Developing an Essential Research Platform for the Molecular Engineering of Photosystem II. Sunlight reaching the earth is used by plants and algae to drive photosynthesis and to store chemical energy. Possibly the most fundamental contribution photosynthesis makes to earth is to generate gaseous oxygen, the result of solar driven water-splitting chemistry. However, the mechanism behind water-splitting is not exactly known. In this proposal we will construct a new model cyanobacteria host to stu ....Developing an Essential Research Platform for the Molecular Engineering of Photosystem II. Sunlight reaching the earth is used by plants and algae to drive photosynthesis and to store chemical energy. Possibly the most fundamental contribution photosynthesis makes to earth is to generate gaseous oxygen, the result of solar driven water-splitting chemistry. However, the mechanism behind water-splitting is not exactly known. In this proposal we will construct a new model cyanobacteria host to study water splitting. The host organism will be genetically modified to enable mechanistic questions of water oxidation to be tested and will provide new and pure forms of isolated protein. This model organism will provide team of international researchers with a remarkable tool new to study photosynthesis.Read moreRead less
Structural and Mechanistic Studies of the Oxygen Evolving Centre in Photosystem II. Hydrogen fuel production from electricity and water sources, such as sea water, represents the ultimate goal for the research described here. This is part of an overall scheme, called "Artificial Photosynthesis", to generate clean renewable energy. The present project is an important step in this ambitious program and directly addresses a key hurdle which must be overcome to make artificial photosynthesis feasibl ....Structural and Mechanistic Studies of the Oxygen Evolving Centre in Photosystem II. Hydrogen fuel production from electricity and water sources, such as sea water, represents the ultimate goal for the research described here. This is part of an overall scheme, called "Artificial Photosynthesis", to generate clean renewable energy. The present project is an important step in this ambitious program and directly addresses a key hurdle which must be overcome to make artificial photosynthesis feasible. This hurdle is the efficient electrical conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen, a two part process of which the latter is the most chemically difficult. The project aims to 'steal nature's secrets', by deciphering and then technologically mimicking the highly efficient means by which plants carry out these processes.Read moreRead less
Bio-Physical Studies of the Oxygen Evolving Complex in Photosystem II. Hydrogen fuel production from electricity and water sources, such as sea water, represents the ultimate goal for the research described here. This is part of an overall scheme, called "Artificial Photosynthesis", to generate clean renewable energy. The present project is an important step in this ambitious program and directly addresses a key hurdle which must be overcome to make artificial photosynthesis feasible. This hurdl ....Bio-Physical Studies of the Oxygen Evolving Complex in Photosystem II. Hydrogen fuel production from electricity and water sources, such as sea water, represents the ultimate goal for the research described here. This is part of an overall scheme, called "Artificial Photosynthesis", to generate clean renewable energy. The present project is an important step in this ambitious program and directly addresses a key hurdle which must be overcome to make artificial photosynthesis feasible. This hurdle is the efficient electrical conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen, a two part process of which the latter is the most chemically difficult. The project aims to 'steal nature's secrets', by deciphering and then technologically mimicking the highly efficient means by which plants carry out these processes.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354610
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Australian Bioinformatics Grid Network. OzBioGrid will be an open source, collaborative, bioinformatics environment supporting Australian biotechnology and life science researchers on the Grid. Researchers will be able to use distributed resources including databases, computational power and analytical tools, and to collaborate remotely, using customized work environments. With hubs in Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne, and nodes elsewhere, OzBioGrid will build on Australia's high performance co ....Australian Bioinformatics Grid Network. OzBioGrid will be an open source, collaborative, bioinformatics environment supporting Australian biotechnology and life science researchers on the Grid. Researchers will be able to use distributed resources including databases, computational power and analytical tools, and to collaborate remotely, using customized work environments. With hubs in Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne, and nodes elsewhere, OzBioGrid will build on Australia's high performance computing capacity. It will greatly enhance Australia's research capability by networking ARC and other centres of excellence, major national research facilities, independent researchers, biotechnology companies, bioinformatics research centres, public databases. It will be linked to bio-grid initiatives overseas. Read moreRead less
Catalytic Electron Transfer in Photosystem II of Plants and Bacteria. Large scale hydrogen production from electricity and abundant water sources, such as sea water, represents the ultimate goal for the research described here. This is part of an overall scheme, called "Artificial Photosynthesis", to generate clean renewable energy. Although the present project is but one step in this ambitious program, it directly addresses a key hurdle which must be overcome to make the project feasible. This ....Catalytic Electron Transfer in Photosystem II of Plants and Bacteria. Large scale hydrogen production from electricity and abundant water sources, such as sea water, represents the ultimate goal for the research described here. This is part of an overall scheme, called "Artificial Photosynthesis", to generate clean renewable energy. Although the present project is but one step in this ambitious program, it directly addresses a key hurdle which must be overcome to make the project feasible. This is the efficient electrical conversion of water into hydrogen and oxygen, a two part process of which the latter is the most chemically difficult. The project aims to 'steal nature's secrets', by deciphering and then technologically mimicking the highly efficient means by which plants carry out these processes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989408
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
A multiple-ion membrane inlet mass spectrometer. There is a compelling need for a modern isotope-ratio mass spectrometer to facilitate a range of innovative studies of chemical and biochemical processes. Mass spectrometers operated with a thin permeable membrane over a vacuum inlet allow small gas molecules to be continuously monitored inside specific gas or liquid phase sample chambers. The proposed instrumentation will enable simultaneous and highly sensitive measurement of 10 different isot ....A multiple-ion membrane inlet mass spectrometer. There is a compelling need for a modern isotope-ratio mass spectrometer to facilitate a range of innovative studies of chemical and biochemical processes. Mass spectrometers operated with a thin permeable membrane over a vacuum inlet allow small gas molecules to be continuously monitored inside specific gas or liquid phase sample chambers. The proposed instrumentation will enable simultaneous and highly sensitive measurement of 10 different isotopic species and the capability for detection of hydrogen. This equipment will provide the many researchers and students with opportunities to determine isotopic signatures of isolated chemical reactions through to complex biochemical systems of whole living cells.Read moreRead less
The mechanism of water splitting in photosynthesis. Sunlight reaching the earth is used by the vast body of plants and algae living in surface waters and on the land to drive photosynthesis. One of the most fundamental contributions that photosynthesis provides to the Biosphere is the gaseous oxygen produced by its water-splitting chemistry - ~300 gigatons of O2 are released into the atmosphere per year. However, the mechanism behind water-splitting is not precisely known. We will use a range o ....The mechanism of water splitting in photosynthesis. Sunlight reaching the earth is used by the vast body of plants and algae living in surface waters and on the land to drive photosynthesis. One of the most fundamental contributions that photosynthesis provides to the Biosphere is the gaseous oxygen produced by its water-splitting chemistry - ~300 gigatons of O2 are released into the atmosphere per year. However, the mechanism behind water-splitting is not precisely known. We will use a range of unique experimental approaches to determine the molecular mechanism of the photosynthetic water-splitting chemistry. The understanding of this reaction will provide the molecular blueprint for the development of efficient biocatalysts to generate H2 and O2 from water.Read moreRead less
Why is the photosynthetic CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco, so inefficient? Dissection of the catalytic chemistry by computational simulation and experimental testing. Fixation of CO2 by the enzyme Rubisco during photosynthesis produces organic compounds which feed all life. Despite this critical role, Rubisco catalyses its reaction sluggishly and, worse, discriminates poorly between CO2 and O2, leading to useless products. Our combined expertise equips us to analyse Rubisco's mechanism using quantum- ....Why is the photosynthetic CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco, so inefficient? Dissection of the catalytic chemistry by computational simulation and experimental testing. Fixation of CO2 by the enzyme Rubisco during photosynthesis produces organic compounds which feed all life. Despite this critical role, Rubisco catalyses its reaction sluggishly and, worse, discriminates poorly between CO2 and O2, leading to useless products. Our combined expertise equips us to analyse Rubisco's mechanism using quantum-chemical methods and then test predictions experimentally. We will capitalise on our previous successful studies of Rubisco by addressing emergent issues which are the keys to understanding catalytic efficiency and CO2/O2 selectivity: the roles of a carbamylated lysine; the way CO2 addition is rendered irreversible; and the spin inversion inherent in O2 addition.Read moreRead less