Abstract
Light-sensing proteins contain chromophores that absorb light and then rapidly de-excite. Somehow this rapid de-excitation leads to the breaking of hydrogen bonds and the beginning of a signal cascade. The key to this maybe a very short-lived super-heating of the chromophore and surrounding protein that provides the impetus to overcome energy barriers. This project will develop a full theory of how proteins convert light to heat to large scale movement. It will combine theoretical biophysics, molecular simulations, optical spectroscopy and protein purification to understand how biology harnesses, converts and transfers light energy on ultrafast timescales.
References
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4. PE Konold, IHM van Stokkum, F Muzzopappa, A Wilson, M-L Groot, D Kirilovsky, JTM Kennis* (2019) Photoactivation Mechanism, Timing of Protein Secondary Structure Dynamics and Carotenoid Translocation in the Orange Carotenoid Protein. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 141, 520−530
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