The ultimate goal of this research unit (DFG FOR 5573 - GoPMF) is to establish a comprehensive understanding of the proton motive force (PMF) as a dynamic, responsive, and integrated hub that shapes photosynthesis and enables its adaptation to rapid external changes.
The PMF represents an electrochemical gradient across a membrane, typically generated by the coordinated activity of multiple membrane protein complexes. It serves to separate energy transformation from molecular identities and stoichiometric constraints, enabling the seamless integration of diverse cellular processes. Despite extensive research on the PMF, our understanding of its regulatory strategies remains incomplete.
Building upon recent discoveries and methodological advancements, GoPMF investigates photosynthetic bioenergetics within the context of subcellular organization and physiology. GoPMF utilizes cyanobacteria and chloroplasts as in vivo models to dissect the regulatory mechanisms involved in rapid PMF adjustments at the posttranslational and physiological level. GoPMF complements these findings by mechanistic and structural analyses of the molecular machinery responsible for generating and modulating the PMF. By combining cutting-edge imaging techniques with the development of in situ biosensing methods to monitor the bioenergetic characteristics of the PMF live in individual cells, organelles, and thylakoids, GoPMF aims to explore PMF management within a novel cell biological context.