Prokaryotic to plant phytochrome function (B08*)

• Subject Area: Plant Biochemistry and Biophysics ; Biophysics
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221545957

We propose to extend our phytochrome structure/function studies from the cyanobacterial phytochrome Cph1 to plant phytochromes, as these connect to entirely different cellular signaling pathways. The role of protonation dynamics and structural changes during Pr↔Pfr photoconversion will be studied by X-ray and neutron crystallography, solid-state NMR and surface labeling methods to monitor proton release and domain shifts, whereby mutants will provide access to experimental manipulation of the molecular signaling mechanism.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1078: Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Project Head: Professor Jonathan Hughes, Ph.D., since 1/2017