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Arabidopsis- a model plant Structure of LHCII LHCII crystals imaged by confocal microscopy Chloroplasts

The Ruban Lab is engaged in mechanistic photosynthesis research. Our multidisciplinary approach applies molecular spectroscopy, biophysics and biochemistry to important problems in plant physiology. Specifically, the role of the various components (proteins, lipids, pigments) and macrostructure in the functions and adaptive mechanisms of the photosynthetic membrane related to light harvesting and photoprotection in plants and algae. In addition we are interested in the universal properties of carotenoids in biological membranes, the molecular dynamics of these molecules in the modulation of membrane protein conformation and their functions.

The Ruban Laboratory is currently pursuing research projects in the following areas:

  • The molecular mechanism of energy dependent non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) (Pascal et al., Nature (2005) 436, 134-137; Ruban et al., Nature (2007) 450, 575-578)

  • The interaction of xanthophylls with photosythetic proteins, role of xanthophyll structure in controlling structure and functions of membrane proteins (Ruban et al. (2000) FEBS Lett, 477, 181-185; Robert et al. (2004) TIPS, 9, 385-390)

  • Use of the light harvesting antenna design in the assembly of synthetic biological light energy storage devices

  • The macro-molecular structure and dynamics of the photosynthetic membrane (Ruban et al., (2003) Nature, 421, 648-652)

  • The interaction between various adaptation strategies of the photosynthetic light harvesting system to environmental conditions from light starved to light stressed (Ruban and Johnson, (2008) Photosynth. Res., 99, 173-183)

  • Photosynthesis in cytoplasmic hybrids of Solanaceae family: nucleo-plastide interactions (Zubko et al., (2001) Plant Journal, 25, 627-639)