Analysis of Physcomitrella chloroplasts to reveal adaptation principles leading to structural stability at the nano-scale (A09)

• Subject Area: Plant Cell and Developmental Biology ; Applied Mechanics, Statics and Dynamics ; Mechanics
• Term: from 2014 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 231064407

The project focuses on nanoscale biomimetics. Fusion vectors of five different Physcomitrella patens FtsZ genes with a combination of fluorophores have been constructed an analysed in vivo. Based on these findings, the FtsZ filaments in the plastoskeleton are hypothesized to resemble a tensegrity model in architecture. The load-bearing capacity of the plastoskeleton and its adaptation principles will be derived in order to elucidate chloroplast functional properties and to gain concepts for adaptable space frames in architecture by bridging 10 orders of magnitude in length scale.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 141: Biological Design and Integrative Structures. Analysis, Simulation and Implementation in Architecture
• Applicant Institution: Universität Stuttgart
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Ralf Reski; Professor Oliver Röhrle, Ph.D.