Nano-molecular structure and function of protein mini-compartments known as carboxysomes

    Project: Research

    Project Details

    Description

    The research will investigate intriguing protein nano-structures, present in cyanobacteria and known as carboxysomes, which act as metabolic micro-compartments where photosynthetic CO2 fixation can occur at high efficiency. These structures are essential for the crucial process of photosynthetic carbon dioxide fixation in all cyanobacteria, particularly in marine cyanobacteria, which are major contributors to global CO2 sequestration and form one of the foundations of the marine food web. We aim to determine how the several proteins that make up carboxysomes are assembled and how these function to enhance rates of CO2 fixation. Potential applications in industrial nanotechnology and improvements in crop productivity are expected.
    StatusFinished
    Effective start/end date1/01/0731/12/10

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