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SEB Bulletin October 2007 (JOB013524)

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SEB Bulletin October 2007 (JOB013524) 14th International Congress of Photosynthesis Bringing Sunshine into Focus for production of Food and Fuel in the 21st Century Glasgow 22-27 July 2007 Congress Report Symposium on Artifical Photosynthesis presented his dynamic simulation much debate about the exact geometry of Metabolite transport and emphasis on measurement of cytosolic illustrating how self-organisation in the the Mn4 Ca cluster with contributions from glucose concentrations. Agepati chromatophore membranes of purple Barber (I.C. London) and Dau (T.U.Berlin), intracellular interactions session Raghavendra (Hyderabad, India) underlined bacteria could ensue simply from size adding to (but mainly disagreeing with) the the importance of the chloroplast- Organisers: Graham Noctor (Paris) and differences among the complexes present. models presented in the talks. It seems that mitochondria interaction in photosynthesis. Andreas Weber (Köln) Gyozo Garab (Szeged) presented his the models are still somewhat ambiguous He also showed that leaf ascorbate levels results on grana structure from thin-section but it is clear that they are coming together A key theme of the session was that can influence this interaction, and described electron microscopy and cryo-electron and the scope for error is diminishing. photosynthesis is a whole cell process. This how CO2 released in the mitochondria tomography, leading to a structural model Chemical mechanism and substrate was emphasized in a short introduction by during photorespiration may be important somewhat different from that of Prof Reich. binding were also addressed by Kusunoki Graham Noctor with particular attention in sustaining Rubisco carboxylation under A lively general discussion followed, with (Meiji U.), W. Hillier (Canberra) and Mino paid to the importance of mitochondria in some conditions. The final speaker, most debate centred on the structure and (Nagoya) among others and new data (re-) the optimization of photosynthesis. In the Cornelia Wiklund (Linköpig, Sweden), - function of grana in the thylakoid implicating Cl in O2 evolution was first talk, Per Gardeström (Umea, Sweden) presented recent work on the membranes of higher plants. presented by Boussac (Saclay). Many summarized insights from recent work on characterization of thylakoid nucleotide and Conrad Mullineaux others made contributions and a fun time various mitochondrial transformants and solute transporters, and outlined potentially Queen Mary College, London was had. For this most important of mutants, and presented data highlighting the important roles in stress responses. In the concluding discussion, led by Andreas jIM bARBER enzymes, plenty of fundamental aspects importance of the glycine decarboxylase have yet to be understood and it seems reaction in influencing cellular redox states. Weber, a number of issues were debated, Water Oxidising Enzyme likely that many surprises have yet to be The next speaker, Friederike Hörmann including transporter specificity and discovered. But things are moving rapidly (Carnegie Institute, USA), described the function, redox cycling between different Session Chairs: Bill Rutherford (Saclay) so stay tuned. development of in vivo sugar sensors able to compartments, and the need for improved and Rick Debus (UC Riverside) Bill Rutherford provide compartment-specific information spatial resolution in the analysis of Invited discussion leader Gary Brudivg Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, on metabolite pools, with particular metabolite contents. Chair: Professor James Barber FRS (Yale) France Graham Noctor (Paris) (Imperial College London) Membrane Dynamics and Sponsored by Bruker. Co-chair: Professor Thomas Moore Susanne von Caemmer (Australian National Organisation All four speakers in this session were young University), Jon Nield (Queen Mary College, (University of Arizona, Tempe) London), Christine Raines (University of and dynamic. The same could not be said Essex), Jim Barber, Alison Telfer (Imperial Session chair (Conrad Mullineaux) gave a for the session chairs who, while Women in Science Dinner College, London), Christine Foyer (Newcastle The molecular processes of photosynthesis brief introduction to the topic, followed by sometimes dynamic, are no longer “les University), Alison Kingston-Smith (IGER, are being revealed in great detail and Excitation and relaxation during a career in electron transfer Aberystwyth) four excellent talks, each of which poulets de printemps” (as the French don't providing a blue print for developing new Researchers attending Photosynthesis 2007 joined together by the reflected a major development in the area say). The whole session reflected a buzz of technologies to capture and use solar banks of the Clyde for the Women in Science Dinner which was held at energy. This symposium focused on since the Montreal congress of 2004. Ziv excitement in the subject: there was the the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Glasgow. It was rewarding to see both women advances being made in mimicking the Reich (Weizmann Institute) discussed the feeling that things are advancing in what and men from different career stages joining in enthusiastic discussions natural system with particular emphasis on use of cryo-electron tomography to probe remains one of the greatest challenges in over dinner to exchange experiences of our lives in research. After the the water splitting reaction of photosystem the 3D architecture of green plant the field: to understand the mechanism of meal the guest speaker, Alison Telfer from Imperial College (London), II (PSII). Much effort at present is directed at thylakoid membranes, with some exciting water oxidation. After the wonderfully told us how her current interests in the structure and function of PSII new information on changes in membrane lucid plenary lecture on the same subject reaction centres developed from work she began at Kings College constructing multielectron charge transfer (London) on photosynthetic electron acceptors. Alison described systems as a prerequisite for the production architecture induced by light. Helmut from Rick Debus earlier, Junko Yano (UC Kirchhoff (Muenster) spoke on the use of Berkeley), Victor Batista (Yale), James herself as a perennial post-doc, explaining further that her career of molecular hydrogen and oxygen. In PSII, wasn't structured in the traditional way of thinking, but has relied on Fluorescence Recovery after Photo- Murray (IC London) and Johannes Mn ions are used to accumulate charge her ability to “stick at it” through a succession of short term contracts and presentations by Magnusson bleaching and atomic force microscopy to Messinger (MPI Mulheim) talked on some which have enabled her to carve a career as a highly respected (Uppsala) and Herrero (CEA, Saclay) probe the organisation and dynamics of of the hottest areas, reporting their findings researcher. She acknowledged that she has been fortunate because a suggested that this tactic could be grana membranes, and the influence of and models from a range of physico- supportive Head of Department made it possible for her to retain focus successfully used in an artificial water macromolecular crowding on protein chemical methods (X-ray absorption, and continue working while dealing with the conflicting demands of splitting system. Moser (Philadelphia) and diffusion and membrane function. molecular (QM/MM) calculations, X-ray work and family. Many of us are all too aware of the uncertainties Shigeichi Kumazaki (Kyoto) spoke on the crystallography, magnetic resonance etc). associated with obtaining continued funding, and obviously not every Conlan (Canberra) emphasized the Head of Department has the flexibility of funds to support staff in this importance of having a protein-like use of a line-scanning fluorescence Each talk triggered debate that had to be spectromicroscope to probe the curtailed for time reasons, while the formal way even if the will is there. Although it is difficult to work on short term environment as the scaffold for funding for a prolonged period, this system did work for Alison and distribution of pigment-protein complexes discussion session ran on for nearly double constructing the appropriate arrangement enabled her to develop and maintain a good publication record. Alison, not just for a stimulating talk but also for the enticing final its allotted time and ended only to allow of the redox-active centres. The four at high resolution in cyanobacterial cells. images showing her achieving her ambition of performing presentations were followed by an Paula Braun (Muenchen) discussed a the sound technicians to go for lunch. The The discussions that followed clearly demonstrated that for anyone photosynthesis research amid swaying palm trees and glistening clear enthusiastic and optimistic discussion specific lipid interaction with the LH2 discussions included important aiming for a career in science, maintaining a continuum in your work is blue seas, so reminding us to hold on to our goals because you never within the spirit of “If the leaf can do it we light-harvesting complex of purple contributions from Felix Ho (Uppsala) the critical factor to being successful. This suggests that together with know what could be possible in the future. can do it”!. photosynthetic bacteria. The Discussion adding to the picture of channels for water, packages to entice qualified researchers back to work after a career protons and O , as presented in the talks of break, funding agencies should seriously consider sponsoring part- Alison Kingston-Smith Professor
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