Structural basis of proton release from the water-oxidizing complex in cyanobacterial photosystem II (A05)

• Subject Area: Structural Biology
• Term: since 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221545957

The central aim of this project is to resolve the individual mechanistic steps of water oxidation at the Mn4CaO5 cluster analyzed by diffraction from femtosecond X-ray laser pulses at room temperature. By synchronizing the light-dependent advance of the reaction with diffraction experiments, unprecedented insights into the individual roles of the metal ions and water ligands could be gained. In the next funding period we want to increase the resolution and resolve the later steps of the Kok cycle, during which dioxygen is formed. This will be supported by using alternative substrates, enzyme variants and complementary methods, such as neutron diffraction.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1078: Protonation Dynamics in Protein Function
• Applicant Institution: Freie Universität Berlin
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Holger Dobbek; Professorin Dr. Athina Zouni