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Emmy Noether Junior Research Group: “Multiprotein Complexes Governing Chlorophyll Biosynthesis”

Dr. Dmitry Shvarev

Room: 67/E16
Phone: +49 541 969-7506
Office hours: by arrangement

E-Mail

Photosynthesis is essential for life, and chlorophyll plays a central role in this process. The biogenesis of chlorophyll is conserved across photosynthetic organisms and involves intricate enzymatic steps. Our group focuses on understanding how the multiprotein complexes that control and regulate chlorophyll biosynthesis function. We use biochemical methods and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to explore the mechanisms behind this pathway.

Research Topics

• Analysis of magnesium chelatase function and regulation
• Study of the mechanisms of chlorophyll synthase and membrane-associated insertion of chlorophyll into chlorophyll-binding proteins
• Investigation of other macromolecular complexes from photosynthetic organisms

Model Systems

• Isolated membrane and cytoplasmic proteins and protein complexes
• Reconstituted membrane systems
• Cyanobacteria (Nostoc, Synechocystis)

Methods

• Cryo-EM and single particle analysis
• Protein expression and purification
• Enzymatic activity and protein interaction assays
• Protein expression and purification
• Physiological studies of cyanobacteria