If this problem is not solved, then all other problems of health, economy, etc will soon be dwarfed by it.
Bioenergies will also contribute to the sustainable energy sector, although this is likely to be on a much smaller scale and mainly for niche uses. Bioenergies are mainly based on photosynthesis either directly or indirectly, so PSII research is central to them. The present project will be of benefit to bioenergy companies, farmers, policy makers, governments and the armed forces.
In the agricultural sector, beneficiaries include: companies involved in developing new species, strains or processes for maintaining and or improving crop yields under stress conditions of changing environments; farmers who wish to develop new practices for similar reasons; governments and policy-makers interested achieving food security; and the public who will benefit from food security.
In the environmental and ecological sector, beneficiaries include: those wishing to understand and mitigate loss of photosynthetic species in a changing environment. These include professionals in the sector, governments and policy makers, the tourism sector (coral reef bleaching) and fisheries (the loss of photosynthetic microbes at the start of the food chain).
In the education sector, in museums and in the media etc, there will be benefits from the intrinsic interest in one of the few definable milestones in the origins and evolution of life: the ability to oxidise water resulting in the appearance of O2 in the environment.
Staff hired for the project will obtain training in cutting-edge research in a leading lab in this important area. They will have the benefit of the excellent intellectual environment of a leading university with the tradition of close ties with engineers and applications. It is likely that they will go on to contribute to this subject in UK industry or academia.
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) (Collaboration)
- University of Tokyo (Collaboration)
- Michigan State University (Collaboration)
- Ehime University (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Munich (Collaboration)
- Saclay Nuclear Research Centre (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
Publications
Fantuzzi A
(2023)
Bicarbonate activation of the monomeric photosystem II-PsbS/Psb27 complex
in Plant Physiology
Cardona T
(2015)
A fresh look at the evolution and diversification of photochemical reaction centers.
in Photosynthesis research
Davis GA
(2017)
Hacking the thylakoid proton motive force for improved photosynthesis: modulating ion flux rates that control proton motive force partitioning into ?? and ?pH.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Saito K
(2015)
Energetics of proton release on the first oxidation step in the water-oxidizing enzyme.
in Nature communications
Cardona T
(2015)
Origin and Evolution of Water Oxidation before the Last Common Ancestor of the Cyanobacteria.
in Molecular biology and evolution
Kato M
(2013)
Covalent immobilization of oriented photosystem II on a nanostructured electrode for solar water oxidation.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Mersch D
(2015)
Wiring of Photosystem II to Hydrogenase for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Lohmiller T
(2017)
The First State in the Catalytic Cycle of the Water-Oxidizing Enzyme: Identification of a Water-Derived µ-Hydroxo Bridge.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Allgöwer F
(2022)
Molecular Principles of Redox-Coupled Protonation Dynamics in Photosystem II.
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Kornienko N
(2018)
Oxygenic Photoreactivity in Photosystem II Studied by Rotating Ring Disk Electrochemistry
in Journal of the American Chemical Society
Description | We discovered a new regulatory mechanism in photosynthesis in which CO2, which is final substrate that is converted to carbohydrate, regulates the start of the photosynthetic electron transfer chain, Photosystem II. The CO2, in solution in the form of bicarbonate, controls how fast Photosystem II splits water and and by debinding, it protect the photosystem from being damaged by the light when the CO2 concentration is low. This new protective mechanism could be important for optimising plant growth. The work demonstrates the role of bicarbonate in Photosystem II, pointed out as mysterious in the 1950's by Nobel prize winner, Otto Warburg. At the same time we determined the reduction potential of the quinone electron acceptor, which is the key reference value for understanding the thermodynamics of photosystem II, and which has been ambiguous until now. Our work on evolution of water splitting which was initiated under the auspices of this grant has advanced further with several high profile publications that attract wide interest. |
Exploitation Route | We have established the new regulatory mechanism in vivo. We have now demonstrated its existence in vivo in a recent paper. We are continuing to follow aspects of this and hope to publish more high impact articles on this subject in 2019. In the long term we hope to determine under what conditions it is important in the field. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Education Energy Environment Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology |
URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/175116/light-protection-mechanism-discovered-plants/ |
Description | The process of photoassembly of the metal cluster in the active site of the water splitting enzyme is one of the remain Big Unknowns in photosynthesis. This process turns out to be the Achilles heal of the enzyme, since light is required in order to oxidise the metal ions and yet the enyme is not yet functional and so charge recombination is the dominant outcome of excitation. Complex redox tuning occurs to minimise photodamage but these processes are not understood. Photodamage of the enzyme is considered to be responsible for limitations in photosynthesis yields and thus crop yields under certain conditions. Understanding how this process works could allow improved yields. Our studies of the yields of photosynthesis have important impacts on understanding the limitations of photosynthesis. We have provided advice to government bodies, policy makers and industry linked expert groups on the efficiency of photosynthesis and its impact on policy with regards to biofuel production. This kind of information is crucial to if policy is to be informed by science and thus avoid policies that are misinformed and lead to undesirable outcomes. The discovery of a new regulatory mechanism in photosynthesis, could have a major influence on the field and will provide the basis of future grant requests aimed at characterising this process to see how it influences photosynthetic yield with connotations for food security and energy issues. Our work on evolution of photosynthesis was used in the US media to produce a rap song. Our group has been involved educational aspects: visitng student groups from other univeristies, many stagieres, summer students etc. Our work initiated under the auspices of this grant has led to more recent publications that have influence on understanding regulatory processes in photosynthesis, with a new regulatory mechanism discovered and found to exist in vivo. This may be significant to crop growth. |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Energy,Environment,Financial Services, and Management Consultancy,Government, Democracy and Justice,Transport |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
Description | Imperial College Scholarships |
Amount | £76,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2013 |
End | 03/2017 |
Title | Raw Data suporting article: Oxygenic Photoreactivity in Photosystem II Studied by Rotating Ring Disk Electrochemistry |
Description | The data is primarily electrochemical, acquired with the rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) apparatus, as described in the manuscript. The RRDE technique offers a new approach in PSII studies because it allows for the real-time (~ms) analysis of reaction pathways without the necessities of high currents (~nA sensitivity) and bulk product accumulation. Briefly, the data was acquired with a potentiostat in a three or four electrode setup. The raw data files are converted into text. Photocurrent magnitudes are processed from raw data as well. The background dark current is subtracted to extract out photocurrent measurements. Additional experimental details are located in the experimental section at the end of the main text. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2018 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
URL | https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/283792 |
Description | Alain Boussac: Collaboration with CNRS CEA Saclay France |
Organisation | Saclay Nuclear Research Centre |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Two studies: 1) I provided some some input a good deal of the basic thinking that set the stage for the research. I provided some of framework for the interpretation and the impetus for calculating the overall bioenergetic scheme. I also helped with the interpretation of several aspects. 2) I contributed to the interpretation on an in depth EPR study of the Mn in PSII. This work is a continutation of work that I initated when I was head of this group in France. Some of the EPR phenomena were my own discoveries from my work in the 1980's. |
Collaborator Contribution | 1) Alain Boussac did the EPR studies, Miwa Sugiura's group made the mutants, Fabrice Rappaport did the UV vis studies and the calculation 2) Alain Boussac performed the EPR experiments, developed the biochemical treatments applied and did the the first level of interpretation. |
Impact | Two research articles were published in these collaborations. This work is at the boundry of biology chemistry and physics. Further collaborations are under way. |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | David Kramer Michigan State University |
Organisation | Michigan State University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I provided the background information and theory to help interpret new data on electric field induced photoinhibition in plants. I also provided new data coming from our research on bicarbonate based regulation of photosynthetic electron transfer relevant to the in vivo studies on-going in the Kramer lab. |
Collaborator Contribution | My extensive studies of photoinhibition and correlated them with pulses of light induced electric field. Applied findings from Rutherford lab to understanding regulation of photosynthetic electron transfer. |
Impact | Published one article in eLife and another article is in draft from. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Fabrice Rappaport Paris |
Organisation | National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS) |
Department | Institute Of Physico-Chemical Biology |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | 1) We have a long running discussion on photosynthesis bioenergetics with Fabrice Rappaport 2) We have an established experimental collaboration that uses the state of the art equipment developed in Paris: my students/post docs and myseldf have made regular visits bringng our samples. 3) We have benefited from advice on how to set up at Imperial a specialised spectrophotometer that was designed in the Paris group |
Collaborator Contribution | Fabrice Rappaport and his colleagues have worked in close collaboration with us to address biological problems and samples that we have brought to them. This has mainly entailed doing sophisticated optical spectroscopy; absorption and fluorescence. As part of a long running calculation Fabrice Rappaport performed a calculation that we hdd discussed for some years since we co-authoured an important theory paper in 2012. This calculation verified predictions made in that article and we used this to test and experimental system generated by my old research colleagues in France and Japan, Boussac and Sugiura. |
Impact | Two papers were published from this collaboration another is being written and there are several findings that require further experimental study. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Ishikita QMMM caluclations on PSII |
Organisation | University of Tokyo |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I collaborated in the application of computational chemistry to solving questions of structure and function in PSII. I played a role in interpretation of the data, advancing to other calculations and writing the manuscript. In some cases. I initiated the collaboration based on the availability of the high resolution crystal structure of PSII, my evolutionary thinking together with my structural and mechanistic work on the enzyme. |
Collaborator Contribution | Developed the QMMM method for this system and trained the students to do the calculations. The first level interpretation was done by Prof. Ishikita. |
Impact | We have used our interests in common to tackle key questions close to our hearts. We published 2 papers in PNAS on quinone chemistry and tyrosine chemistry in PSII and then association with the present grant we looked at deprotonation on the lowest redox step in the enzyme cycle and published in Nature Communications. When we made our breakthrough on the bicarbonate redox control, I approached Dr Ishikita to use our new data to calculate redox potentials associated with the changes we see and to survey what mechanistic/structural changes my be responsible byt doing computational chemistry, The results obtained are now being interpreted by the two labs. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Kaila DFT of PSII |
Organisation | Technical University of Munich |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I helped to initiate and focus advanced dft calculations on specific reactions occuring in water splitting enzyme and I helped to interpret the findings and write the article. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Ville Kaila and his student performed the dft calculations and the main interpretation of the findings. |
Impact | An article was published in 2016 which has an important impact on the field. I associated Prof Kailla in an on-going collaboration with Alain Boussac, Johannes Messinger on spin state changes and pH in the S2 to S3 transition and this has provided useful insights to that study. A meeting was held here at Imperial by all 4 groups in January and a paper is being drafted based on the outcome of this interdisciplinary study. Interdisciplinary: Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Biophysics, Spectroscopy, Molecular enzymology, |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Reisner Cambridge |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Department | Department of Chemistry |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I began studies of PSII on electrodes in 2008. I initiated a collaboration with Erwin Reisner when he first worked in Manchester suggesting that we use my water oxidising biohybrid cell TiO2 +PSII in conjuction with his O2 tolerant H2ase to make a water splitting/H2 prodcuing cell. We provide the expertise on PSII , how it works, the Three papers came out of this study culminating with the planned cell. The first two were developmental papers establishing the ground work and methods. The papers were jointly written. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Reisner group introduced the use of meso ITO materials, controlled orientation of the PSII and completed the system with their H2ase. |
Impact | Three joint research articles came out of this work. |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Sugiura |
Organisation | Ehime University |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a long running but sporadic collaboration in which Miwa Sugiura has developed several mutated or engineered starins of an thermophilic cyanobateria. The first of these were done in my lab in France 15 years ago. In the period covered by this grant the collaboration involved charaterisation of a mutant which had been made specifically to change the protential of the pheophytin cofactor with predicted effects on kinetics and ROS production. My role was to provide some of the theoretical background but mainly to be involved with the development of a kinetic calultion based on the redox potentials and the distances in order to verify my original hypothesis on how redox tuning influences these processes. |
Collaborator Contribution | Miwa Sugiura mde the mutants and isolated the enzyme as well as doing several experiments on the susceptibility of the cells to photodamage etc. |
Impact | Two papers published as coauthors. |
Description | kreiger ROS studies Saclay |
Organisation | Saclay Nuclear Research Centre |
Country | France |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We discovered a new regulatory effect in photosynthesis. We predicted that this would lead to increased formation of reactive oxygen species. So we contacted my ex-colleague in Saclay, Anja Keiger Liszkay, and invited her to make test this prediction. |
Collaborator Contribution | Anja Kreiger Lizskay measured the concentration of singlet oxygen generated in PSII in the absence and presence of bicarbonate using spin trapping EPR. She became interested in discovery and interpretation that we made and has gone on to test these ideas using mutant plants in her lab. |
Impact | Published article in Proc Nat Acad Sci USA in October 2016. This article was seen as a big breakthrough and has already led to a full article discussing it in Trends in Plant Sciences. We hope to write up the follow on this subject when it is completed. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | "Photocurrent generated by Photosystem II adsorbed on a nanostructured titanium dioxide/indium tin oxide electrode" Katharina Brinkert, A. William Rutherford, Andrea Fantuzzi. Presented at the Challenges in Chemical Renewable Energy (ISACS12), 03/09/2013 - 06/09/2013, Cambridge, UK. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | "Photocurrent generated by Photosystem II adsorbed on a nanostructured titanium dioxide/indium tin oxide electrode" Katharina Brinkert, A. William Rutherford, Andrea Fantuzzi. Presented at the Challenges in Chemical Renewable Energy (ISACS12), 03/09/2013 - 06/09/2013, Cambridge, UK. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
Description | "The reactivity of O2 with QA- in Photosystem II" Andrea Fantuzzi, Katharina Brinkert and A. William Rutherford. Presented at the Gordon Research Conference in Photosynthesis, 28/06/2015 - 03/07/2015, Bentley University in Waltham MA United States. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | "The reactivity of O2 with QA- in Photosystem II" Andrea Fantuzzi, Katharina Brinkert and A. William Rutherford. Presented at the Gordon Research Conference in Photosynthesis, 28/06/2015 - 03/07/2015, Bentley University in Waltham MA United States. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | 'Our ever green world' New York Times |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | 'Our ever green world' by Natalie Angier, New York Times, April 20, 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/science/our-world-ever-green.html?_r=0 |
Description | 'Photosynthesis study gets a musical makeover' Imperial College London News, April 30, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Photosynthesis study gets a musical makeover by Hayley Dunning, Imperial College London News, April 30, 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/administration/energyfutureslab/newssu... |
Description | 'Why we love the color green: it's the color of new life' Medical Daily |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 'Why we love the color green: it's the color of new life' by Lecia Bushak, Medical Daily, April 26, 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.medicaldaily.com/why-we-love-color-green-its-color-new-life-330854 |
Description | 2 Visit from Honors students from Radboud University Nijmegen |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | An interdiciplinary team of 6 honours students (biologists, enineers, physicists, chemists) plus their tutor approached us to discuss a mock research proposal in the area of photosynthesis: in 2015 on qunatum coherence in photosynthesis, in 2016 on bioinspired artifical photosynthesis. We incorporated the visit into a lab meeting with presentations form our team and the visiting students followed by a long and detailed debate. The mock grant request was made on which we gave feedback. The students, tutors and organisers we very happy with the visit and the experience of the debate with experts. This was in part the reason they came back again this year. The students themselves go on to present their (greatly updated) project to their full class interdicpilinary classes back in the Netherlands. We consider that we had a strong impact on the training aspect as well as the eventual projects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |
Description | Advising government of transport policy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Provided arguments and citations relevant to Government policy on transport fuels with regard to biofuels. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
Description | Bioenergetics Christmas Meeting 2017 A.W. Rutherford Plenary lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Rutherford gave the plenary lecture at the annual bioenergetics meeting of the Biochemical Society presenting work that came from research done under the the three BBSRC grants below: photoactivation, nitroplast and far red light |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.biochemistry.org/Events/PreviouslySupportedEvents/tabid/1202/ModuleId/6547/View/Conferen... |
Description | Debate at a International workshop on land usage at an EU Climate KIC event at Imperial College |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | A meeting of policy makers, governments representatives, academics, farmers unions, economists, geographers, members of the IPCC, etc on the development of a land use tool as part of the EU climate cick program. Rutherford was invited as a discussant and played an active role in the debate on the feasibility and energy balance questions concerning biofuels. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | FEBS Combined Practical and Lecture Course: Chemistry of Metals In Biological Systems Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium May 21st to 28th 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | A.W. Rutherford gives a 1-2 hr lecture at this summers school which take place every couple of years, sometimes every year. He has done this since the 1990's. The lecture focusses on Mn chemistry and features work done from the Rutherford group in addition to state of knowledge. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016,2017 |
URL | http://cpaquete.wixsite.com/louvain2017 |
Description | Featured in the International Society of Photosynthesis Research website, April 26, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Featured in the International Society of Photosynthesis Research website, April 26, 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Getting to the origin of photosynthesis |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 'Getting to the origin of photosynthesis' press tip in Science Daily and NanoWerk News, March 10, 2015 News item. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Imperial Festival 2013 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Imperial Festival 2013 was a public engagement event showcasing of a range of college activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/festival/about/festival-2013/ |
Description | Imperial Fringe: Lit Up 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An evening public engagement event, showcasing a variety of research activities at Imperial College. Dr Andrea Fantuzzi, Department of Life Sciences delivered a presentation describing how to 'Extract chlorophyll from algae and find out how this powerful molecule that turns light into plant matter can used to make clean energy.' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/eventssummary/event_27-1-2015-11-0-39 |
Description | International Bioenergetics Meeting at Imperial College (Bunty Meeting) Dec 8th 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Unusually this was a second of these meeting in 2017. Rutherford played a role in providing a research talk as did Nurnberg. The research was related to both the previous photoactivation grant, the nitroplast grant and the new far red grant. Rutherford also played the role of discussion leader and session chair. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Interview by Amy Hewler from the BBC Four in preproduction for science documentary In Search of Colour, May 5, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Tanai Cardona Interview by Amy Hewler from the BBC Four in preproduction for science documentary In Search of Colour, May 5, 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Interview by Pulitzer Award-winning science author Natalie Angier for the New York Times, March 19, 2015 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Tanai Cardona interview by Pulitzer Award-winning science author Natalie Angier for the New York Times, March 19, 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Invited Research Lecture at Annual meeting of the French Photosynthesis Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The aim was to decimate our recent research findings to the French Photosynthesis community and the international speakers at this research meeting |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://sfphi2017.sciencesconf.org/ |
Description | Invited Talk at International Meeting on Bioenergetics |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | International Bioenergetics Discussion Meeting (The Bunty Meeting) held annually at Imperial College Fri. 6th April 2017. 1 day meeting with field leading speakers from around the world. A W. Rutherford gave an invited presentation on Photosystem II and led the discussion of one session and the final general discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Invited departmental seminar, Centre for bioenergy and photosynthesis. Arizona |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Tanai Cardona: Invited departmental seminar, Centre for bioenergy and photosynthesis. Arizona State University, USA, 18 January |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited departmental seminar, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Tanai Cardona was invited to give a departmental seminar, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, February 28 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited lecture at a meeting Aviation 2050 at the Bauhaus for Aviation in Munich |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Rutherford gave a talk at the 10 year anniversary meeting of the Bauhaus for Aviation: on Aviation 2050. The aviation industry plans its expansion based on increasing use of biofuels, a policy that is backed by legislation. Rutherford gave a talk on the feasibility of these plans based on energy accounting. This had a major impact on the audience, mainly from the aviation industry. Rutherford also talked a lot with younger members of the Bauhaus policy division and urged them to debate the proposition that a low carbon future that must mean less aviation. These debates have now started and there has interesting feedback from there. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Invited lecture at workshop - Royal Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Tanai Cardona was invited to give a lecture: Timing the evolution of Photosystem II and the water oxidizing complex. Evolution of the Biological Pump Workshop, Royal Society, Chicheley, UK, September 6-7 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Keynote lecture at the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology Birbeck College (ISMB) Retreat at Cambridge 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Keynote lecture based on recent research. I report was published covering the content of the lecture. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.ismb.lon.ac.uk/retreat.html |
Description | Member of the Senses about Science Panel on Plants |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I answer questions associated with energy and photosynthesis posed by members of the general public. These are published on line. I have done two of these in recent years: one on chlorophyll as a sun screen and one on photosynthetic animals. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015,2016 |
Description | New research is getting to the origins of photosynthesis |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 'New research is getting to the origins of photosynthesis' by Neasan O'Neill, Energy Future Lab News, Imperial College London, March 6, 2015 A news item in Energy Futures Lab News. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Panel member on debate on future of UK electricity generation: Energy Future Lab/Grantham Institute |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | A panel of 4 experts gave their take on the future of UK electricity supply. As one of these experts Rutherford provided detail arguments concerning the feasibility and scaling photosynthetic biofuels based on energy accounting. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Participation on policy discussion on sustainable agriculture: A4S accounting for sustainability |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to this 10 year anniversary celebration of the Prince of Wales charity "accounting for sustainability". I met several influencial people in the accounting industry and provided information concerning the viability of biofuels. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Participation on policy discussion on sustainable agriculture: the insurance industry |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | I have been invited to take part in discussions among policy makers from, insurance companies, actuaries, representatives from government and the city on sustainable agriculture. I have duly provided information on biological energy issues. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014,2015 |
Description | Plenary talk at the 17th Int. Congress on Photosynthesis, Maastricht |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Tanai Cardona gave a plenary titledTiming the origin of the Mn4CaO5 cluster of Photosystem II. 17th Int. Congress on Photosynthesis, Maastricht, the Netherlands, August 7-12 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Provided advice on request on the feasibility of biofuels for transport to an organisation involved in setting up green bonds as finacial instruments |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Through contact in sustainable agriculture I was asked to provide information on the feasibility of photosynthetic biofuels to inform the process of setting up "green bonds" as finacial instruments. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Provided advice on request on the feasibility of biofuels in the aviation industry to a avion industry think tank |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | In discussions about sustainable agriculture I met a member of a panel set up to advise the aviation industry on sustainable aviation. I was susbsequently invited to provide evidence on the feasiblity and scaling of biofuels. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
Description | Research featured in a YouTube video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An interesting video featuring our work was published by music video creator and biology teacher Tom McFadden, YouTube, April 22, 2015. The video has been seen about 5000 times. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-ckC9jIsTU&t=1s |
Description | Royal Society Science Policy meetings on sustainable economy |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | I took part in several policy meetings at the Royal Society and elsewhere on sustainable economy, environment, energy technologies (biofuels, CCS, BECCS, CCU) with the aim of producing policy documents for Government (BEIS). Some documents were produced that were made public and widely distributed, one of these documents I worked on aggod deal over several days. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Science × Rhymes (#3) Photosynthesis by music video creator and biology teacher Tom McFadden |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Science × Rhymes (#3) Photosynthesis by music video creator and biology teacher Tom McFadden, YouTube, April 22, 2015 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Selected talk, Origin and evolution of photochemical reaction centres, ISPP15 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Tanai Cardona was selected for a talk at the 15th Int. Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes, Tübingen, Germany, August 2-6 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Wohl Reach Out Lab - Imperial College |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The Wohl Reach Out Lab is a state-of-the-art educational facility on our South Kensington Campus. It is dedicated to hands-on activities aimed at engaging school children in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/student-recruitment-and-outreach/schools-and-colleges/wohl-rea... |
Description | invited research talk at the Chloroplast Metabolism and Photosynthesis Meeting Neuchatel |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Research talk to post grads, post docs and invited speakers and researchers at the Chloroplast Metabolism and Photosynthesis Meeting in Neuchatel Switzerland. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www3.unine.ch/files/live/sites/dp-biol/files/shared/DPbiol/courses/2017/program_chloroplast20... |