Optical Spectroscopy and Microscopy: Photosynthesis Research, Conformational Changes, Tunneling in Biological Systems and Biosensors.

光谱学和显微镜：光合作用研究、构象变化、生物系统和生物传感器中的隧道效应。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-05549
• 负责人: Zazubovits, Valter
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: Concordia University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=740649
• 关键词: Optical; Spectroscopy; Microscopy; Photosynthesis; Research; Optical; Spectroscopy; Microscopy; Photosynthesis; Research

The questions about possible interplay between quantum mechanics and biological life have been raised already by the founding fathers of quantum mechanics such as Schrödinger. Today, the field of Quantum Biology is focusing on phenomena where quantum mechanics may provide better explanations to biological phenomena than classical approaches, including, but not limited to, the fields of photosynthesis research and tunneling in biological systems. In photosynthesis, light is converted into chemical energy. The absorbed photon energy is transferred to the so-called reaction center (RC), where it is converted into an electrochemical gradient with the efficiency approaching 100%. A thorough understanding of this process can lead to a technological utilization of photosynthesis in renewable energy applications, as a promising and ecologically viable alternative to fossil fuels. This hope has motivated numerous studies aiming at understanding the finest details of photosynthesis and finding and characterizing bio-inspired artificial light harvesting systems. With that in mind, we will continue our research on pigment-protein complexes involved in photosynthesis, employing high-resolution optical spectroscopy and computer modeling of spectral diffusion (which involves quantum-mechanical tunneling), excitation energy transfer (EET) and electron transfer. Determining the details of the protein energy landscapes and protein dynamics will also allow for improved understanding of general structure-function relationships in proteins, factors governing protein folding as well as tunneling in biological systems in general. Similarities of the EET processes in microtubules with those in photosynthesis-related systems will be explored as well. Another related line of research involves studies of the compounds affecting primary charge transfer processes in photosynthetic reaction centers (e.g. nitric explosives) and potential applications of these proteins in biosensors with concurrent optical/ spectroscopic and electrochemical detection modes. DND supplement is requested for this project. Microscopy-compatible microfluidic devices with nanometer-scale variable thickness and transparent electrodes will be used in biosensor project, new varieties of photosynthesis research and in the more distant future in studies of other biological systems.

关于量子力学和生物学生活之间可能相互作用的问题已经由量子力学的创始人（例如Schrödinger）提出。如今，量子生物学领域的重点是与经典方法相比，量子力学可以为生物现象提供更好的解释，包括但不限于生物系统中的光合作用研究和隧道领域。光合作用，光转化为化学能。吸收的光子能将转移到所谓的反应中心（RC），在该中心将其转化为电化学梯度，效率接近100％。对这一过程的透彻理解可以导致对可再生能源应用中光合作用的技术利用，这是化石燃料的承诺和生态上可行的替代方案。这种希望融合了许多研究，旨在理解光合作用的最细节，并查找和表征生物启发的人工光收集系统。考虑到这一点，我们将继续对参与光合作用的色素 - 蛋白质复合物进行研究，采用高分辨率光谱和光谱扩散的计算机建模（涉及量子力学隧道），兴奋能量转移（EET）和电子传递。确定蛋白质能量景观和蛋白质动力学的细节还将允许改善对蛋白质中一般结构 - 功能关系的理解，管理蛋白质折叠的因素以及一般的生物学系统中的隧穿。微管中的EET过程与光合作用相关系统中的EET过程的相似性也将被探讨。另一个相关的研究系列涉及对影响光合反应中心（例如一硝化爆炸物）中主要电荷转移过程的化合物的研究，以及这些蛋白质在具有同时光学/光谱和电化学检测模式的生物传感器中的潜在应用。该项目要求DND补充。具有纳米尺度可变厚度和透明电极的显微镜显微流体设备将用于生物传感器项目，光合作用研究的新变化以及其他生物系统研究的更遥远的未来。